Watches and Wonders 2023: Eileen Gu checks out IWC Schaffhausen

#legend spotted two-time Olympic champion freestyle skier Eileen Gu at IWC Schaffhausen’s showcase at Watches and Wonders 2023 in Geneva as we checked out its horological offerings

During the event, Gu rocked a Portofino Automatic Day & Night 34 (Ref. IW659802). With its luxurious 18 carat 5n gold case decorated with 66 light-reflecting diamonds, the watch with its silver-plated dial and taupe calfskin leather strap looked divine on her wrist. On the technical side, it is the first 34 mm Portofino to feature IWC’s intricate day & night complication.

But it’s more than just celebrity sightings that got us excited at the Swiss luxury watchmaker’s booth. Here are a couple of timepieces that caught our eye.

Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun

This year, IWC adds two chronographs in a compact and easy-to-wear case diameter of 41 mm to the this line. It marks the first time IWC offers the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 in a case made of ceramic – an extremely hard and scratch-resistant performance material. The new “Oceana” colour is inspired by the the U.S. Navy’s blue overalls and created with Pantone, IWC’s partner on colour. It is also available in jet black.

Ingenieur Automatic 40

In the 1970s, watch designer Gérald Genta created the Ingenieur SL, Reference 1832. It makes a return in the form of the new Ingenieur Automatic 40 introduced at Watches and Wonders.

“While taking inspiration from Gérald  Genta’s Ingenieur SL from the 1970s, we invested a lot of time and effort into engineering a new automatic model with perfect case proportions and ergonomics, a high level of detail and finishing, and equipped with modern movement technology,” says Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen. “The new Ingenieur Automatic 40 is a versatile luxury sports watch for the 21st century.”

Also see: Watches and Wonders 2023: Parmigiani Fleurier takes time