IWC Ingenieur

The first IWC Ingenieur timepieces were created in the 1950’s and initiated a success story for the International Watch Company. They were developed specifically for individuals who must work in magnetic environments or for those who regularly come in contact with magnetic fields, such as engineers or technicians.

The ‘30s and ‘40s marked a time when the International Watch Company equipped the Pilot’s Watch Mark 11 with reliable protection against magnetic fields. Thereafter, IWC became a pioneer in the field of anti-magnetic watches as a result of the Ingenieur of the 1950s (Ref. 666 A and Ref. 666 AD).

A soft-iron inner case ensured the watch movement’s safety in magnetic fields. The Pellaton automatic winding system, created by IWC’s Technical Director Albert Pellaton, was the first bidirectional automatic movement and guaranteed outstanding precision. This groundbreaking innovation allowed engineers to easily wear their IWC Ingenieur during work periods accompanied by magnetic fields.

Gérald Genta is a big name in Haute Horlogerie: the Swiss wristwatch designer is especially known for the creation of the IWC Ingenieur SL (Ref. 1832) that was launched in 1976. He drew inspiration from a diver’s helmet and decided to reveal the screws and bores that held the watch together rather than concealing them - a revolutionary move that would prove to be quite the achievement.

The SL component of the watch name stands for “Steel Line”, hinting at the material used for the Ingenieur SL that further contributes to the masculine character of the timepiece. The surprising case diameter of only 40 millimetres is able to accommodate a Pellaton winding system, establishing it as an IWC favourite amongst collectors.

The successor of the Ingenieur SL was presented in the 1980s: the Ingenieur SL “Skinny” (Ref. 3506). Even though this watch does not feature an IWC-manufactured movement, it is a desirable timepiece thanks to its unusually small diameter of 34mm that complements smaller and delicate wrists.

One characteristic contributing to the exceptional timepieces by the International Watch Company is the constant revision and advancement of elements that the watches are comprised of. Thus, IWC timepieces always feature the most sophisticated technologies and designs. This has also helped the International Watch Company land prestigious cooperation partners, including the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team.

In 2013, IWC became the team’s Official Engineering Partner. The cooperation produced popular timepieces, such as the Ingenieur Constant-Force Tourbillon (Ref. IW590001) and the Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month (Ref. IW379201). While the Ingenieur Automatic is favoured by those who prefer more delicate watches, thanks to its case height of only 10 millimetres, the Ingenieur Chronograph Silberpfeil (Ref. IW378505) is a much-desired watch amongst lovers of nostalgia. In short, the IWC’s Ingenieur collection offers the right watch for any technophile.

CHRONEXT isn't only great for buying luxury timepieces like the IWC Ingenieur, it's the ideal place for selling them too. If you want to part with an Ingenieur model, please contact our team of experienced specialists. We will help you get the best possible price – whether by trading in, commission or direct sale. Get in touch with us by phone, email or live chat. Alternatively, simply complete a short online form and you'll hear from us within a couple of days.