Buy and finance pre-owned IWC Ingenieur watches
The IWC Ingenieur impresses with diversity
The
Ingenieur series was launched in 1955 as a
functional watch for scientists and engineers, which is still evident today in its
first-class workmanship. As a result, the models in this series are not only
waterproof, but also
anti-magnetic and operate with the highest precision. The Ingenieur series initially positioned itself in direct competition with Rolex Milgauss, in order to serve a similar market segment. The Ingenieur design was based on
IWC's military and pilot watch Mark XI, but was enhanced with a more elegant dial and Dauphine hands. Therefore, the Ingenieur was not offered entirely in stainless steel, but also with a
gold case and leather strap. The first models with the Ref. 666A and 666AD, equipped with a date display at 03:00 had the calibre 852 as well as the calibre 8521. The movements were built into an inner case made of soft iron for magnetic protection, which protected them from
up to 80.000 A/m (Ampere per meter).
IWC INGENIEUR AUTOMATIC LAUREUS IW323310Invest in one of the collection's numerous special editions
As you can see from the history of the series, the
Ingenieur has undergone numerous technical and optical changes, giving each model its
own charm. It is possible to distinguish the series very roughly
by its calibres. From 1955 to 1958 they used the calibre 852X, from 1959 to 1966 calibre 853X and from 1967 to 1976 calibre 854X. In the '70s the quartz movements were preferably used and so the mechanical movement celebrated its comeback not until the calibre 3579X with the
Ingenieur "500.000 A/m". During the '90s the Ingenieur was still produced as Ingenieur "Chrono Alarm" with quartz movements. This series ran parallel to the mechanical models, which were the heart of the series and were led into the new millennium by the Ingenieur "Officially Certified Chronometer" (1993 - 2001). Since then, numerous own calibres have been used, of which the calibre 80110 with Pellaton winding and shock protection is the best known.
Over the years, several trademarks have established themselves among the Ingenieur. The very elegantly designed hands are slightly bent downwards, giving them dimension. The end of the hands and hour markers are coated with
luminous material, which makes the watch easy to read even in the dark. Partnerships such as IWC's cooperation with AMG had a major influence on the design and gave the Ingenieur AMG a sportier look. Those looking for vintage can take a look at the new 2017 collection, which reinterprets the beginnings of the series.
How much do IWC Schaffhausen Ingenieur models cost?
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If you also want to experience the chic and elegance of the race track, you should invest in an Ingenieur AMG (Ref. IW322702) from 2015. The design with the five recesses in the bezel and the integrated titanium bracelet is strongly reminiscent of the legendary Genta design. With a 42.5 mm wide and perfectly polished titanium case, the Ingenieur AMG lies gently and safely on the wrist. Pre-owned you can buy the IWC Ingenieur AMG in our certified online shop for €3,210. Professional tip: For comparably favourable €3,390 you can update the model also to a chronograph with the reference IW372504.
- The IWC Big Ingenieur (Ref. IW500501) was produced from 2007 to 2012 and combines Gentas classic design with the contemporary trend towards larger pilot and sports watches. With a case size of 45.5 mm, it is wide, but not bulky and skilfully slips under most suits. A power reserve of 7 days lets this model also stand out. For an IWC Big Ingenieur that has already been worn, you should expect a purchase price of approx. €6,000. Alternatively, you can finance the Big Ingenieur from €113 per month.
- Gild your day with the Ingenieur (Ref. 9225)! Case, bracelet and bezel shine in 18-carat yellow gold and are rounded off in colour with a sleek, champagne-coloured dial. With a size of only 34 mm, the model can also be worn very well as a unisex watch. The IWC Ingenieur can be purchased second hand from approx. €7,700.
- The Ingenieur series doesn't lack collector's items, but if you want to invest in a newer model, it's worth buying an IWC Ingenieur "W125" IW380701, which was sold in 2016 in a special edition of 750 pieces. The model is classically elegant and thus differs from the sporty line of its predecessors. It has a silver-plated dial and chronograph movement with the new calibre 69370. Its nickname "W125" is a tribute to the Mercedes-Benz W 125. With an RRP of €8,150 we offer the IWC Ingenieur Ref. IW380701 at a bargain price of €5,340.
IWC INGENIEUR CHRONOGRAPH SILBERPFEIL IW378505The history of the collection
In the '70s IWC commissioned the famous designer Gérald Genta to adapt the Ingenieur to actual the course of time. Genta previously designed the Royal Oak for Audemars Piguet and some of these distinctive features such as the integrated bracelet can also be found in the Ingenieur. Gentas
new edition of the Ingenieur was presented as
Ingenieur SL. The case now had a tonneau shape and the bezel had the five Genta-specific holes to open the watch. The dial received a guilloché finish. Because the model landed in the middle of the quartz crisis, it was not immediately popular, and only 1,000 units were produced. Today, these are
coveted investments and can achieve
pre-owned up to €10,000.
1983, the first new edition of the series was released, featuring the calibre 2892 of ETA instead of an own movement. IWC refined the movement with a 21 Kt. golden rotor and gave the models an exquisite finish. In 1989 IWC tried to increase the anti-magnetic resistance of the Ingenieur up to 500,000 A/m. The company also made history when it decided not to use a soft iron cage. The escapement, balance wheel and spiral were made from niobium-zirconium and iron- and nickel-free alloys. At the time, this process was revolutionary. Unfortunately, most of the balance wheels did not pass the test runs, so the models were withdrawn from the market after only 3,000 units had been produced. As always, an interesting background story and a low production number attract collectors. Today these models of the Ingenieur are very much in demand if they are available used with a certificate.
In 1991, IWC expanded the
Ingenieur with a Mecha-Quartz movement. These models were equipped with a 633-calibre purchased from Jaeger-LeCoultre. It combined a
quartz movement with a mechanical chronograph and had an
alarm function. Although Genta's design always remained connected to the Ingenieur, later IWC also dared to move away from it and go new ways with selected complications such as a perpetual calendar or a rattrapante chronograph. For this reason, the Big Ingenieur (Ref. 5005) was launched in 2005. With a massive 46 mm, it detached itself from the earlier design and wanted to be perceived above all as a sports watch.
In 2013, the series was revised again in order to adapt it to the new partnership with Mercedes-AMG. The result was the Ingenieur Automatic (Ref. 3239), which shrank again to 40 mm, but kept the muscular bridge parts of the Big Ingenieur. The last update so far came in 2017 with five new models returning to the origin of the series. The design with its round case and pointed bridges reminded more of the ref. 866 of 1967.
Other IWC series at a glance
- With the Portuguese, IWC has another series that is loved by collectors. Launched in 1939, IWC was inspired by Bauhaus design, which gives the Portuguese a modern spirit. With the new Portuguese Chronograph Classic series, IWC is now attempting to transfer this tradition into the present. The models have a 42 mm wide stainless-steel case and a flyback chronograph equipped with the new 89361 calibre.
- IWC became famous for its pilot watches and with the Pilot's Chronograph, IWC continues to pay tribute to this heritage. The IWC Pilot's Spitfire Chronograph (Ref.387812) is particularly interesting for film enthusiasts. Each year, IWC publishes a special edition celebrating its relationship with the British Film Institute (BFI).
- If you are interested in IWC's connection to racing sports, but are looking for a cheaper variant than the Ingenieur, you should take a look at the Porsche Design, which captivates with its minimalistic, sporty design.
