IWC Presents the new Ingenieur Collection

Ingenieur Presentation

I like the new three-hander a lot. The movement used in it wasn't mentioned in the presentation but I'm assuming it's ETA-based given the MSRP. Can anyone confirm?

The movement is 35111 a.k.a. Sellita SW300

I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed with the basic automatic. The size is right, but otherwise, imho, it appears a bit dull, at least in pictures.

It appears not to have a magnetic shielding :( and I hoped the 42000 calibre movement would have been introduced with this watch, but to no avail...

I was wondering whether or not it had magnetic shielding. That's the defining feature of an Ingenieur in my mind. And an in-house movement would have been nice although it would have significantly increased the price.

I'll reserve final judgement on the watch until I see it in the metal.

If the 1955 Ingenieur and the 1976 Genta-designed Ingenieur SL "Jumbo" had an illegitimate child, it would be the new 'basic automatic' Ingenieur IW357002. Personally, I think that the new design (which is an amalgam of the two) works really well - containing obvious DNA from both designs without looking like it's trying too hard to pay tribute to them. (It also seems equally inspired by the design and proportions of the Piaget S - which in turn looks like a mashup of Genta's PP Nautilus and the PP Aquanaut). All that said, imho it is nevertheless an "illegitimate child" because of the Sellita movement and because it lacks the anti-magnetic attributes of its design forebears. Too bad, because (at least in photos) the design seems like a winner to me - especially when imagined in Laureus blue. I also see a candidate for a future Collector's Forum watch - with an in-house movement, a soft-iron cage, a black or blue tapisserie-patterned dial and the original "International Watch Company" corporate logo.

IWC had an opportunity to really kill it with the entry level Ingy here, but of course they cut corners, drop a replica ETA movement in it, ignore the lightning bolt on the dial and fail provide exceptional anti-magnetic features, which is tragic.

What's going on in Shaffhausen these days...

I'm not particularly attached to the lightning bolt - and once the soft iron cage was dropped, the connection to science and engineering became tenuous in any case. Including the lightning bolt logo now would simply be a reminder of an abandoned target market and the Ingenieur's tool-watch history for that market. The real complaint is that IWC's target buyer has changed; but once that decision was made, I think that the branding elements had to change too.

Not so long ago, the presentation of a new Ingenieur collection would have generated excitement among members of this forum, and many lively discussions expressing either approval or disapproval.
This new Ingenieur collection seems to have been received with indifference which, I venture to say, is exactly what it deserves.

That is sadly the reaction, not only on this forum ?!

I guess most of the new Ingenieur watches are entry level watches with a slightly sporty character. Just as most of the Portofino watches are entry level watches with a dressy character. As such, the target group of these watches contains those that are not really interested in watches, but like a well made and good looking watch, without giving it another thought. So, forum members, certainly those that are members for many years, are not really part of that envisaged target group. To speak for myself: the new Ingenieurs look nice enough, and the overall quality will be excellent, but I am not really attracted to them. And why should I, I have more than enough nice watches, if at all I wouldn't look at entry level, I would look at a Portuguese. It could be that these new watches will be quite successful, for people that are prepared to pay a bit more for that overall quality, signified by the name IWC. Heritage, concepts from the 1950's? Huh, who cares?

Kind regards,
Paul

So very well said. I agree completely.

I hear what You are saying, and maybe You are right, but I think there are at least two caveats regarding this approach.

First: it will damage brand, if the difference between brand perception and reality becomes too wide. In Facebook, IWC defines itself as a company with a clear focus on technology and development. If the "entry level models" don't reflect this focus, but instead appear as evidence that the company focus is actually on life-style based marketing and low production cost, the spell will be broken, and the name IWC does not anymore signify as high quality as it used to.

Second: The competitors at the same price range have models with new and more interesting technologies - double barrels, silicon balance springs, high resistance to magnetic fields etc... IWC will be left behind in the "spec war", and I think it will cost sales even among ordinary, non watch idiot savant, people. Sales people are adept at pointing out those things and convincing potential customers that they matter...

IWC services a very broad market, where even the watches range from "4.000 to 40.000" CHF, and beyond. Everybody understands that at the lower end of the range other characteristics are to be met than at the higher end of the range. So, we have the lower priced Ingenieurs and Portofino's and the higher priced Portuguese and Da Vinci perpetual calendars. Just as we have the Chopard Mille Miglia versus the L.U.C perpetual calendar, in fact, the two brands are quite comparable here.

So, the Ingenieur went into relegation, no in-house movement etc. to make sure the profitable market around 5.000 CHF is serviced well. A disappointment for the lovers of the old Ingenieur line, but I am sure the new watches are of high quality, up to IWC standards. They don't look like fashion watches to me, but they are certainly less ugly than the abandoned series. How this can damage the brand is beyond me, those that want more can go to the Portuguese or the higher Da Vinci line. As for high quality sports watches, maybe IWC is not the ideal brand, I myself bought another brand when I felt the urge to have one, and then two diver's watches. OK, you cannot have it all, perhaps the niche that is chosen for IWC by Richemont is not quite what IWC was meant to be maybe 10-15 years ago. But I am sure IWC will prosper, because their NEW customers will like what they make. Success demands change and flexibility, preferably in the right direction, love for the old days hardly ever does that.

Kind regards,
Paul

This is exactly my point. One should not try to be TAG Heuer and Breguet at the same time.

BTW, I might be wrong, but I don't think Chopard L.U.C line has been a big success, although Chopard is not directly comparable to IWC, as it is predominantly a jewelery company.

Please, it is not a case of some nostalgic dreamers not understanding business realities.

This is what's wrong. IWC should be the ideal brand for high quality sports watch!

I don't understand the move, I much prefer the previous Ingénieur line which is more in line with the original Ingénieur codes, IMHO. I have to admit I'm upset with the move...

Well, I've been at this forum many years by now, there was always some whining about new models, like IWC was forgetting about its roots and heritage. Sometimes it was predicted that the end of IWC was near, because it lost its connection to the past. To me these people certainly were nostalgic dreamers, which in itself is not bad at all. But unless this post comes a few years too early, they were always wrong, IWC is still striving.

As for these new Ingenieur watches, I wrote at a different forum: "I bet there will be quite some people who will buy such a watch for what it is, and not for what other people think it should be."

Kind regards,
Paul

I'm very disappointed. Da Vinci, new Ingenious, in my opinion a bad year for the IWC collections. Very poor designs.
And it would be time to forget the Sellita based movements.

Well, regarding sports watches I agree with IWC's directions: large and heavy watches (general Inge diameter was I think at 45 mm) give now place to normal size Inge's (40 and 42 mm, living place to larger models only as "special series" e. g. it is clear that the digital QP module happens to be so large that it cannot be put into a case smaller than 45 mm). The new Inge can also be used as a sports watch, both the waterresistance and (regarding the non-chrono) the antimagnetism allow this.
But regarding divers's watches IWC has the Aquatimer heritage which is not (yet) really used in the new direction: the AT chrono is still 44 mm (in reality bezel diameter is even 45.5 mm, not to mention the weight and 17 mm height!) and even the basic requirements are missing: both a quick-micro-adjust clasp for the bracelet (most of competing brands have this) and a folding clasp for the rubber strap (again a clear desadvantage). But keeping the new cal. 69xxx in mind (with day-date feature that it has) a new, 41-42 mm Aquatimer chrono with the day-date version of the cal. 69xxx would be very nice and very successful (dropping finally the thingy at 9). 120 m waterresistance for the Chrono is just enough (keeping down height, weight and production cost of crystal). Remember that the AT Chrono ref. 3719 was also 42 mm/13.4 mm with under 170 gr on bracelet and it was a huge success - I enjoy mine a lot. And the Pilot line (chrono and non-chrono) should also have finally a narrow count-up turning bezel (at least as an option), either a ceramic one looking like that of the Timezoner Chrono or an underglass bezel like that of the mentioned 3719 or the VC AT. I would be more than satisfied with a 40-41 mm Fliegerchrono with either kind of the mentioned bezel, the day-date cal. 69xxx, a dial design of the ref. 3706/3713 and a quick-micro-adjust bracelet clasp.
Just my two cents as always... :)
Regards,
Robert