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Men's Ingenieur | IWC Watch Collection
2 MATCHES FOUND
The IWC Ingenieur collection marries sport, elegance, and technical appeal. Introduced in the 1950s, its groundbreaking design featured a soft-iron case, which provided heightened resistance against magnetic fields. In 1976, renowned designer Gerald Genta breathed new life into the Ingenieur, resulting in a more modern design to welcome the new era. Today’s Ingenieur watches come in understated round cases, and feature three-hand, chronograph, and perpetual calendar models. Explore our collection of IWC Ingenieur watches at SwissWatchExpo.com.
IWC Ingenieur Collection
Introduced in 1955, the IWC Ingenieur is a homage to the technical ingenuity of the decade. At a time when new electrical devices proliferated, and their magnetic interference became a concern, the Ingenieur was developed as one of the world’s first anti-magnetic watches. Thanks to its soft iron inner cage, it protected against magnetic fields, and offered impressive water resistance to boot.
While the IWC Ingenieur has gone through various design changes in its history, rugged sportiness and technical appeal remain key features of the collection today. Further highlighting IWC’s passion for engineering and design, materials used for Ingenieur watches are typically used in motorsport, such as ceramic and titanium.
Most of the current collection are powered by in-house movements, and the collection has also expanded to include complications like the flyback chronograph, tourbillon, and perpetual calendar.
Explore our selection of IWC Ingenieur watches for men and women at SwissWatchExpo.com.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE IWC INGENIEUR COLLECTION
The IWC Ingenieur was introduced in 1955, and in its almost 70 years of existence, the iconic model has undergone various reinventions.
It began with the simple and elegant design of the 1950s Ingenieur, and evolved into the modern 1970s Gerald Genta Ingenieur SL, before finally arriving at the current generation.
With the first IWC Ingenieur (ref 666), the engineers at IWC were bent on creating a watch that was both precise and highly protected versus magnetic fields and shocks. Named after the French word for “engineer” the IWC Ingenieur’s main selling point was its soft-iron inner case, which protected the movement from potentially damaging magnetic fields.
Also notable was that it was equipped with the first automatic movement from IWC, which had the self-winding system designed by Albert Pellaton, IWC’s technical director.
Largely marketed towards professionals in the fields of engineering and science, the Ingenieur was largely untouched for the next decade.
In 1976, renowned designer Gerald Genta gave the IWC Ingenieur a completely new look. The thick, steel case and dressier look of the original was replaced by a sleek and sporty stainless steel case. Beefed up dimensions, exposed screws on the smooth bezel, and an integrated bracelet gave it an ultra-modern feel. The design innovation gave it the contemporary look that it needed to succeed in the next three decades.
The most recent redesign of the Ingenieur was in 2005. The new collection introduced a trio of watches with contemporary 42.5mm cases and masculine designs – the ref 3227 Ingenieur Automatic, the ref 4515 Ingenieur mid-size, and for the first time in the collection, the ref 3275 Ingenieur mechanical chronograph. There were also titanium and ceramic editions made as tribute to the AMG, the high-performance vehicle made by Mercedes-Benz.
In 2017, IWC enriched the collection with new references and complications - the Ingenieur Automatic, the Ingenieur Chronograph and the Ingenieur Chronograph Sport. By 2019, the collection was boosted with the addition of the Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month, a limited edition of 100 pieces.
While IWC Ingenieur models vary in looks, they are all true to the spirit of the original design: a stylish and functional watch that offers constant protection from magnetic fields, to meet the needs of the modern man.
ABOUT THE IWC INGENIEUR COLLECTION
The IWC Ingenieur is a cornerstone of the brand’s catalog, made for modern men and women who seek rugged appeal and technical abilities in a watch.
Here are the sub-collections available in the IWC Ingenieur family of watches:
IWC INGENIEUR AUTOMATIC
The IWC Ingenieur Automatic is a three-hand watch with a date window at 3 o’clock. Sized at 40mm, these models are either made of stainless steel or 18ct 5N gold. The clean dial, luminous markers, and polished bezel closely resemble the timeless design of the 1950s Ingenieur models.
Case size: 40mm
Material: Stainless steel and 18ct 5N gold
IWC INGENIEUR CHRONOGRAPH
This model combines sporty elegance with functionality. The polished construction lends a touch of sophistication, while the tachymeter scale and chronograph pushers are able to show the average speed achieved over a measured distance of 1,000 meters. The in-house 69375 Caliber movement with a bidirectional pawl-winding system offers a 46-hour power reserve.
Case size: 42.3mm
Material: Stainless steel
IWC INGENIEUR PERPETUAL CALENDAR DIGITAL DATE-MONTH
The flagship of the Ingenieur collection, this 45mm piece features a chronograph and an ingenious digital perpetual calendar with large date and month displays, which can be set using the crown. The IWC-manufactured 89801 Caliber movement offers a power reserve of 68 hours. This piece is limited to 100 pieces only.
Case size: 45mm
Material: 18ct 5N gold
IWC INGENIEUR REFERENCE NUMBERS
IWC watches come with a reference number to document their sale and manufacture. Modern IWC reference numbers start with the letters IW, followed by six numbers – the first three tell us their watch family and complications, while the next three indicate the materials.
Here are IWC Ingenieur reference numbers as of 2022:
| REFERENCE NUMBERS | MODEL TYPE | MATERIAL |
|---|---|---|
| IW357XXX | IWC Ingenieur Automatic | Stainless steel or 18k rose gold, 40mm |
| IW357XXX | IWC Ingenieur Chronograph | Stainless steel or 18k rose gold, 42.3mm |
| IW357XXX | IWC Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month | 18k rose gold, 45mm |
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT THE IWC INGENIEUR COLLECTION
Inspired by IWC’s passion for engineering, the IWC Ingenieur collection combines sporty looks, rugged materials, and technical advancements. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the IWC Ingenieur collection.
WHAT IS AN IWC INGENIEUR WATCH?
The Ingenieur collection has been an important pillar of the IWC Schaffhausen portfolio since 1955. It was one of the world’s first watches to offer protection against magnetic fields, thanks to its soft iron cage. It was also made to be extremely precise and water resistant, traits that remain in the collection today.
The current collection is composed of three sub-collections: the Ingenieur Automatic, Ingenieur Chronograph, and the Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date.
ARE IWC INGENIEUR WATCHES WATERPROOF?
IWC Ingenieur watches have a depth rating of 12 bar or 120 meters. With this level of water-resistance, the watch can be worn during snorkeling, swimming, and light water sports. Note however, that a watch’s water-resistance is not permanent and is subject to wear and tear over time. Regular service is advised to keep your timepiece’s accuracy and water resistance.
HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO SERVICE MY IWC WATCH?
IWC recommends a complete service every five years to maintain your watch’s performance and accuracy. This can vary depending on how your watch is stored and used.
There can be signs that your watch already needs maintenance sooner than later. Here are Signs It’s Time for Watch Maintenance.
