Cal. 8000…

….to be or not to be: IWC-manufactured. That is the question.

I have been reading and posting in other forum about Cal. 8000 based movements and found some apparent contradictory information:

IWC's official web site refers to Cal.81010 as "IWC-manufactured movement". If my English is good enough this can only means: build by IWC, or am I misunderstanding or making a bad translation?

I have read from non-official sources (a translation of a statement of Georges Kern at the collectors meeting at SIHH in January posted in the German Forum) that: "Calibre 8000... is built by ETA exclusively for IWC".

So, is cal. 8000 IWC-manufactured or ETA-manufactured exclusively for IWC?

If Cal. 8000 is ETA-manufactured exclusively for IWC, it could be consider 100% in-house movement?

If someone could help me to overcome this confusion I will be very grateful.

Regards,
M

Cal. 8000…

If the movement is designed manufactured and assembled by IWC then its and a true IWC in house movement. If any of the above are not true then to my thinking its not a fully paid up IWC movement.
It may be designed by IWC
It may be manufactured by IWC
It may be assembled by IWC
But to my thinking its not "inhouse" unless all three criteria are true. That raises a question if IWC opened a plant in India or Vietnam that churned out parts that were then shipped back to IWC Switz for assembly would the watch be able to carry Swiss Made on the dial?

Swiss Made

There are strict regulations about "Swiss Made". It is not allowed to have more than a certain percentage of non-Swiss parts in a watch.

As for the Caliber 8000 movement: I believe that at first, it was exclusively built in the IWC factory but due to higher demand, all or part of the production has been outsourced to ETA. It still remains a 100% IWC movement in my opinion.

Kind regards,

Clemens

Mateo, your ingenieur ME is great...

... but I don't really know if it could be considered in-house or not. I'm not an expert on this.

I think it's very interesting topic and we'll learn something more.

What happens if you are not able to cover your demand and you must outsource the assembly?

I read somewere that BMW X5 had all the parts and sub-assemblies produced by BMW suppliers and none by BMW, but the final assembly was done by BMW, is it a BMW or not?

Interesting, BR,
Julx

No need to wonder Mateo

As I believe also calibres from family 7xxxx and 3xxxx are produced (through strict parameters given by IWC) by ETA, please amend my comments if I'm wrong.

As the Master Kurt Klaus said, the 8xxxx is a in-house movement, only its mainplate design was inspired by the manual version of chrono 7750 (should be cal. 7760) all parts between theese two movements are not compatible.

The project completely belongs to IWC, if ETA produces it for IWC I don't see problems, perhaps IWC could put some added value increasing finitures to the movement, but that's my opinion.

What really amazes me is this two ways collaboration between IWC and ETA, since they are part of different and competing Groups, that produces a constant flow of information and know how IWC and ETA incredibly share with each other.

Now, this really makes me wonder, but positively! :)

Ciao dear Mateo,

roberto

Cal. 8000…

Hi Diaphane!

Very interesting information. Do you remember when occured this discussion with Mr. Kern? Were all cal.8000 always produce from ETA or is it more recently that production were transfered to ETA?

Regards,
Jean

on production of the Jones Calibre 98xxx

IWC is now producing the movement parts (plates, bridges, rotors, etc.) for these movements in a new IWC facility, exclusive to IWC and in the town of Neuhausen, which is in the Canton of Schaffhausen and overlooks the Rhine Falls.

I was able to have a first and exclusive tour of this fully-operational facility on Tuesday. I was accompanied by IWC's Chief Operating Officer and with the head of movement part production. I have several photos and over the next week or two intend to do a full report here.

Please keep in mind that movement parts not produced by IWC, and almost all other Richemont companies, include balances, jewels, screws and springs.

Regards,
Michael

Thank you for the contribution Michael

as long as IWC involves the conception and design of the movements maintaining the production exclusivity it is an inhouse calibre for me no matter where the production (Swiss) and assembly site is

Argiris

I agree with you about the three criteria....

to acomplish 100% in-house. The swiss made is another tale.

Thanks Clemens...

I concur is a 100% IWC movement, developed by IWC, but nowadays ETA-manufactured. There is no problem for me but I just will be careful about call it 100% in-house.

Cheers,
M

Thank you David…

Your explanation helps me to understand the situation. I learned something new…. So, finally I know that the Cal.8000 of my Ingenieur is not as in-house as the Cal. 5000 of my Portuguese.

Any way, both are great watches I enjoy!

Regards,
M

Yes, indeed! Julx…

I like and enjoy my Ingenieur no matter "how much in-house" the Cal, 8000 based movement is, just like I enjoy my AT or my Pilot Chrono with ETA-based movements. But is always good to know the complete stuff about the beloved piece on your wrist, don’t you agree?

Kind Regards,
M

Probably yes, Roberto…

But is always very interesting to know the minor intricate details of how was made the watch you admire and enjoy. Any way, I am glad that I chose a crystal back display for my Cal. 5000 and a beautiful solid back for my tough Ingenieur Cal. 8000.

Ciao caro Roberto,
M

Cal. 8000…

Well, I, for one am disappointed to learn of this, since to me "in-house" implies manufacture just as much as it does development. As the owner of an Ingenieur 3227-01 that was manufactured in 2006, I can't help but wonder just how long this arrangement with ETA has been in place.

Regards,
Adam

Se trata de disfrutarlos, cierto (nt)