IWC Ingenieur 866 AD

Here we offer you a vintage classic: the IWC Ingenieur 866 from 1969.

The history of this legendary anti-magnetic wristwatch begins in 1954 when IWC presented the first Ingenieur with the reference 666. Since then, the IWC Ingenieur has been the synonym of a anti-magnetic and high-precision watch. IWC Ingenieur is equipped with the Pellaton winding system, named after the IWC's Technical Director Albert Pellaton. The movement was inserted into a soft iron cage – the dial, the movement's ring and the caseback cover were creating a protection against magnetic fields up to 80000 amperes per meter. The IWC Ingenieur reached more than 16 times the resistance required by the Swiss norm for antimagnetic watches.

The successor reference 866 was introduced in the mid-1960s. There is no doubt that reference 666 is historically very important since it was the first reference. But among collectors, the reference 866 and 666 are considered on same level of collectability. Not least due to the fact that the reference 866 was manufactured in less numbers than the reference 666 and is therefore a rarer model.

The official reference of the offered IWC is 866AD, D indicating the date feature. The no-date version has the reference 866A. In the early 1970s IWC changed the numbering of the references, whereby the reference 866AD became 1808 (with date) and the reference 866A became 1908 (without date).

The case of the reference 866 was redesigned and got a larger diameter measuring 37mm. The design of the dial was also changed. The new distinctive twin hour markers now decorated the dial. For the first time the indexes and hands were made of white gold. The use of the precious metal ensured a high resistance and a long endurance of those elements. The hour and minute hands have become baton-shaped and the second hand has an unmistakable paddle-neck at its tip.

The movement of this reference 866 is the improved caliber 8541B. It offers more precise time keeping ​​than the predecessor caliber 8521, which was installed in the Ref. 666. In addition, the caliber 8541B is a hacking movement, which means that the second hand stops when the time is set allowing the time to be set to the second. The winding crown has also been changed and has become larger.

This IWC Ingenieur 866 is a valuable collector's watch not only because its rarity and reliable movement but also due to its outstanding condition. You rarely find such a clean sunburst dial from the 1960s - absolutely impressive. Every single hour marker and all three hands contain the original tritium lume that is intact everywhere. The large IWC logo at 12 o'clock and all inscriptions have remained crisp. The model name "Ingenieur" is surrounded by a lightning at 6 o'clock, which indicates the protection against magnetic fields.

The stainless steel case has few signs of wear, but was never polished and retains its original profile with sharp edges. The watch is accompanied by the beautiful Gay Frère stainless steel bracelet from 1971. The buckle is double signed: IWC logo outside and 1/71 (first quarter 1971) inside. Those original vintage bracelets are very rare today.

This IWC Ingenieur 866 is an elegant and classic wristwatch with an important history and innovative and reliable mechanics. The excellent condition makes it a high quality vintage collector's watch.

Movement number: 1970xxx (1969)

Case number: 2011xxx

Int.Exe.: 26226