The fashion world is currently enamored with watches, especially ones designed for and worn by women. Instagram is loaded with them, showcased on wrists and stacked alongside sculptural bracelets or in a decorative box to show off a growing collection. In a retail space once dominated by men, women are embracing these meticulously crafted and categorically luxurious investment items with open arms.
In the past, celebrities like Victoria Beckham, Rihanna, and Jennifer Lopez dabbled in larger timepieces, but this time around, most of the watches that are trending among women are rather dainty in size. Think smaller Tanks and Baignoires and Lady Datejusts. While I am nothing if not smitten with all three of the aforementioned styles, I'm also someone who spent her early 20s in a men's Seiko stolen from her father, which is why I've always had a soft spot for bigger, more substantial timepieces when time is taken to choose the right one and, of course, it is styled just right.
One trick to styling a men's watch is to stick with cases that are 40 millimeters or below. Anything larger than that tends to be overly showy, a trait that's best avoided, especially for an everyday watch. (Luxury watches are expensive and sought after, so you don't want to draw an abundance of attention to yours. In 2022, nearly 7000 Rolexes were reported stolen or missing, according to data from The Watch Register.) I also prefer to go for classic color options and minimal designs that can be dressed up or down and will fit seamlessly with my existing jewelry collection and wardrobe.
Versatility is what first attracted me to the Ingenieur Automatic 40—a Swiss-made men's timepiece by IWC, a luxury watch brand out of Schaffhausen, Switzerland, that was founded in 1868 by Boston watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones. I was kindly invited by the brand to attend an event in Las Vegas ahead of the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix at the end of last year (IWC has partnered with the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One team since 2004) and even more kindly tasked with picking out a watch to wear for the occasion.
Though I carefully studied each one, I pretty much knew straight out the gate that this Ingenieur was the one for me. The style first launched in 1955 with the intention of building a timepiece that was durable at its core while still being a touch sporty, elegant, and ultimately wearable. The Automatic 40 was only released in March of 2023. Inspired by Swiss watchmaker Gérald Genta's Ingenieur SL from the 1970s, the redesigned take has a bolder overall look.The devil's really in the details, though, from the dial's unique design to the combination of satin-finished and polished surfaces on the bracelet, bezel, and case. Immediately, I began thinking up ways to style it, inspired by the challenge of making a sportier watch primarily designed for men feel natural on my wrist and with my not-so-sporty wardrobe.
Scroll down to see how I seamlessly incorporated a men's watch, IWC's Ingenieur Automatic 40, into three outfits.
Details: The Ingenieur Automatic 40 comes in four style options, three of which, the above included, use sterling silver for the bracelet and case. The last uses titanium. In addition to this black dial, dials come in green, white, and charcoal gray. As the name suggests, this is an automatic watch (as opposed to a manual one), and the case is 40 millimeters in diameter.
My main objective with this styling challenge was to make this men's watch feel natural with my regular wardrobe, which tends to be quite formal and feminine. Mostly, I didn't want anyone to see the watch and think that it didn't fit in with the outfit or was just thrown on without thought to the role it played in the overall look. Here, I love how the structured shoulders of this Mango coat added a masculine touch to the combination of a miniskirt with sheer tights, kitten-heel pumps, and a Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy–inspired handbag. The look is also quite corporate (in a fashion way), a trend that's very 2024. I enjoy the concept of taking a men's accessory like this watch and owning it in an office environment, another space that's long been geared toward men.
Wearing: Mango coat and skirt; Calzedonia 20 Denier Ultra Comfort Sheer Tights ($4); vintage sweater; Prada Brushed Leather Pumps ($1390) and Brushed Calfskin Large Re-Edition 1995 Tote ($2935); IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 ($11700); Linda Farrow sunglasses
When I read about the intentional elegance of this watch in particular, I knew I wanted to play that up with one of the outfits I styled it with, which is how I came up with this black-and-navy ensemble. Here, I'm wearing a navy slip dress from Massimo Dutti with a longline velvet-detail wool jacket from Liberowe and black accessories, including a Tory Burch bag, Prada kitten heels, and fishnet tights. Black and navy together have always felt like an extremely glamorous collaboration to me, even when they were oftentimes referred to as two colors that clashed and should therefore never be combined. I love how the silver details in the bag make the watch pop and the way the varying materials—from velvet to leather to stainless steel—all seem to stand out on their own.
Wearing: Liberowe Raja Velvet-Trimmed Wool Jacket ($1750); Massimo Dutti dress; Prada Brushed Leather Pumps ($1390); Tory Burch Lee Radziwill Leather Cat Eye Bag ($419); IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 ($11,700); Linda Farrow sunglasses; Calzedonia Micronet Tights ($15)
Though I'm never one to downgrade the power of a simple jeans-and-tee combination, a watch like this one, to me, deserves a little something with it. This velvet Liberowe jacket—between the color, fabric, and peplum detail—felt like just the piece to give this outfit that necessary vitality. I especially appreciate the way this particular shade of red made the black-and-silver coloring on the watch appear more prominent and eye-catching.
Wearing: Madewell Softfade Cotton Perfect Vintage Tee ($21); Liberowe Velvet Peplum Jacket ($2200); Calzedonia Micronet Tights ($15); AG Kora High Waist Wide Leg Jeans ($225); Prada shoes; IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 ($11700)
The white dial feels so clean and modern. Plus, if you're looking to get in on the metallic trend, be it with a skirt, dress, or pair of shoes, this watch will be the perfect companion piece.
This was Gisele Bündchen's watch of choice during Art Basel in Miami. "I like wearing my Ingenieur because it is beautiful and comfortable," she said of the timepiece at an IWC event. "You can wear it with anything, and it will look great."
Unlike the other three Ingenieur Automatic 40 watches that are made of stainless steel, this option is crafted out of titanium, which is why the price is significantly higher.
