THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: IWC
MODEL: 666AD
YEAR: 1957
BOX/PAPERS: YES/YES (ARCHIVE)
CASE DIAMETER: 36mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: LEATHER
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

When the name IWC Ingenieur is mentioned, the first watch that often comes to mind is the IWC Ingenieur SL (ref. 1832), introduced in 1976 by Gérald Genta. Launched four years after the now slightly more famous Genta design, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and in the same year as the other sibling, Patek Philippe Nautilus, the Ingenieur SL shares some of Genta's most recognisable features: a bold, angular case, integrated bracelet, and distinctive bezel.

However, few realise that unlike the Royal Oak and Nautilus, the IWC Ingenieur began its life as a ‘tool watch’ nearly 20 years before its iconic siblings. It all started when Albert Pellaton was appointed as IWC's new technical director in 1944, who led the development of IWC’s first automatic watch, powered by the calibre 81 and 85, in 1950. A few years later, in 1955, the improved calibre 852x was developed, an automatic movement encased in a soft-iron core, earning the name ‘Ingenieur’ (which translates to ‘engineer’).

The example you see here is the first-generation Ingenieur, ref. 666 AD, featuring the calibre 8521—the first-ever automatic and anti-magnetic IWC. Notably, it is also one of the first IWCs to carry the famous ‘Arrow Logo,’ reminiscent of the Swiss thunderbolt icon that warns of electrical current.

This particular watch was originally sold on January 10, 1957, at the now-defunct AG Scherbel in St. Moritz. Despite being nearly 70 years old, it remains in incredible condition, with a flawless dial, hands, a superbly sharp case, an original IWC strap, and the original buckle. The 36mm watch (ahead of its time) wears beautifully on the wrist. It runs excellently at +5 s/d, 270 amps, with a beat error of 0.1. It comes with its original inner and outer boxes, an Extract from the Archives, and service documents dating back to 1998.