IWC Ingeneur Classic 3233.

Greetings fellow IWC lovers.I have a technical question.
When buying a 3233**, how do I know whether the movement is original to the watch. (this movement seems to appear in the whole range of prices), so I am a bit confused. The case numbers may well match the card, but there is also a number stamped on the watch movement. They start with a 270 number it seems. 7 digits in total. Do IWC keep a record of each movement placed in each case? If so, how can I find out whether the movement is original or has been replaced either in service or in a movement/dial change over. There also seems to be a bit of a grey area regarding the colour of the dials. I want to find a steel model with a white dial. Some feedback would be appreciated. Many thanks.

Cases and movements are separately numbered, IWC keeps track which movement comes in which case. If you buy at an AD there is no need to worry about some hanky panky.

Kind regards,
Paul

Hmm. Thank you guys for all of that. Of course, to know whether a watch is new when it is advertised as 'un-worn' is indeed difficult. I see claimed brand new examples of the 3233 being offered in various forms, steel, yellow gold, white gold and platinum from different sides of the world...I know that IWC sends watches out with blank cards!, i.e., undated. I fell foul of this in recent years. It is hardly an honest system..., very vague indeed.

No one has answered about the dial options?.. According to your reply, any of these watches must be 10 years or older, so the movement is thus in need of a service before it can even start life?? Was this model actually a dead duck?

I am not so confident in any IWC dealers any more after my experiences of price discounts and all sorts of other games when dealing with my former Perpetual. There were definitely some ill practices going on regarding price and dates.

I am also not really clear as to whether case numbers and movement numbers are actually recorded at IWC..., or just loosely batched. Is there actually a full list of case to movement relativity existing for the watch model you say is already 10 years out of production? Really I am confused.

I am (with respect) looking for much tighter answers on this forum. Much tighter.
Before I invest many thousands of euro's into one of these watches, I want to know that what I am buying is genuine and not a box of bits, all be it IWC bits.

I wait with great interest....... Money isn't to be thrown away recently as many of your readers will appreciate.

Mark,

Thank you Michael for 'your' answer. I look forward to the input from various other forum users, also addressing some other questions about this particular model IWC.
Many thanks again for your attention.
Mark

The only question not answered yet is about the steel case and white dial version. Standard was a black dial on a steel case. There were some limited edition steel case versions with a blue and a taupe dial, and a cream/white dial: a watch dedicated to Italy and only available in Italy. I guess they are sold out by now, but maybe you can find one second hand. Good luck!

Kind regards,
Paul

thank you Paul...., I start to build a picture. As I understand, a 3233 with a pure white dial is not available in steel, only other cases?..Then one assumes we are paying a premium for the base case material and no difference in movement/quality or performance. They seem to be quite rare anyway & I wonder about the investment potential. Was this watch a success in comparison to other IWC models. I did read 'somewhere' that the 3233 was considered a dead duck, thus it disappeared so fast? For me, it seems a handsome watch, simple but strong in design. Thanks again for your input.
Mark

The 3233 was not a dead duck as so many forum members have a variety of models with some owning two or three variants. In the steel you had the dials black, Laureus Blue and Tribute to Italy with a beautiful cream dial and red second hand. It is a decent automatic with date and was available in platinum with silver dial, white gold with ardoise and rose gold with a white dial and tobacco sunburst later. A steel with white dial sounds to me to be a bespoke, a trial that crept out possibly unauthorised or someone has had a dial redone or replaced with an after market. Personally I would be reluctant to risk spending decent money for a watch that IWC may refuse to service and parts are not available to high street repair shops.

Hans,

Greg is right: silver dial was only produced for the platinum version and he and Paul already summed up all original variations.

So if you're so doubtful don't buy this watch unless 1) you know it's platinum with the accompanying hallmarks (950) on the case AND 2) you can 100% trust the source as suggested.

Otherwise, what's the point in seeking 'certainty' here on the forum since nobody can provide that online?!

Groet,

Bob

Thank you all for your input. I like the sound of the Italian Job...What's the official numbering of this watch please? You never know....

Platinum is a VERY heavy metal, steel is much lighter and thus easier to wear. I wonder what the case of a 3233 in 950 actually weighs?.... twice as much as the same case in steel? What's the point.

Thanks again for 'what' you have provided on-line.

Mark

Alas, I don't have the weight numbers of the watches here, but despite platinum being about 2,76 times as heavy as steel, I don't think the platinum watch is twice the weight of the steel one because there are significant common parts on both watches, like the movement, the crystal and the strap. I know though, that the platinum watch was about 5,3 times as expensive as the steel watch.

I am not quite sure what you want, Hans. I read that you are interested in all kinds of numbers, and relations between them. You want, or not, invest in a watch, where I for instance just buy one when I feel like it, when I feel very strongly about the watch. Until now I did not really read that you like the 3233, and what you like about it. People differ, to me wearing a watch is also about the emotion towards it. So, numbers and money take the back seat if it all seems reasonable and all right. What is it that you want?

Kind regards,
Paul

Thank you Paul. What I want and what I can get are two different things. But, I said originally, I wanted a Steel Ingenuer with white/silver dial.

I've owned a number of IWC's over the past decade, indeed watches are more about passion than time.

I close off for now and go search my watch out.

Thanks again. Mark