| Brand: | IWC |
| Model: | Ingenieur |
| Reference: | IW3227-01 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Year: | 2007 |
| Material: | stainless steel |
| Dial Color: | Creme white |
| Dimensions: | 42 mm |
| Watch Movement: | automatic |
| Bracelet/Strap: | new alligator leather IWC strap |
| Box/Paper: | Full set box and papers |
| Condition: | Excellent original condition |
WRIST ICONS presents the IWC 3227-01 Ingenieur as a complete full set . This is one of the most important and iconic neo vintage watches of the early 2000s.
IWC had been known for producing toolwatches since the late thirties. They used to make big pilot watches such as caliber 325 and the military watches for the RAF during World War II. The Mark XI was launched in 1948 when International Watch Company (IWC) and Jaeger-LeCoultre (JLC) produced watches that were based on specifications from the British Ministry of Defense (MoD). Functionality was the primary concern of these timepieces, and the resulting watches would end up as all-time classics.
The first Ingenieur, introduced in 1955, was IWC's first resolutely technical watch, which, unlike the brand's Pilot's Watch, was introduced more broadly for everyone, in an era when magnetic interference from the increasing proliferation of electrical devices was causing concern.
The French word ingenieur means "engineer," and the watch's main selling point was that it was antimagnetic, with its movement shielded from potentially harmful magnetic fields by a soft-iron inner case. The watch also contained IWC's first automatic movement, with the self-winding system developed by Albert Pellaton, IWC's technical director at the time.
The Ingenieur is powered by IWC's in-house caliber 80110. A common misconception appears to be that this movement is based on the ETA/Valjoux 7750. It's not. The original target was to get a highly robust, easy to service and maintain movement that plays in the same "durability-field" as e.g. the Rolex 3135 and the new JLC calibers 972/975/977.
Following this goal, IWC chose the tried-and-true 7750-base as a source of inspiration. As a result, the 80110 became a combination of the solid 7750-construction's strengths and the legendary IWC pellaton winding system, accompanied by IWC's general quality standards and production knowledge." As a result, the 7750 was used as a "source of inspiration.
The famous 7750 'wobble' is not present with IWC caliber 80110. Another fact is that there are no replaceable/interchangeable components between 7750 and 80110.
The Ingenieur was redesigned by IWC in 2005. The Reference 3227-01 combined the outspoken, eye-catching design of the Ingenieur SL Jumbo 1832 as designed by Gerald Genta in 1976. Gerald Genta is the most well known watch designer of all time. He actually invented the integrated bracelet sportwatch as introduced with Royal oak in 1972.
The Ingenieur 3227-01 has the size of a modern sports watch, bringing one of the most innovative watches of the twentieth century into the twenty-first. Although the appearance of the 3227 Ingenieurs varies, they all retain the spirit of the original: constant protection from magnetic fields and a stylish, functional appearance that combines aesthetic appeal with the needs of the twenty-first-century engineer.
Incredibly enough at this time in 2022 with the regained popularity of the integrated sportswatch, IWC does not have a model in the Ingenieur family that resembles the original design of Gerald Genta. This is major mistake and therefore we see a current price increase in this specific model. In my honest opinion it is one of the best IWC models out there from the 1990s and early 2000s which for now is still quite affordable, as long as it takes…
In the late 90s early 2000s IWC began with a really great marketing strategy. Their ads were targeted on men with funny but very masculine text. The message was “Engineered for MEN”
IWC started a campaign which was quite similar to some of the edgy advertising from Porsche which featured statements like “Honestly now, did you spend your youth dreaming about someday owning a Nissan or Mitsubishi?”, IWC took the machismo a step further with lines like “Almost as complicated as a woman. Except it’s on time”, and “Often seen on stewardesses’ bedside tables”.
Though they caused quite the stir, it was precisely this kind of boundary pushing that then-CEO George Kern (actually the youngest CEO when he joined IWC IN 2002)was known for, and the clout surrounding the much-loved brand continued to grow into what it is today.
This stunning example of this IWC 3227-01 Ingenieur has just been serviced by our watchmaker and is in stunning condition. It has all the good parts what makes this a great looking neo-vintage piece. The watch is worn regularly and the case is only lightly polished.
Overall, the IWC 3227-01 Ingenieur is noteworthy, both for its design and execution. This IWC 3227-01 Ingenieur is remarkably well preserved.
As with all of our pre-owned watches this watch comes with a full 12 month warranty with ourselves that will be invoked from the day of purchase.
Viewings can be arranged at our office by appointment.
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