SIHH 2009: IWC Big Ingenieur Chronograph Watch

Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen has brought the ingenuity of its in-house manufactured chronograph caliber with Pellaton double-pawl winding mechanism to the iconic Ingenieur timepiece--a historic IWC model range whose original claim to fame was noteworthy resistance to magnetic fields.

The IWC Big Ingenieur Chronograph will be offered in stainless steel, 18-karat rose gold, and platinum, the last variant being part of an edition of 250 watches.  The complex, angular case measures a robust 45mm and displays a complex interaction between the extensive
brushed finish, and elegant polished accents--such as those found on the tachymeter bezel, and the lug edges.  Twin guards shield the screw-down winding crown from impacts, and create an attractive visual continuity with the angled chronograph pushers.  The dial theme of other modern IWC Ingenieur watches--a fine pattern of interlinked "I's"--provides an intricate yet purposeful canvas for faceted hour markers with luminous material, polished baton hands, and the distinctive vertically oriented chronograph subdials.  A small window in the subdial for continuous small seconds displays the date.  

The horological ingenuity of the watch brand from Schaffhausen is brilliantly displayed in the IWC Big Ingenieur Chronograph.  IWC's manufacture 89360 caliber, which first made its debut in the DaVinci chronograph animates an innovative chronograph complication featuring an analogue display of elapsed time up to twelve hours; this display--located at the upper subdial--unites chronograph hours and minutes conveniently and elegantly.  A flyback function enables the central chronograph seconds to be resent to zero during its travel, enabling the rapid timing of multiple sequences.  The central rotor, supported by a shock-absorbing spring bridge, efficiently feeds energy to the winding pinion via a distinctive system of four pawls propelled by a crankshaft; power reserve is 68 hours.   A sapphire crystal exhibition window in the screwed caseback reveals the fascinating architecture of this innovative IWC movement, as well as its fine decorative nuances.  

Each IWC Big Ingenieur Chronograph watch is fitted with a black or brown alligator leather strap, and a brushed tang buckle in stainless steel, rose gold, or platinum that bears the engraved IWC insignia.  The timepiece is water resistant to 120 meters.