IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN RELEASES EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH EVELYNE AND ALEXIA GENTA TO MARK THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INGENIEUR SL
Schaffhausen, September 15th, 2026: Fifty years ago, IWC Schaffhausen introduced the Ingenieur SL, Reference 1832, created by the legendary Geneva-based artist and watch designer Gérald Genta. To celebrate the anniversary of this iconic design, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer is releasing an exclusive interview with Evelyne and Alexia Genta. In the conversation, Gérald Genta’s wife and business partner and his daughter share personal reflections on his life, reveal fascinating insights into the creative process behind some of his most influential watch designs and artworks, and discuss the enduring legacy of his vision. As founders of the Gérald Genta Heritage Association, Evelyne and Alexia have closely followed – and actively supported – the evolution of the new Ingenieur collection since its relaunch in 2023.
In 1976, IWC Schaffhausen introduced the Ingenieur SL, Reference 1832, created by Gérald Genta – a watch now regarded as one of the legendary designer and artist’s most defining stainless steel luxury sports watches with an integrated bracelet. Five decades later, its unmistakable design DNA continues to shape the modern Ingenieur.
Evelyne Genta, Gérald Genta’s wife and business partner, and their daughter Alexia were closely involved from the earliest stages of the collection’s revival. Fully aware of the responsibility involved in reinterpreting such an iconic design, IWC engaged the founders of the Gérald Genta Heritage Association early in the development process, sharing prototypes of the Ingenieur Automatic 40 with them. Evelyne and Alexia Genta subsequently supported the relaunch at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2023. They returned to the IWC booth in 2026, when the Ingenieur collection was expanded with a series of meticulously crafted new models, including the first Ingenieur equipped with a tourbillon.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Ingenieur SL, IWC invited Evelyne and Alexia Genta for an in-depth video interview, in which they reflect on Gérald Genta as a husband, father and creative visionary – sharing previously untold stories about both his private life and the remarkable creative process behind his work. The interview accompanies the launch of two dedicated Ingenieur anniversary limited editions (Ref. IW328910 and ref. IW324909), both featuring uniquely brushed dials inspired by a historic version of Gérald Genta’s Ingenieur SL from the 1970s.
The Ingenieur began life as a technical watch, but it was transformed through the creative eye of an artist. Gérald would be incredibly happy to see how IWC has respected and preserved the DNA of his original design. Seeing the success of the Ingenieur today fills me with both pride and great satisfaction. It confirms that Gérald’s artistic vision, fifty years ago, was absolutely right.
A RARE GLIMPSE INTO THE MIND OF A CREATIVE VISIONARY
In the interview, Evelyne and Alexia Genta offer deeply personal insights into Gérald Genta’s character and creative process. They explain how he never truly saw himself as a watch designer, but rather as an artist who happened to find his medium in watchmaking. Nowhere is this philosophy more evident than in the Ingenieur. To Gérald Genta, it was never simply a watch, but a single sculptural object, conceived as one continuous form flowing seamlessly from the case to the bracelet and clasp. The fully integrated stainless steel bracelet was central to his vision of creating one harmonious whole – at a time when stainless steel was not yet regarded as a material worthy of luxury watchmaking.
The interview also reveals intimate moments from everyday life with one of watchmaking’s greatest creative minds. Evelyne and Alexia recall his relentless pursuit of beauty, harmony and perfect proportions – whether choosing clothes together or arranging breakfast items on a plate.
Evelyne and Alexia Genta have been part of this journey from the very beginning, and their continued presence and support mean so much to us. Having our contemporary Ingenieur collection embraced by the two people who knew Gérald Genta better than anyone – as a husband and as a father – is incredibly rewarding. Their endorsement inspires us to continue developing this collection with the utmost respect for Gérald Genta’s heritage.
The full video interview with Evelyne and Alexia Genta is available here: The Design of Gérald Genta
IWC Schaffhausen is the Engineer of Watchmaking. In 1868, the American watchmaker and engineer Florentine Ariosto Jones established the ‘International Watch Company’ in Schaffhausen in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. By combining the best of human craftsmanship and creativity with cutting-edge industrial technology and processes, he laid the foundation for IWC’s unique engineering approach to watchmaking.
IWC’s distinctive and pure design is brought to life through collections ranging from elegant dress watches to sports and luxury sports watches, notably the Portugieser, Portofino, Pilot’s Watches and Ingenieur. Over its more than 150-year history, IWC has earned a reputation for creating professional instrument watches and functional complications, especially chronographs and calendars, which are ingenious, robust and easy to use.
A pioneer in the use of titanium and ceramic, IWC specializes in performance materials such as Ceratanium®. IWC’s advanced engineering division XPL develops technologies that enhance the durability of mechanical watches and extend their applications to environments with extreme conditions such as jet aviation and human spaceflight.
IWC is a leader in luxury watchmaking, crafting timepieces built to last for generations and continuously improving every aspect of how it manufactures, distributes and services its watches responsibly. Empowering the next generation of engineers, the brand also partners with organizations that work globally to support children and young people. IWC. EngineeredTM.