Official information Ingenieur Double Chronograph Titanium

Antonio, Hari Kiri might have been your only option - had you not redeemed yourself just in the nick of time.

As for the watch itself, it's not my cup of tea - sorry!

Best regards
Mark

well... with IWC, I have learned never to say never...

There were a few IWC watches which I thought initially were hideous to look at... say, the Da Vinci series, the latest Aquatimer, and... even the Portuguese 7-day auto (ok, ok, hold your gun, don't shoot, don't shoot! I thought the Port chrono was much nicer to look at initially).

However, little did I know... IWC design has such a charm that the longer you look at it, the longer you will get attracted to it. So... as a result, I already bought a latest Aquatimer, and am quietly eyeing on the Port 7-day and Da Vinci... I said to myself that I would not give this Ingenieur a look... but I couldn't resist the temptation to try it on at a private preview of one of the boutiques...

...argh... somebody please pull these thoughts out of my head. The thoughts of yet another IWC lingering in my head (but not in my possession just yet). :-P

By the way... if my memory serves me right, the titanium Ingenieur will cost a bit less than the Top Gun double-chrono.

As stated before, I think this new titanium Ingenieur looks great, in that it has potential for further development of the Ingenieur line. It looks sturdy, and then the competitors at Audemars Piguet and Hublot come to mind. As with the ceramic Da Vinci, this watch may show the way to go for the next few years. In my opinion it has enough "IWC" in it, but it also has enough appeal to the traditional lovers of Audemars Piguet, Hublot or even Panerai: that would be great for IWC.

As for the antimagnetic cage, there the traditional lovers and IWC management seem to differ, in the end I am with the traditional lovers. I am not sure about the practical benefit of the cage, and I understand the appeal of a see through bottom. But the knowledge that the watch may withstand the torture of airports is kind of appealing. Just one example of its effect on me: a year ago I decided to buy a non-IWC dressy diver that still is a strong favourite of mine. I learned that it had an antimagnetic cage. For a diver? But I considered it a bonus, and it made me love the watch even more because of it: it was the cherry on the cake for me, more or less closing the deal.

Kind regards,
Paul

Mark,
I did considered that option for a couple of minutes, but discarded it because it would have been too messy. :)

Regarding this and other so-called Ingenieurs. I wonder what is the rational that allows the Ingenieur name to be eroded and devalued, by eliminating its essential characteristic. It takes years to establish a reputation, and just seconds to destroy it.
Since its arrival in the late 50s, the Ingenieur has had many variations on movement and dials - automatic movements with/without date, quartz movements, chronographs, etc, even perpetual calendars, and some even had diamonds. But all were a-magnetic, and one even boasted the capability to withstand the magnetic field created by a direct current of 500,000 Amperes at a distance of 1 meter. I actually tested mine in an environment that would stop any other Ingenieur and she kept on ticking.
The Ingenieur is one of my favorite IWC models (I have nine), along with the Mark 11 and the Ref 325, and it is very disappointing to see the model trivialized.

I know I said this before, but I will say it again. Can we expect an Aquatimer that is not waterproof or water resistant in the future?

Totally agree !!!!

Regards

Heiko

Perhaps it should be marked as an AP ROO rather than IWC Ingie!

What is disturbing is that no one seems to give it a 100% endorsement. It's not ugly, it's just wrong, it's got no AM properties so its not an Ingie and therefore marked wrong, it's got the wrong movement, too big too thick, and it's a large clunky case which means the benefits of Ti as being tough and light have been diluted by 50%.
Oh well, to the fashion lovers who do not know what Ingie is all about it will sell. So will Rolex be producing the Day Date with a SnapBack case and in bronze with flex type bracelet next week? Don't think so.

The new IWC TINII has been launched!
TINII = TItanium Non-Ingie Ingie

I am glad that my signature is not on any of the paperwork for this watch but I do believe it will sell to the fashion lovers.

Tony,
I have a question for you. Suppose IWC took off the Ingenieur name and called it something else. Would you like the watch?

I kind of like this, I always wondered if the Aquatimer Chrono's and the VC Aquatimer could be qualified as Aquatimers, where the water resistance is not more than that of the Ingenieurs. Of course 120 m should do it, but it is not a distinguishing feature. Here, the one way turning bezel is the feature that makes these watches Aquatimers.

But I guess we are a special type of watch lovers, small in numbers, let's not forget this. Most people that buy a sporty watch buy an Aquitimer because it looks like a divers watch. And don't forget, you can actually dive with any Aquatimer without any problem, I am quite sure about this.

So, the Inge was antimagnetic before it was discontinued. When it was revived about 5 years ago, some of their models still happened to be antimagnetic, others are just sturdy, good looking watches that probably will sell well to the alpha males. So there is some (yes, some) dilution of the meaning of the type Ingenieur, but who cares, besides this little group of us? Is "life goes on" just a bit too philosphical?

Kind regards,
Paul

Alan,
If IWC removed the Ingenieur logo from the dial, and gave the watch a smart name, unlike Top Gun(!?), or no name at all, I would have a neutral attitude towards it, and would have refrained from commenting since it would be a matter of opinion. I would not buy it.
I initially embraced the concept of a doppel Ingenieur, before realizing it was not a-magnetic, because it was not done before, and the complication may actually be useful in a tool watch like the Ingenieur.

[QUOTE="Sunflower"] So there is some (yes, some) dilution of the meaning of the type Ingenieur, but who cares, besides this little group of us? Is "life goes on" just a bit too philosophical?
Kind regards,
Paul[/QUOTE}
Hi Paul,
I wonder how you would feel if you bought a 4WD, all terrain, vehicle just to find out later that there is traction only on the rear axle, and no low gears.
Life would definitely not stop, but you would at the first attempt to cross a mud field.
Of course, there are people who buy SUVs without 4WD and drive only in the city. Those are the target customers for Ingenieurs that are not a-magnetic, or Aquatimers that are not waterproof.

Well, I have to say I fall somewhere in between. And for exhibit A attached is this picture.

To me,this is a wonderful design and a terrific watch. Do I like the open back? No, I do not. But the front trumps everything else. And to use Tony's analogy, I bought the watch with full knowledge that the four wheel drive was not there. So for me it is ok.
I am fully cognizant thet there is a well informed contingent here who honor tradition and history and I admire them very much. But to some of us it just does not matter when the design is so right.
By the way, I applaud IWC for trying something new but I do not like this Ti version and will not be buying one.

Hi Alan,
I have no issue with your taste in, or choice of watches. It is different from mine, but I respect it.
My issue is with IWC's lack of reverence for the history of the Ingenieur and the trivialization of the name. Those non-Ingenieur Ingenieurs should have a different name, or no name at all.

you mean... the platinum vintage aquatimer with leather strap? ;-)

Let's not forget. These are luxury watches.

Under this logic it is acceptable to include these watches in a class known for a specific characteristic (intrinsically attached to the name), as long they are made of precious or exotic metals, and cost lot of money.
To use the vehicular metaphor again, I wonder what the reaction would be if Ferrari started manufacturing a particular model with the engine of a Fiat UNO, while keeping the price. The analogy is not perfect because most people who buy a Ferrari expect the car to perform accordingly, while most people buying a watch (any watch) don't.
I will end my participation in this thread, and in any future threads related to non-Ingenieur Ingenieurs, non-Aquatimer Aquatimers, and non-Pilot Pilots. I said all I had to say on this matter. This is starting to look like a crusade and that is far from my intention.
The bottom line is - IWC is a successfully run privately owned company and will manufacture whatever watches it wants, and there is no reason why they should listen to me.

You made your point, Tony, but not in vain, as far as I am concerned. Preservation of values is always very important, and the ignorant don't know or value them enough, so they have to be educated and reminded. What happens next is out of your/our hands. I know this process from my professional environment, I am always, at least often, surprised by the effect of such an action.

Kind regards,
Paul