Brad Pitt loves his bespoke IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40, and you could own one almost like it

When Brad Pitt was spotted at the Hungaroring track at the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, cameras captured on his wrist a timepiece that set horology circles buzzing. On his wrist was what looked like a IWC Ingenieur SL Ref. 1832, designed by Gerald Genta in 1974, but it had a striking green dial that was never part of the original collection. 

It’s clear the Hollywood star adored it — his long-sleeved top, overnight bag, and beaded bracelets were colour-coordinated in green too.

The mystery was recently unveiled: The model is a bespoke piece crafted for his role as Sonny Hayes, the grizzled racing veteran in F1: The Movie. Study closely the trailers for the film, which will charge into theatres on June 26, and you could see the watch making multiple appearances (we suggest setting the playback speed to 0.25).

Now, IWC Schaffhausen is bringing that same cinematic glamour to collectors and motorsport enthusiasts with a limited-edition Ingenieur Automatic 40 inspired by Pitt’s on-screen timepiece, and more.

Debuting at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2025, the new sporty collection celebrates IWC’s partnership with the high-octane film directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Lewis Hamilton, who was an IWC ambassador for over a decade during his stint with Mercedes.

Limited-edition homage

In F1: The Movie, Sonny Hayes wears a custom Ingenieur SL Ref. 1832 created by Cloister Watch Company in a reimagination of the vintage icon. And that same aesthetic has been channelled into a special Ingenieur Automatic 40 “F1 Edition” (Ref. IW328908), which is limited to just 1,000 pieces.

Presented in stainless steel with an integrated bracelet, the watch features a grid-textured green dial, evoking the chequered flag of a racetrack. The gold-plated hands and appliques, which reflect the colour code of the fictional APXGP team’s livery and race suits, are filled with Super-LumiNova to ensure legibility even in low-light conditions, much like the dashboard of a Formula One car. 

The bezel, secured with five functional screws, is a hallmark of the Ingenieur line, paying tribute to the engineering prowess of both motorsport and Swiss watchmaking.

Under the hood, the watch is powered by IWC’s manufacture 32111 calibre automatic mechanical movement, boasting an impressive 120-hour power reserve — enough to keep ticking through an entire Grand Prix weekend. The movement is shielded by a soft-iron inner case, protecting it from electromagnetic interference found in high-performance racing environments.

High-performance chronographs

Beyond the Ingenieur, IWC also unveiled three Pilot’s Watch chronographs tied to the movie. The standout is the Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 (Ref. IW388309), a red gold model with a black ceramic tachymeter bezel — worn by Damson Idris’ rookie driver character, Joshua Pearce. 

Its black lacquered dial is the result of a highly engineered production process, with each subdial individually finished and printed. The gold-plated appliques are polished by hand and Super-LumiNova-filled, while the EasX-CHANGE strap system allows for quick swaps — perfect for transitioning from the racetrack to the paddock.

Two additional steel chronographs — the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph APXGP (Ref. IW378009) in 43mm and the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 APXGP (Ref. IW388116) — are odes to the protagonist team. Their black-gold-white colour scheme mirrors the team’s livery, seen on the black dials bearing printed white numerals and golden minute markers, as well as the gold-plated hands coated with white Super-LumiNova. The tinted sapphire casebacks feature a gold APXGP logo, which is also laser-engraved onto the black rubber straps with EasX-CHANGE system.

All three chronographs are powered by IWC’s 69385 calibre, a high-performance automatic mechanical movement with a column-wheel mechanism for precise stop-time measurements. The vertical subdial layout — with the stopped minutes at 12 o’clock — enhances readability, a critical feature for timing laps on the track. With a 46-hour power reserve and water resistance up to 10 bar, these watches are as durable as they are stylish.

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Motorsport meets horology

Made in partnership with Formula One, the film was shot in and around actual Grand Prix weekends. For IWC CEO Christoph Grainger-Herr, the collaboration was a natural fit: “We are a brand with a long-standing connection to motorsport, so we could not miss out on the opportunity to become a part of this project. We are thrilled that the movie is shot using race cars on real racetracks, and we cannot wait to see what an incredible experience this will be on the screen.”

Timepieces from IWC’s Pilot collection are also worn by different characters and serve as official team watches. Among them are the Big Pilot’s Watch 43 in stainless steel with a black dial, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN in black zirconium oxide ceramic and the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 in stainless steel with a black dial. This partnership, however, extends beyond the watches. In F1: The Movie, IWC has a starring role as an official APXGP sponsor whose branding appears on the race cars, drivers’ suits, and team uniforms. 

The film’s plot, which is a tale of redemption and rivalry, mirrors the guts, grit, and glory that define both motorsport and Swiss watchmaking in their pursuit of excellence. So lock June 26 down in your calendar for a film full of eye candy — if not for the timekeepers, then perhaps for Brad and the machines.