A word in support of the new IWC Ingenieur

[TikTok]

Originally Posted by rockysw

And ingenuir seems to be availabe in WoS london (per their online stock checker), so I will see if I can try it on (I dont live in London, so bit of pain) and decide if it is worth the price.

If you're in London try the IWC flagship store in Bond St. bought my 3 from there and have nothing but good things to say about them.
The same to say about the Grand Seiko boutique.

[PT_91]

Seems as if they have lifted the "boutique-only" restriction?

[Batmannr1]

I bought the Aqua Ingenieur in August last year.
When the watch was released at Watches and Wonders 2023 I was really impressed with the new IWC Ingenieur. Checked the black, white and aqua dial variants out at different boutiques and picked the bluegreen one and after a wait of 2 months I got the call.

I am very pleased with the watch. Execution is very good. Not on par with AP or Patek, but well above Rolex or Omega. Especially the vibrant dial and the beautiful finished bracelet makes me smile when wearing it.



Last month I was able to try on the Ti version as well. That smoke grey dial is gorgeous and is a perfect combo with the metal used.




That seventies Genta design vibe catched me.
Credit to IWC, I am not easily swooped away, but I had to catch this Ingenieur.

[Hadiy]

My friend got the IWC Ingenieur with gray dial in titanium it was one of the most beautiful piece i set my eyes on and i'm thinking of owning one soon

[the dark knight]

Originally Posted by JCZ5

Can you expand more on the Overseas and Ingenieur comparison? I am debating between the two in my future purchase. I also have a RO so have seen the quality of top-tier finishing.

I know the Overseas have good case finishing, but is it so in your face compared to the Ingy.

Well I pulled the trigger on a pre-owned black dial Ingy so I'll probably have more comments on this comparison after the watch gets delivered.

But based on my ownership of the VCO and recent tryout of the Ingy... The Ingy is definitely more muted. I have the 4520v which is very so thinner and bracelet/straps taper more, so I think this watch wears like a true 41mm now. The Ingy felt like a 39mm watch. More subdued case/bracelet design elements as well.

I always felt like the RO was the most "in your face" flashy watch in this category, so considering you already have it not sure if the VCO would really make sense. Also just in terms of collection strategy it seems like you should add the Ingy and then later the Nautilus so you have the Genta trio of this type of design, haha.

[the dark knight]

Just got the black dial in. I'll try to take some pics later after I size it up. Having it in hand again kinda reaffirms my initial thoughts on it, maybe enhances them. Design is extremely subjective, but this is definitely a better looking/designed watch than my Overseas. I dare say this is the best looking integrated bracelet watch I've seen yet because it manages to be somewhat subdued (IB watches have a really hard time with this imo) and yet it's also distinctively Genta.

And also very different than most IB watches, it manages to look/wear a tad more compact than its measurements would suggest, with terrific proportions.

Since this is a Rolex forum, I will say the watch is almost Rolex-like in the way it melds together design, size, proportion, and ergonomics. These are elements that imo IB watches tend to struggle with to meld together.

Looking forward to posting more thoughts in the coming days as I wear it around a bit.

[dchang81]

Is the Ti one showing up at AD instead of boutiques?

[dr.ns23]

Originally Posted by the dark knight

Just got the black dial in. I'll try to take some pics later after I size it up. Having it in hand again kinda reaffirms my initial thoughts on it, maybe enhances them. Design is extremely subjective, but this is definitely a better looking/designed watch than my Overseas. I dare say this is the best looking integrated bracelet watch I've seen yet because it manages to be somewhat subdued (IB watches have a really hard time with this imo) and yet it's also distinctively Genta.

And also very different than most IB watches, it manages to look/wear a tad more compact than its measurements would suggest, with terrific proportions.

Since this is a Rolex forum, I will say the watch is almost Rolex-like in the way it melds together design, size, proportion, and ergonomics. These are elements that imo IB watches tend to struggle with to meld together.

Looking forward to posting more thoughts in the coming days as I wear it around a bit.

Congratulations and wear it in great health! Keep us posted. I am sure the more you wear it, the more you will love it…

[rockysw]

Originally Posted by PT_91

Seems as if they have lifted the "boutique-only" restriction?

Yes, it is popping up with ADs. I was quite surprised to see one on WOS website but then I thought they are really big dealers but now they have it available with others as well. And what is more surprising is that white and black ones are available to buy online.

https://www.berrysjewellers.co.uk/co.../iwc-ingenieur

[the dark knight]

A couple of more thoughts after wearing for a while. There are two slightly larger links (1.3x?) that helps dial in a good fit. I was able to get a good fit at the time of sizing, but still miss a microadjust due to fluctuating wrist size throughout the day. Thankfully sizing is very easy due to the link removal system built into the bracelet.

Also, the bracelet was very easy to remove and re-install, pretty much the same as a "normal" watch, just smaller springbars. I hope IWC and/or a 3rd party comes out with some straps.

[ap1]

Worth it


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[benamij]

Originally Posted by Nav01L

So today, I had a brief opportunity to handle the new IWC Ingenieur, a watch that has generally been welcomed with great fanfare until people realized what IWC intends to charge for it. I have read consistently that it was a fantastic watch but that it was completely overpriced, seeing as it had the same movement as a mark series.

After seeing the thing in person though, I can confidently say that I would pay 12k for it. And indeed I will, once I get the call. It’s a phenomenal watch in person. In terms of wearing experience, it has that same delicacy you get from a 5711 or 15202. it doesn’t quite have as beautifully sharp a set of indexes as a VC Overseas but then again, a. neither do those other two watches, and b. (for having had one for so long) I can confidently say the overseas feels less delicate overall.

The main point of attraction on this new Ingenieur to me was the bracelet. It is a full class above what we know from IWC and has that „liquid“ draping quality to it that you’d otherwise have to go to the 5711 for. A sort of luxurious finesse that makes your typical watch bracelet in that price tier feel a bit blunt. At least that’s how my Rolex Jubilee felt next to it.

Another frankly stunning aspect is the Aqua colored dial. The black is pretty, but pretty flat at the same time. The Aqua though, that’s something else.

Altogether, what you get in terms of wearing experience is well above what you’d expect from a simple IWC three hander and in particular, in a different league to what you’d get in a Mark series or a pilot chrono (I got one of the latter).

Granted, the movement is no different from the one in the Mark. But you don’t see it and provided it works precisely enough (always a bit hopes and prayers with IWC) it doesn’t much matter. It’s not like the 5711 has that fabulous of a movement either, it’s nice, but pretty basic too compared to what else Patek can do when they pour their heart into it. So for one third the price, if that’s the only difference (which you can’t even see given the closed caseback, the Ingenieur is almost a bargain.

I know it convinced me. I‘m on the list and being told to look forward to a delivery later this year. They don’t expect long waiting lists over time, though I believe once this permeates beyond the initial reviews, it could well become quite popular.

Thanks for the post!
I bought the aqua one, a few days ago, on a vacation.

I saw the black one about 6 month ago in Milan, was for display only.

Last week I eventually was lucky enough to see the aqua - what a dial ohhh my!!

After 3 minutes I understood everything you wrote above. The quality, bracelet, dial, proportions, wearability and size. Just perfect, and I say 100% - for what you get, it’s a bargain.


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[benamij]

Originally Posted by benamij

Thanks for the post!
I bought the aqua one, a few days ago, on a vacation.

I saw the black one about 6 month ago in Milan, was for display only.

Last week I eventually was lucky enough to see the aqua - what a dial ohhh my!!

After 3 minutes I understood everything you wrote above. The quality, bracelet, dial, proportions, wearability and size. Just perfect, and I say 100% - for what you get, it’s a bargain.


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[benamij]

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[benamij]

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[scarlet knight]

Nice aqua watches! From a happy black Ingy owner.

[Milou66]

I’ve been wearing an Explorer 39 mm for almost 7 years as a daily.
I liked the new engineer black dial and thought it could possibly replace the Explorer for a while. When I saw it and put the IWC on my wrist, I decided to buy it because:
1. I love the Nautilus and RO but wouldn’t want to own them because too bling and recognizable
2. The Ingénieur is a more legitimate tool watch
3. It’s under the radar
4. The new model is actually thinner than the original and fits better on the wrist.
5. Considered a Glasshute diver or a 42 mm Fifty Fathoms or Bathyscaphe at similar price point but Ingénieur more elegant
6. I find the price high, but the sens of quality on the wrist is up there.
7. IWC produced the Cousteau dive watch and other technical tool watches that have been respected as proper professional watches but too large for me to wear as a daily.
8. Last but not least, I love the aesthetics and Seventies brutalist/minimalist design. Love Gerard Genta designs but also the Dieter Rams vibes of efficient simplicity.

In a nutshell… I think the new Ingénieur is a watch you need to put on your wrist to fully assess its quality, photos just don’t do it justice. High price and photos shouldn’t put you of, go see it and then make up your mind. A really nice watch….

[dr.ns23]

Originally Posted by Milou66

I’ve been wearing an Explorer 39 mm for almost 7 years as a daily.
I liked the new engineer black dial and thought it could possibly replace the Explorer for a while. When I saw it and put the IWC on my wrist, I decided to buy it because:
1. I love the Nautilus and RO but wouldn’t want to own them because too bling and recognizable
2. The Ingénieur is a more legitimate tool watch
3. It’s under the radar
4. The new model is actually thinner than the original and fits better on the wrist.
5. Considered a Glasshute diver or a 42 mm Fifty Fathoms or Bathyscaphe at similar price point but Ingénieur more elegant
6. I find the price high, but the sens of quality on the wrist is up there.
7. IWC produced the Cousteau dive watch and other technical tool watches that have been respected as proper professional watches but too large for me to wear as a daily.
8. Last but not least, I love the aesthetics and Seventies brutalist/minimalist design. Love Gerard Genta designs but also the Dieter Rams vibes of efficient simplicity.

In a nutshell… I think the new Ingénieur is a watch you need to put on your wrist to fully assess its quality, photos just don’t do it justice. High price and photos shouldn’t put you of, go see it and then make up your mind. A really nice watch….

Agreed 100%

[Cru Jones]

I will join the crowd: one has to see and wear this watch to understand.

I did today, and I’m very impressed!

All three are great, with the choice being hard for me between the aqua and black.

[stanleyleecm]

For those who are interested, looks like all three dial colors are available online on their website.