Entrepreneur Andrew Forrest spotted wearing a IWC

Andrew Forrest, the mining magnate behind Fortescue Metals Group and one of the most prominent business figures in the Asia-Pacific region, was recently spotted with an IWC Ingenieur IW5005-01 on his wrist — a choice that says a great deal about how certain industrialists approach watchmaking.

The IWC Ingenieur IW5005-01 is a 45mm stainless steel sports watch introduced as part of IWC's 2005 Ingenieur revival, a collection that deliberately referenced the original 1955 Gerald Genta-penned Ingenieur while pushing the technical envelope forward. The reference IW5005-01 is powered by IWC's in-house Calibre 80110, a self-winding movement offering an exceptional 168-hour — seven-day — power reserve. Soft-iron inner case construction provides protection against magnetic fields in compliance with IEC 60068 standards, a feature rooted in the model's original brief as a watch for engineers working near high-voltage equipment.

From a collector's perspective, the IW5005-01 occupies an interesting position. It predates the 2013 Ingenieur relaunch, which was developed in collaboration with Sebastian Vettel and took a more lifestyle-oriented direction. The 2005-era pieces, including the IW5005-01, are increasingly regarded as the more serious horological expression of the Ingenieur name — heavier, more purposeful, and less diluted by marketing considerations. The 45mm case wears large by modern standards but suits the watch's industrial character.

Forrest, who founded Fortescue in 2003 and transformed it into one of the world's largest iron ore producers, has a well-documented interest in engineering and infrastructure at scale. A watch built around magnetic resistance and long power reserve fits naturally into his profile — this is not a dress watch choice, nor a status piece in the conventional sense. It is a functional instrument that happens to be well-made.

On the secondary market, the IW5005-01 trades at a moderate premium over its original retail positioning, with clean examples attracting steady collector interest as the 2005 Ingenieur generation gains retrospective appreciation. It remains an accessible entry point into IWC's in-house manufacture era for buyers who prioritise specification over spectacle.