The Ingenieur Collection, which has been completely renovated in March, was the guest of our Hands On corner with the Ref. IW357003 which attracts attention with its 18K solid pink gold case.
The new IWC Ingenieur Collection is re-designed referring to the Re-Issue and Heritage concepts, which are still quite popular in the watchmaking industry. The collection features new models which are inspired by the Ingenieur Collection’s past model issued during 1960s. Among 8 different models in the renovated collection, we have the Ref. IW357003 version here for review.
The case of the new model measures 40mm in diameter and 10.3mm in height. Thanks to the thick bezel and mirror-polished finish on the front side, the case wears and looks a tad smaller. 18K pink gold case is water resistant to 120 meters and it is equipped with a double AR coated scratch resistant sapphire crystal on the front side. On the rear side is a screw-in solid 18K pink gold caseback.
The new model’s dial is finished in a beautiful slate tone which perfectly matches with the 18K pink gold case. Thanks to the Sun Beam surface, the dial shows different tones under light from different angles. Pink gold hands and indices, which are SuperLuminova phosphor material filled for better legibility at dark environments, accompany the dial which bears minimal text. The simplicity of the dial is perfect though I must admit that I am not happy with the absence of the iconic arrow Ingenieur logo. The date display, which is the only additional feature of the model, is placed at 3 o’clock.
IWC Ingenieur Automatic 18K Pink Gold (Ref. IW357003) is powered by the Caliber Ref. A35111 which we are familiar with the Da Vinci Automatic and Portofino Automatic models. 25 jewels self-winding movement beats at 4Hz and offers a power reserve of 42 hours when fully wound. Though we cannot see it due to the solid gold caseback, the movement is protected against magnetic fields with an inner cage made of soft iron which is a key feature for the Ingenieur Collection timepieces.
The model is offered on a nicely matching black alligator strap. The strap is secured by an IWC signed tang buckle made of 18K pink gold.
The IWC Ingenieur Collection is one of the most important product lines of the brand for me. However, the period I see as the peak point for this cult collection is identified with the models produced in the mid-2000s. My favorite models are all of that era with their bold case designs, high quality metal bracelets made by impeccable craftsmanship that goes with the “engineer” part of the collection.
I can say that this new collection, inspired by the brand’s rich archive, is very successful, especially within the Re-Issue concept. If you are interested in retro-styled remake models, and most importantly if your shopping list includes a solid gold option, I strongly recommend that you take a closer look at the IWC Ingenieur Automatic 18K Pink Gold (Ref. IW357003).
