RARE 18CT IWC 1ST GENERATION INGENIEUR 1956, silvered dial w...

Estimate

£5,000 - £7,000

RARE 18CT IWC 1ST GENERATION INGENIEUR 1956, silvered dial with faceted hourmarkers, heavy 18ct case, 36.5mm, IWC signed case case back, inside a IWC signed caliber 852 21 jewel movment, IWC leather strap with buckle, with IWC box, property of a private collector, Auctioneers Notes: In 1955 - the same year Hans Ernst Homberger took over the International Watch Company - the first IWC Ingenieur was introduced, (note this watch is one year after the model was created). The watch caused a sensation with its anti-magnetic function, and the International Watch Company was celebrated as a pioneer in anti-magnetic watches.
A WATCH FOR ENGINEERS
The first IWC Ingenieur timepieces were created in the 1950’s and initiated a success story for the International Watch Company. They were developed specifically for individuals who must work in magnetic environments or for those who regularly come in contact with magnetic fields, such as engineers or technicians.
The ‘30s and ‘40s marked a time when the International Watch Company equipped the Pilot’s Watch Mark 11 with reliable protection against magnetic fields. Thereafter, IWC became a pioneer in the field of anti-magnetic watches as a result of the Ingenieur of the 1950s (Ref. 666 A and Ref. 666 AD).
A soft-iron inner case ensures the watch movement’s safety in magnetic fields. The Pellaton automatic winding system, created by IWC’s Technical Director Albert Pellaton, was the first bi-directional automatic movement and guaranteed outstanding precision. This groundbreaking innovation allowed engineers to easily wear their IWC Ingenieur during work periods accompanied by magnetic fields.