1980s IWC Ingenieur ‘Jumbo’ SL Ref. IW1832 with Box and Papers

The 1832 Ingenieur would be the first of the new “SL” line of steel watches aimed at modernizing IWC’s offer. Hannes Pantli, head of this project, who had just joined the company in 1972 as IWC’s newest salesman in charge of Northern Europe, quickly recognized the necessity to cut product costs and increase factory utilization.

 

Designed by Gerald Genta, whose 1970s designs will remain forever within the luxury stainless steel sports watch, such as de Patek Philippe Nautilus or the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, the IWC 1832 Ingenieur SL is only mentioned only when these of his major accomplishments are talked about.

 

Pantli met Gerald Genta in 1973 to communicate IWC’s requirements: the watch had to be round with an integrated bracelet, and it had to maintain the double case and accommodate the 8541ES movement.

 

Designed in 1974 and released by IWC in 1976, its relatively short production life insured its rarity among his numerous creations.

 

The 8541ES, where “ES” refers to the inclusion of few new anti-magnetic components, a stop seconds function and rubber cushions, was at the tip-top of accuracy and reliability but at 5.9mm high, it cased out at 12.5mm. When added to the overall case dimension of 40mm, “Jumbo” would become the appropriate nickname amongst collectors.

 

During the life of the “Jumbo”, IWC did its best to give responde customer requests and produced models in various references with a combination of metals, offering both automatic and quartz movements. After around seven years of production, the “Jumbo” was eventually discontinued in 1983.

 

More than a decade later, the 1832 “Jumbo” became a very sought-after model, seeing a notable increase in its value, and defining yet another iconic watch within the IWC family.

 

But Gerald Genta is not the only notable character in this story. Brad Pitt made an appearance at the paddock of the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary in Budapest in mid-July 2024. This famous actor, spotted with top notch vintage watches such as a Patek Philippe ref. 2526, the reissue of Vacheron Constantin’s 222 (a rare steel, vintage version of said 222), a svelte Tank à Guichet, or a tropical Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 3800 in steel, wore on his wrist not other than an Ingenieur SL ref. 1832 with custom green dial that IWC never offered in their catalogue.

Offered for sale here is a IWC Ingenieur ‘Jumbo’ SL Ref. 1832 from circa 1980.

 

The cushion-type case, in stainless steel, remains in great condition, letting visible very little wear, if any. The case back is in the same condition, showing only minor signs of use.

 

The IWC stainless steel integrated bracelet with deployant clasp coded T9 remains also in strong condition, with little wear and only minor signs of use. It has no visible stretch.

 

The sapphire crystal is clean.

 

The watch is running well and keeping time, although service history is unknown.

 

It comes as a full set which includes box, wallet, service booklet, international guarantee manual, blank guarantee papers, and Chrono24 Certified documentation.