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Lot 295 VARIOUS PROPERTIES
IWC. A rare stainless steel anti-magnetic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds
SIGNED INTERNATIONAL WATCH CO, SCHAFFHAUSEN, INGENIEUR, REF. 666, MOVEMENT NO. 1'396'966, CASE NO. 1'398'158, CIRCA 1958
Closed12 May 2014
Price Realised
CHF 3,750
More Information
Specialist note
According to the Archives of IWC, the present watch was sold in 1958.
The celebrated Ingenieur model was developed by Albert Pellaton, IWC's technical director responsible for the creation of the firm's first automatic movement, calibres 81 and 85. Calibre 852, the next generation with central seconds, was the first self-winding movement encased under a soft-iron core, introduced under the name "Ingenieur" in 1955. Produced for the civilian market, the functional Ingenieur (German for engineer) was available in gold, steel and steel and gold and with a variety of dial styles.
The distinctive and famous logo of an arrow passing through the name "Ingenieur" is a reminiscent of the Swiss thunderbolt icon which warns of the presence of an electrical current. The thunderbolt symbol was chosen to mark the model's anti-magnetic properties, the soft iron shield protecting the movement against magnetic fields.
Considered one of the earliest "tool" watches and with its distinctive, timeless design, the early Ingenieur model enjoys cult status amongst collectors.
The celebrated Ingenieur model was developed by Albert Pellaton, IWC's technical director responsible for the creation of the firm's first automatic movement, calibres 81 and 85. Calibre 852, the next generation with central seconds, was the first self-winding movement encased under a soft-iron core, introduced under the name "Ingenieur" in 1955. Produced for the civilian market, the functional Ingenieur (German for engineer) was available in gold, steel and steel and gold and with a variety of dial styles.
The distinctive and famous logo of an arrow passing through the name "Ingenieur" is a reminiscent of the Swiss thunderbolt icon which warns of the presence of an electrical current. The thunderbolt symbol was chosen to mark the model's anti-magnetic properties, the soft iron shield protecting the movement against magnetic fields.
Considered one of the earliest "tool" watches and with its distinctive, timeless design, the early Ingenieur model enjoys cult status amongst collectors.