For a lot of fans, the rumoured rebirth of the high quality replica IWC Ingenieur was what they were waiting for at this year’s fair (myself included), and perfect fake IWC UK nailed the look and aesthetic of the original Gerald Genta-designed 1832 “Jumbo”, with some modern updates. To wit: the bezel screws are now functional, and sit in perfect alignment. Additionally, the transition from the case to the H-link bracelet has been improved, with a newly redesigned centre link that provides a better fit without the awkward protrusion of the original. Power reserve from the 32111 movement is a rather astonishing 5 days, or 120 hours, and the grid-patterned dial comes in a bold aqua dial in addition to the more sober black or silver variants.
But the killer app for me is the availability of the Ingenieur in full titanium case and bracelet. At first, you can’t connect the visual weight of the luxury replica IWC UK with its actual weight, such is the disorienting feel of titanium. It’s a completely different experience, but for me, it nails the mission of a forward-thinking technical timepiece, one that’s strong, lightweight, sculptured, and resistant to magnetism. It’s a Swiss movement copy IWC that still looks futuristic some 47 years after Genta’s original design was launched.