IWC Q&A: ingenieur failed at engineering, IWC logo, and more.

I answer questions such as why I don’t own and enginieur, why or why not the Mark XX, is the SCHAFFHAUSEN logo really crooked, and why did I get the portugieser instead of the Portofino

[@charlymagne]

You got it?!?! That’s awesome! Congratulations. That is an incredible Portofino.

[@charlymagne]

Congratulations! That Portugieser is awesome and an incredible movement with that perpetual calendar.

[@Randyswatches]

Thank you. I have yet to wear it in public because even though it looks amazing, I feel a little self conscious wearing it.

[@Kbo513]

There are Chopard Alpine Eagle, GP Laureato, Zenith Defy as competitors when they came up to the price. IWC provides some value in that it was designed by Genta himself while the other 3 are Genta inspired/integrated bracelet for their modern releases. Sure there are arguments that GP and Zenith released their original versions earlier than their counterparts historically, but the new releases borrows heavily on the Genta design elements.
So if you compare within that space, I think IWC has some advantages. The other point of contention is the movement - it is borrowed, but a lot of other brands do that as well - Rolex recycles movements - Exp II and GMT, Tudor from Breitling B01, VC for the FiftySix. The borrowed movement provides 100m water resistance, 120 hr power reserve. Again if you compare that to the GP, Chopard, and Zenith - not all of them provide that.
I’m not attacking you just providing counter arguments.

[@Kbo513]

I did see an interview recently with the IWC CEO that they have plans on expanding the Ingenieur line later this year

[@Randyswatches]

Thanks, I appreciate the point of view. Maybe I’m salty because I wanted to explore that line, but I just can’t do a fixed-length bracelet, and I love strap options. I just think that, with IWCs incredible engineering history, they could have flexed and made a great watch… a real competitor to the overseas and Alpine Eagle.
Keep following, maybe one day I’ll go vintage Ingenieur or buy a new model that they really put some effort into. Especially if it’s in titanium.

[@Randyswatches]

@kbo513 Link?? I hope not, for my bank account’s sake. Seriously though, if they can do it without de-valuing the owners of the current model, I’m all for it.
Thanks for the comment.

[@Kbo513]

@@Randyswatches Yes I like easy exchange strap options too. Zenith is definitely one brand that offers extra straps AND easy exchange. I got to meet and talk to the Zenith CEO in W&Ws - I’m set to get their blue Extreme diver. Got into them when they released the Zenith pilot.
The IWC Ingeniuer has half links included for the standard bracelet. I was originally set to purchase the VC Overseas but Richmont group got greedy - made the blue Boutique exclusive and eventually dropped a lot of ADs in my area. I don’t want to play the game all over again for one piece when most of my purchase history was with my AD.

[@3_Gold_Coins]

My new pilot has the wave.

[@Randyswatches]

It’s weird right? Don’t focus on it. Congrats and enjoy!

[@bseroy1109]

Gotta be honest, I tried the Ingenieur on this week and absolutely loved it lol. You have some valid points, though.

[@Randyswatches]

I’m not saying it isn’t a good watch. I’m saying if I have a choice between paying less for a Christopher Ward or more for an overseas, I would do either. But why do that when the Mark XX exists?

[@peterdinklage7515]

Excellent points on the Ingenieur. It’s a cool watch but they are way too proud of it at that price point. I think they have to know by know that they completely overshot, but they know they can’t just start selling it for ~$7k.

[@Randyswatches]

Hopefully they call it a “limited run” and give it time to cool off before doing a redesign and tanking the value. But I somehow doubt they are going to call me in as a consultant

[@ansont1824]

I heard from my SA that although she can't share figures with me, that the line did so well last year, totally exceeded expectations, that she doesn't expect them to do much further with the line up in the coming year. Sit on their laurels I suppose.

[@Randyswatches]

Good for them. I don’t wish them any failure, obviously. I just hope that the secondary market stays strong so as not to devalue the brand.

[@ansont1824]

@@Randyswatches me too! I think too, that the brand has done better on the secondary market as of late, not as many pieces simply flooding the market. Thank you for all the work you've put into your videos, I've definitely enjoyed following your IWC journey.

[@bdegrds]

Lol no it's not worth only 7k

[@JohnnyLee-ki3dl]

Swiss watches are like that 😅. They won’t not give the best version of the watch on their first launch. It is a marketing strategy so that you spend the money to buy this version first. When they release an improved version you will upgrade the your current one. Rolex and Tudor are good examples

[@Randyswatches]

I’d like to think it isn’t pre-planned obsolescence. More likely, it is a combination of artwork and machinery, as well as fashion. Since fashion changes and machines can be improved, I think it’s more likely that consumer feedback over time drives incremental improvements.

[@1000lightyrs]

It seems like you're maybe a little bit annoyed about the modern Ingenieur? Haha, no I get it man. It's probably somewhat of a botched opportunity for IWC. The Ingenieur's always been my favourite line in IWC's collection. I've owned a 3227 and a 3239 previously. And it was always the Genta design that got me into it. Oddly enough, the one that ended up being my favourite, and I ended up owning long term is the odd one of modern Ingy's, the IW357002. I love the clinical dial, the case, and the way it hearkens back to the original 666. Even though it's not a Genta design, it still looks very much like you would think an Ingenieur should look like. It wears so beautifully on wrist, and even has the micro-adjust clasp like your Mark XX

[@Randyswatches]

I’ll look it up, thank you. The old titanium with the black dial and red accents and black strap sell for 6k and has been in my chrono24 list for a while. Maybe one year I’ll go neon-vintage and get one.

[@bdegrds]

The overseas is 2.5 times the price, so it's an odd comparison. AP, nautilus is 4-5 times the price. The complaint of no micro adjustment on the ingeniur does not make sense if the watch fits you, so you have to try it on. To say the ingeniur doesn't offer anything over mark 20 is not true. I sat down whith both at a boutique with a jewelers loop. The 2 are very different levels of finishing, and that's one of the most expensive ave time consuming processes of watch manufacturing. Ingeniur has hand painted dial with hand finished bracelet done to a holy trinity level. So to say generic could not be further from the truth.

[@Randyswatches]

That’s a fair response. Unfortunately my wrist fluctuates too much for a non-adjustable bracelet to “fit”.
The quality is fantastic. But I feel it could have been so much more. Clearly you can see from my videos, I’m a big fan of IWC products.
Thanks for the response.

[@SpookyConcepts]

I tried the Engineur and liked it but it costs about 2 times what it should. That watch is (to me) worth $5K tops

[@Randyswatches]

Thanks for the input. I wouldn’t go that far. I’d simply say that it not the timepiece I’d engineer in 2024 given the competition. I’d have flexed my watchmaking prowess.

[@bdegrds]

You obviously had no idea what you were looking at, luxury watches are not your thing

[@SpookyConcepts]

@@bdegrds lmfao alright whatever big luxury watch man