IWC Vintage Portuguese Hand-Wound 1939 Rose gold (IW5445-03)

IWC - Starting 2013 in Pole Position

WORLDTEMPUS - 29 January 2013

Walking along the sober and elegant corridors of the SIHH, the homogeneous exterior design that is shared by all the exhibiting brands assures the visitor that the art of haute horlogerie is also a collective value deeply rooted in every one of them. But as soon as one steps into the private area of each booth, the individual character and watchmaking philosophy of the individual manufacture takes over. And nowhere is this feeling more apparent than at the spectacular booth of International Watch Co. Schaffhausen.
For the last few years, IWC has decided to put a brand strategy in place where a specific watch collection would be selected for a complete overhaul. And since 2009, we have been presented with a succession of thematic booth decorations inspired by the Aquatimer, Portuguese, Portofino and Pilot model ranges. This climaxed in 2013 in a true Hollywood-like set inspired by the Ingenieur. Building upon the Mercedes AMG Petronas partnership announced at the beginning of 2012, entering the IWC booth this year was like emerging into the realms of the futuristic and technical world of Formula 1 motor racing, but with an additional touch of glamour. And of course, under all the F1 car parts, engines and the habitual promenade of VIPs, the Ingenieur was king.

Sportier than ever
Starting with the flagship of the collection, the 45 mm case of the Ingenieur Cronograph Racer is powered by the IWC-manufactured 89361 caliber that guarantees a power reserve of 68 hours. On the dial, recorded times are easy to read thanks to the display of hours and minutes in one single subdial. The design codes of this watch reflect elements taken from the world of motor racing to the point of having a race car engraved on the case back. The new Chronograph Racer will be available with a silver-plated or a slate colored dial, and will be accompanied by either a metal bracelet or a rubber strap with textile inlay.

IWC introduced a new size into the range with the Ingenieur Automatic. Thanks to the relatively small diameter of 40 mm and a case height of just 10 mm, this model is definitely more suited to the many smaller wrists out there. The pure and functional look of this particular watch originates in Gerald Genta´s iconic Ingenieur design first sketched back in 1976. Characteristic of the collection, the watches are protected against magnetic fields thanks to a soft iron inner case. All watches are on a metal bracelet and will be available in a choice of black and two silver-plated dials with either silver or gold plated appliques.

Timekeeping, or more precisely, recording lap times, unequivocally plays an essential role in motor racing. Reason enough for IWC to consider the Ingenieur Double Chronograph Titanium as an indispensible part of the brand's collection. The 45 mm case comes in titanium while the buttons, crown and protection elements are covered with rubber. This particular timepiece features a new technical look within the Ingenieur range with its most characteristic elements being the new and clearly visible screws with ceramic heads. The model will be available with either a silver-plated or black dial.

The new Ingenieur Automatic Dual Time Titanium fulfills the needs of the frequent traveler and comes in a lightweight 45 mm case with rubber-coated crown and protection elements. The second time zone indicated by a central hand is, according to IWC, a very useful feature for Formula 1 drivers on their way to the next race.

Performance Engineering
This year, the new Performance Engineering Collection is the right tool for the brand to focus on haute horlogerie timepieces and innovative high-tech materials. The Ingenieur Automatic Carbon Performance is, after all, the very first watch with a carbon case made by IWC and uses a construction technique that sees ultra-thin carbon tissues stacked by hand into the molds. The dial is also made of carbon and gives the watch the necessary authentic racing look. Carbon is widely used in the racing industry today thanks to its extreme lightness. It is actually five times lighter than steel, which makes this particular watch very comfortable to wear on the wrist despite its impressive 46 mm case. The see-through sapphire crystal case back offers a detailed look at IWC's manufacture 81110 caliber as well as the rotor, whose shape was inspired by a piston. The timepiece will be limited to two sets of 100 pieces each, with yellow and red elements respectively.

Within the Performance Engineering Collection, the Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar with Digital Date-Month definitely starts from a pole position. IWC considers this model to be a true high-tech creation both in terms of complications and materials used. The 46 mm case is made of titanium aluminide, a material that is widely used in the world of motorsports because of its extraordinary resistance to high temperatures. This is a first for IWC, and reinforces the brand in its attempt to innovate in materials. The perpetual calendar with its leap year indicator and large date and month display is one of the most stirring complications that IWC presently offers to watch connoisseurs. The 89802 movement with chronograph function generates enough energy to move all five display disks simultaneously at the end of the year. The see-through sapphire crystal case back allows a privileged view of the movement's ruthenium-plated parts and rotor, which is shaped like wheel rims.

High Tech, High Watchmaking, Heritage
The Ingenieur Automatic AMG Black Series Ceramic pays tribute to IWC´s cooperation with AMG, a successful partnership in existence since 2004. The name Black Series actually served as an inspiration for the sporty, all-black design of the watch. The 46 mm case is made of zirconium oxide, a high-tech ceramic that has been an area of expertise of IWC for some years now. This material provides an important link to the automotive industry where ceramic is indispensable for high-performance brake discs. The timepiece houses IWC-manufactured Caliber 18110 with a shock-absorbing system, and will also be available in a vintage-style version with a brown dial and a brown calfskin strap.
The Ingenieur Constant Force Turbillon is IWC´s most complicated Ingenieur timepiece to date. Its case, made of platinum and high-tech ceramic, houses Caliber 94800, which boasts a constant force tourbillon that is intended to guarantee a regular and precise rate for a period of at least 48 hours. The movement also features a new moon phase display with a photo-realistic moon that will only deviate one full day in 577.5 years. The sapphire crystal case back offers a full view into the details of the beautifully decorated hand-wound movement with a power reserve of four days.

And finally, IWC decided to make homage to the good old days of motor racing by remembering the legendary Mercedes Silver Arrows ("Silberpfeil" in German) of the 1930s and 1950s. The Ingenieur Cronograph Silberpfeil was presented in a 45 mm steel case, which protects Caliber 89361. The dial with circular graining and vintage leather strap are directly inspired by the look and feel of the historic Silver Arrow cockpits. And, as an additional feature, the case back was engraved with a Silver Arrow silhouette. This particular model will be available with a silver-plated or brown dial, both limited to 1,000 pieces each.

For 2013, IWC has performed remarkably with the complete overhaul of the Ingenieur collection. One can definitely say that the new pieces are the joy and pride of all IWC´s Igenieurs.