When IWC Schaffhausen invites us to an event, it’s always an easy yes from our side. It’s a brand that really cares not only about the aesthetics of the watch but also about the world it builds around it. So when we were asked to spend a Monday morning with them, we knew we were up for a good experience. The location – inside a very minimal, restored workspace – was spot on for the concept, and honestly, who would say no to a masterclass like this, instead of answering emails and planning the rest of the week?
Welcome to IWC ENGINEERED, where we, at least for a while, assumed the role of a watchmaker and explored the movement and the precise construction of these timepieces, which, considering the Ingenieur celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, seemed exactly the right way to celebrate.
If you know me well or have read a few pieces here, you know I’ve always had a soft spot for the Ingenieur. During the session, we were able to try on a few models from the line and look back at some of the vintage pieces, including early designs by Gérald Genta.
But for me, especially during the event, the highlights were the black and green ceramic Ingenieur, as well as the Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar. A week on the wrist: that’s what needs to happen next.
Becoming a watch nerd?
- Ceramic watch – ‘Ceramic’ refers to any material that is solid, inorganic, and non-metallic. This relatively vague definition provides plenty of room for watchmakers to play with their ceramic formulas and improve their timepieces. Unlike coated metal watches, the colour of ceramic is a property of the material itself, making it more resistant to fading and wear.
- Gérald Genta – was a Swiss watchmaker and artist, who is known for his eponymous lines of timepieces. Throughout his career, he created some of the most iconic models in the watch world, many of which remain popular to this day. To name a few: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, IWC Ingenieur, Omega Constellation and Patek Philippe Nautilus.
- IWC – IWC Schaffhausen, founded in 1868 by American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones, is a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer based in Schaffhausen. Jones planned to combine Swiss craftsmanship with modern engineering and hydropower sourced from the nearby Rhine to produce high-quality watches. The brand has a long tradition of innovation and is known for applying engineering to watchmaking. Over its history, IWC has developed many iconic families, including pilot’s watches, Portugieser, Ingenieur and pioneered materials such as ceramic and titanium.
- IWC Ingenieur – was born in the mid-50s as a watch designed for engineers working in magnetic environments (thus the name), the IWC Ingenieur is mostly known for its redesign by Gerald Genta in the 70s, using his classic sports watch concept with an integrated bracelet. Some of the most popular models came out in the late 80s and early 90s, now with the latest version released in 2023.
- Movement – can be automatic/self-winding, manual winding or quartz and is what keeps the watch going.
- Perpetual calendar – a watch uses a complex system of gears and levers to automatically adjust and display the correct date, accounting for different month lengths and leap years, making manual date adjustments unnecessary for many years.
- Self-winding movement – (or automatic) has a mechanism which winds the mainspring using the natural motions of the wearer’s body. The watch contains an oscillating weight that turns on a pivot.
