Celebrity Watch Spotting the IWC Ingenieur 40
Copyright Getty, Courtesy of IWC.
There are times when watch models in production for over 60 years can become stale and no longer excite collectors. And then on rare occasions, those years of production can lead to releasing a new iteration of a timepiece just as breathtaking as the first. This is the story of the latter scenario, and the highlighted watch is the IWC Ingenieur.
When the IWC Ingenieur was first produced in 1955 (Reference 666), watchmakers aimed to create a watch that was both aesthetically pleasing and extremely durable. IWC was deliberate in its design to protect the watch mechanics from shock, magnetic fields, and water. The result was a timeless watch that has been re-imagined or re-created eight times in the 68 years since it was first released. But it was Gerald Genta's redesign of the Ingenieur in the 1970s that marked a big change for the collection. He increased the size to 42mm gave the watch a more sporty design. Genta also put his Ingenieur design on a stainless steel integrated bracelet and included exposed screws on the bezel - a trend really screams "Genta". Gérald Genta’s Ingenieur SL would continue to be produced into the 1980s but was eventually discontinued. While Genta did not initially design the Ingenieur like he did the Patek Philippe Nautilus and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, to us, the design remains up there as a quintessential Genta-designed watch.
2023 marks that eighth time the Ingenieur has been redesigned with the Ingenieur Automatic 40. However, this watch brings the Ingenieur collection back to its Genta past, with a recreation and update of Genta's version of the watch. While the IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 utilizes several design elements from past iterations while still remaining bold enough to stand out in 2023. You can check out all the model’s specs and history here.
Speaking of standing out, numerous celebrities have been spotted sporting the IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40. We love a good celebrity watch-spotting, so let's review some highlights. And since the Ingenieur sells for under $15k, we can totally see ourselves wearing one like these celebs.
Dwayne Johnson “The Rock” Wearing an IWC Ingenieur 40 with Black Dial
Aside from his successful careers in Hollywood and in professional wrestling, Dwayne Johnson a.k.a "The Rock" is known for being an avid watch collector. While his collection runs the gambit in terms of styles and diameter sizes, the common thread among them is that they all turn heads.
It seems like the IWC Ingenieur 40 is right at home on his chiseled wrist. And while he probably doesn't wear it to the gym for his weight-lifting, the Ingenieur probably wouldn't skip a beat with the shock resistance built into the watch.
Check out some of The Rock's other favorite watches here.
Copyright Getty, Courtesy of IWC.
Jay-Z / Shawn Carter Wearing an IWC Ingenieur 40 with Aqua Dial
Shawn Carter a.k.a. Jay-Z has one of the greatest-known celebrity watch collections on the planet. Most watch collectors can only dream when they stare at the rapper's wrist candy, but the IWC Ingenieur 40 is one of Carter's recent additions actually within reach of many collectors.
Carter's wrist could be seen as prime real estate for a watch brand, as he often wears rare timepieces worth anywhere from $500k up to multiple millions of dollars - including a Hublot with 1,282 diamonds valued at a whopping $5 million! So the fact that Jay-Z picked up an Ingenieur makes it an epic watch to snag. And how do we know that this photo of the green dial Ingenieur is actually the man himself? Well, it was posted by his longtime jeweler Alex Todd.
Drool over more of Jay-Z's insane collection here.
Jimmy Butler Wearing an IWC Ingenieur 40 with White Dial
When he's not busy leading the Miami Heat to W's, NBA's Jimmy Butler flexes an impressive watch collection. "Playoff Jimmy" as he is often called has been seen sporting iced-out Rolexes, among other watches. But recently, Butler has adopted a more subtle look for his wrist - the IWC Ingenieur 40.
The 40 seems to be a perfect size for Butler’s wrist and it both dresses up and dresses down nicely. “Playoff Jimmy” no doubt appreciates a watch that can give him both style and solid durability with the Ingenieur.
Copyright Getty, Courtesy of IWC.
Pete Davidson Wearing an IWC Ingenieur 40 with Aqua Dial
Pete Davidson’s watch collection is as unique as he is, and we’ve reported on it before here.
Now the IWC Ingenieur 40 has joined Davidson’s exclusive collection of mostly Rolex’s and G-Shocks. Davidson’s collection is evidence that he loves to have fun with the watches that he wears. And no doubt, he enjoys wearing durable watches with shock protection. David was seen wearing the Ingenieur during the afterparties of the 2023 Met Gala. And, we have to say, its a great choice. In the Ingenieur, Davidson found a watch protected from shock and other perils as well as one with a high level of style.
Justin Theroux Wearing an IWC Ingenieur 40 with Black Dial
Actor and filmmaker Justin Theroux has a resume more varied than many in Hollywood. When he's not involved in major productions like American Psycho, Zoolander, and Star Wars, he's accessorizing his style with his watch collection. Not surprisingly, Theroux's collection is just as eccentric as his film career.
His collection includes bold pieces like yellow gold Rolexes and a rose gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. The IWC Ingenieur 40 has also found its way into Theroux's collection - the second confirmed IWC timepiece he owns. Picking up the 40 has given Theroux what appears to be a timepiece that is the perfect size and style for his wrist.
Copyright Getty, Courtesy of IWC.
PJ Tucker Wearing an IWC Ingenieur 40 with Black Dial
Jimmy Butler is not the only NBA star to don an IWC Ingenieur 40; PJ Tucker has also added it to his watch collection. Tucker is usually highlighted in relation to his sneaker collection, so it’s a pleasant surprise to see him turning heads with a timepiece.
We don’t know exactly how many timepieces Tucker has but his sneaker collection is rumored to be over 5,000 pairs deep. So we think we’re safe in saying Tucker is pretty hard-core in his collecting. The question is: will Tucker pick up all the colorways of the Ingenieur 40 to match his sneakers?
Copyright Getty, Courtesy of IWC.
Jimmy Fallon Wearing an IWC Ingenieur 40 with White Dial
While most of the celebrities on this list are major watch collectors, there are a few whose watch collections fly under the radar a bit more. Jimmy Fallon is just such a celebrity. Fallon doesn’t talk watches often, but he has been seen in a variety of Swiss timepieces from Omega, Rolex, Patek Philippe, and A. Lange & Söhne.
IWC’s Ingenieur 40 appears to have made its mark on Fallon, as he was recently spotted proudly displaying it. The timepiece seems to keep pace pretty well with his tux…
Copyright Getty, Courtesy of IWC.
Taika Waititi Wearing an IWC Ingenieur 40 with Black Dial
When he’s not directing the latest Thor hit movie (or snagging a bit of screen time as Korg), filmmaker Taika Waititi of New Zealand loves collecting watches. Taika is all about variety in his watch collection; he loves snagging watches from Rolex to Cartier, Seiko to DOXA.
The esoteric director recently added the IWC Ingenieur 40 to his collection. As the charcoal-colored dial matches his salt-and-pepper hair, we wonder if it’s his best timepiece look yet.
Copyright Getty, Courtesy of IWC.
Nicholas Braun Wearing an IWC Ingenieur 40 with Black Dial
We recently talked about “Cousin Greg’s” wrist game here which included the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41. In season 3 of the HBO hit series “Succession,” viewers walk through the humorous process Nicholas Braun a.k.a. Cousin Greg goes through to get his first Rolex. It turns out Braun is a fan of more than just Rolex, as he recently sported the IWC Ingenieur 40.
It's evident that Braun likes clothing and accessories that are atypical and off the grid. The IWC Ingenieur makes a perfect accessory to gain style points without drawing too much attention away from the colorful suit he's wearing.
Copyright Getty, Courtesy of IWC.
Josh Christopher Wearing an IWC Ingenieur 40 with Black Dial
The two NBA veterans on this list are joined by one of basketball's young guns - Josh Christopher. Christopher does not appear to be a watch fanatic (yet), but he enjoys putting his best foot forward from a fashion standpoint. Is it any wonder that he decided to sport an IWC Ingenieur 40?
Just a couple of years ago, the world began to catch a glimpse of Christopher's fashion sense. That sense has carried into his professional career, and he constantly makes a statement wherever he goes. We hope that we see him accessorize with timepieces more and more often in the future.
Copyright Getty, Courtesy of IWC.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan Wearing an IWC Ingenieur 40 with Black Dial
If you've watched any action-packed television shows in the 1990's and 2000's, there's a good chance you saw Jeffrey Dean Morgan. With roles in The Walking Dead, Supernatural, The Boys, and more, Morgan loves to leave an impression on an audience. It's no surprise, then, that Morgan pays attention to what's on his wrist.
What's Morgan's latest tool to leave an impression on an audience? An IWC Ingenieur 40. And, of course, the master of dark television wears it in the darkest colorway...
Copyright Getty, Courtesy of IWC.
John Krasinski wearing an IWC Ingenieur 40 with black dial
Jim’s come a long way since his little Victorinox in The Office. It seems the heart-throb of the mid-2000’s has definitely upgraded his wrist presence, as John Krasinski was spotted at the US Open in the recently released IWC Ingenieur 40. Pairing it up with bracelets from his daughters with wife Emily Blunt, the whole look is really a vibe, and we’re here for it.
You can check out the whole collection of IWC Ingenieur 40s at the brand's website.