Introducing: The IWC Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month In Titanium

May 29, 2019

The IWC Ingenieur has been around since the 1950s, but IWC has only recently pushed the collection into flagship watch territory with the Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date Month, featuring IWCs in-house caliber 89801 and a case made from grade 5 titanium. This particular watch has existed previously in gold (that version was released in 2017), but the use of grade 5 titanium brings it back to its spiritual core, as this sort of titanium is frequently used in aerospace and internal combustion engine applications, something an engineer might work on. There will be a total of 100 of the titanium Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date Month watches made, each individually numbered.? A 45mm titanium case and gray dial with black hands creates an aesthetic expression that errs more towards tool than the luxe 2017 gold edition. This sort of appearance makes total sense when one considers all the technology the caliber 89801 is packing. Industrial-grade titanium ideologically stands up to the engineering required to mechanically program the 89801 to recognize the lengths of different months and even account for a leap year every four years. On top of that, the 89801 features a flyback chronograph complication.? Initial Thoughts Introducing a watch in a precious metal and then later introducing the same model in stainless steel is a common part of the watch worlds product cycle, but the choice by IWC to utilize titanium is perhaps even more interesting. Theres plenty of kinship between the original ethos of the Ingenieur and the sort of applications titanium is used in. Watch brands often play up the marketing jargon when it comes to case materials. "Medical grade" stainless steel is usually just 316L. "Aerospace-grade metal" could be any metal material used in virtually any aeronautical application. But to anyone with a background in engineering, welding, industrial design is most likely familiar with "Grade 5" titanium. Its use is widespread; in other words, its the titanium you think of when you think of titanium. And thats a good thing when it comes to its application in horology. Its tried and true and free of gimmicks. This is the Perpetual Calendar Digital Date Month watch for the buyer who isn't into gold. The only bit of gold used on this watch is the 18k rotor, and it's made from gold for more efficient winding.? The Basics Brand: IWCModel: Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-MonthReference Number: ?IW381802?Diameter: 45mmThickness: 17.4mmCase Material: Grade 5 titaniumDial Color: GreyIndexes: Applied batonsLume: Yes, on hands and hour markersWater Resistance: 120 metersStrap/Bracelet: Black calfskin strap The Movement Caliber: ?IWC in-house cal. 89801Functions: Hours, minutes, hacking seconds, perpetual calendar with large double-digit displays for date and month and leap year display, chronograph with hour and minute counters combined in a totalizer at 12 oclock, flyback functionDiameter: 30mmPower Reserve: 68 hoursFrequency: 4 Hz (28,000vph) ?Jewels: 51? Pricing & Availability Price: $37,400Availability: At IWC boutiques onlyLimited Edition: 100 numbered examplesFor more click here.