ANTI-MAGNET. cal 83 from 1935

My guess is that it was a choice between two alternatives:
[ul]
[li]a strong anti-magnetic watch that was quite thick;[/li]
[li]a thinner watch without strong anti-magnetic properties.[/li]
[/ul]
Trying to estimate what would sell more, IWC apparently chose the second alternative, thereby reasoning that hardly anybody would be interested in the strong anti-magnetic properties at the expense of a thicker watch.

But instead of guessing, you could ask IWC in January at the SIHH, where quite likely some new pilot's watches will have strong anti-magnetic properties and some will not.

I have a rather thin non-IWC divers watch where the anti-magnetic properties are supplied by a silicon balance spring, thereby giving the opportunity to admire the beautiful movement through a back crystal. I wonder whether IWC could choose this solution in the nearby future. How strong the anti-magnetic properties are I don't know, but quite probably more than enough for my everyday life and my incidental airport visit.

Kind regards,
Paul

[b]My guess is that it was a choice between two alternatives:
a strong anti-magnetic watch that was quite thick;
a thinner watch without strong anti-magnetic properties.

Trying to estimate what would sell more, IWC apparently chose the second alternative, thereby reasoning that hardly anybody would be interested in the strong anti-magnetic properties at the expense of a thicker watch.[/b]

Those are not the only alternatives. IWC has manufactured in the past thin watches with strong anti-magnetic properties.
The OMEGA Master Co-Axial calibre 8500 is resistant to magnetic fields greater than 15,000 Gauss and can be seen through the transparent caseback.

As to the reason why IWC chose to abandon the fundamental characteristic of the Ingenieur, only IWC knows.

IWC is, however, proud of the Ingenieur heritage, as it should be.
The book launching the 2013 Ingenieur line has on page 30 a facsimile of a brochure of a Ref 666 titled WHAT DOES INGENIEUR MEAN? exalting the anti-magnetic properties of the watch.
However, of all the Ingenieur models shown, only the Ref 3239 is anti-magnetic. How to explain this incongruity?

The thickness is no problem at all. Some Ing. models with soft iron cages are less than 9 mm thick.

I think, the customer segment has changed over some decades.

Visible movements are the current trend and only some customers care about technical details.

So, why spend effort in such expensive technical details, if the majority of the customers is satisfied watching the watch movement.

But those who have trusted that former Ing. specification are disappointed and will go for alternatives ?!

We had this discussion before. Form has taken over function.
The best analogy is between sporty cars and sports cars. A sporty car looks like a sports car but has a small engine, while the sports car is the real item.

I will be very (very) surprised if IWC don't return to their roots on the next revamp of the Ingenieur. Antimagnetic will make a strong return. I would bet money on it.

I think most buyers don't care much about strong anti-magnetic properties as long as the watch looks fantastic. The only way I see a strong anti-magnetic property return in all Ingenieur watches is when the movement itself can be made amagnetic by using for instance a silicon balance spring, like in the updated movement that is used in the Blancpain Bathyscaphe. This way, the anti-magnetic property can be combined with a back crystal for a view at the movement: most people really like this. And this construction makes for a thinner case, not needing an anti-magnetic cage: quite a benefit when the movements, like the in-house movements of IWC, are rather thick.

Kind regards,
Paul

Paul, I think antimagnetic will return. But I'm not sure in which form. Like the return of the "9" to the BP, antimagnetic, in whatever form they decide would be a no-brainer. I think.

As to the reason why IWC chose to abandon the fundamental characteristic of the Ingenieur, only IWC knows.

IWC is, however, proud of the Ingenieur heritage, as it should be.
The book launching the 2013 Ingenieur line has on page 30 a facsimile of a brochure of a Ref 666 titled WHAT DOES INGENIEUR MEAN? exalting the anti-magnetic properties of the watch.
However, of all the Ingenieur models shown, only the Ref 3239 is anti-magnetic. How to explain this incongruity?

Visionary technology since 1955.

Interesting discussion gents (I know it has been discussed before but it is sure worth bringing up again), and even more interesting facts - thanks for sharing them with the rest of us.

Your watch is the most inetersting part though Antonio - very nice, congrats!