How Brad Pitt's favourite watch got its own starring role in F1
Brad Pitt may be best known for appearing in some of cinema's biggest blockbusters, but as a figure in the public eye for nearly four decades, he's also no stranger to scrutiny when it comes to his style choices. Alongside the clothes on his back, his hoard of statement watches has been well documented. And with the release of this season's high-octane motor-racing movie F1, Pitt's interest in horology is set to be centre stage again.
The film, which is co-produced by Lewis Hamilton, stars Pitt as Sonny Hayes, who returns to the track to reclaim his lost glory following a spell in rehabilitation. But long before the movie's premiere this month — for which IWC is the sponsor of the fictional racing team and supplied all the timepieces — watch aficionados were caught up in a speculative frenzy when images of Pitt found their way into media channels. What had them bamboozled was a mystery green-dialled watch that was perfectly colour-coordinated with Pitt's elegant Sunspel sweatshirt and leather holdall. Theories swirled as to whether this was a 'prop' watch or something with more substance. It turned out to be the latter.
'Some time ago I got an email from somebody called 'BP' and I discarded it at first, until my team asked me if I had got an email from Brad Pitt,' says Chris Grainger-Herr, the CEO of IWC, recalling his astonishment when the actor got in touch. Pitt's message concerned the watch he thought his character should wear in the film, and a particular IWC model would be the only one up to muster. He requested an IWC Ingenieur SL 1832, a vintage 1976 model by Gérald Genta — often considered the godfather of modern watch design — who was also responsible for the cult Patek Philippe Nautilus and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.
'He was very specific — he wanted it half as thick as the original and a special dial colour,' Grainger-Herr adds. Pitt also requested that the modifications involve his jeweller, Cloister Watch Co in New York, which is famed for its customisation work. The dial Pitt chose, a moss green that is his character's signature colour in the film, never existed in the original Seventies iteration — and was what had watch fanatics scratching their heads.
Ingenieur Automatic 40, IW328908, £11,100, iwc.com
Christian Knoop, IWC's creative director, and his team were so taken with this one-off 'fictional' watch designed by the actor that they decided to launch their own tribute to his timepiece.
The result is a contemporary spin on Pitt's remodelled vintage design, which still retains the Seventies swagger of the film version with a slick, integrated bracelet and angular case, but has all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a modern watch, including a high-spec self-powered movement that will keep ticking for 120 hours off the wrist. And that green dial has been given a textural upgrade with a grid-like finish. 'With this re-engineered model, we brought back the aesthetic codes of the original 1976 Ingenieur SL 1832, pairing them with the ergonomics and finishing of a luxury sports watch for today,' Knoop explains.
And with only 1,000 being produced, you'll need to move like an F1 champ to get your hands on one before the chequered flag is waved.
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