At the end of 1950s IWC introduced
an enhanced version of its automatic calibre, the c.853/8531.
The changes between the c.852x and the c.853x were
minor and affected only a few parts.
Apparently, IWC sometimes upgraded the older c. 852x
movement with these improvements when they were serviced.
The c.853x movement was introduced in 1958, while the production
of c.852 calibre ended one year later. For the Ingenieur line it
seems that 1959 was the year of transition as several archive
extracts from Schaffhausen show that both calibres were
sold to dealers during this period.
The dial styles of the cal. 853x Ingenieurs are generally
consistent with those on the earlier cal. 852x models, and
there was no effort to "refresh" the look when the movement
changed. Dial selection, however, expanded at some point
to include more variations than existed before.
Of the early Ingenieurs, the c. 853x versions are the most
prevalent on the vintage market. This fact, of course, makes
them no less desirable.
A magnifying lens over the date window (sometimes called
a "cyclops" lens) was also offered as an option
by IWC during an unknown period of time as shown by this
price list (stating that all round calendar models provided
this option) and this
flyer for the Japanese market.
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Ref/ 9033 with 18kt gold bracelet. |
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1960 flyer depicting the rare ref. 9386 AD,
18kt case with 18kt bracelet.
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Flyer circa 1960 showing the ref. 666 A
on steel bracelet.
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The1966 catalog
(below) only depicts the Ingenieur with dauphine hands and
only with the classic "slash and dot," calatrava style dials. While this was the most prevalent
dial type, many other variations existed as detailed below.
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Ref 666 and Ref. 9386 (extended ref. nos.
used) the later
with gold bracelet and "cyclops" lens.
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Two Ref. 666's (extended ref. nos. used) the
second
having "wedge" shaped hour markers.
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The "Classic" 853x
Ingenieurs |
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Double-slash at 12 with
space. |
Double rectangular slash at 12 with no
space. |
White
dial. |
The most typical 853x (and 852x) Ingenieurs are
like those depicted in the 1966 catalog. These watches bear the
calatrava-style markers on a black, white or silver dial with a
stainless steel case. These are "classic" not only because they are
representative of the series, but because of their timeless design.
At right, a cal. 853 and cal. 8531. |
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All known cataloged versions of black-dialed
Ingenieurs have a black date window -- that is, white date numbers
on a black background.
The opposite is true of the silver and white-dialed
Ingenieurs. This does
not suggest, however, that a black-dialed Ingenieur with a white
date disc is not “original” to the watch. During this period, there
does not appear to have been strict adherence to these combinations
and changes were often made during routine service.
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With a "cyclops" lens over the date.
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Black-dialed Ingenieur with white date
disc. |
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Showing all of its evident charm on an original
bracelet -- a black-dialed 8531 Ingenieur, with tritium
dots, double slash/no space at 12, and Dauphine hands
with no tritium inserts. At right, the same watch
posed in front of a vintage Ingenieur ad.
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Ingenieur with “baton” instead of dauphine
hands. |
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Baton hands yet again on an 8531. Double
slash with no space. |
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This gold-cased version is far more rare
than its steel-cased brethren. |
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Another 18kt ref.
666 AD. |
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An extremely rare 18kt 8531 with black dial.
Notice the date in the date window is also gold. |
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This 853 is unusual because it has a
stainless steel case but rose gold hands and markers. Another view
here. |
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853x Ingenieurs
with Arabic Numerals |
Dials with Arabic numerals were also available. Below are three similarly-style
Ingenieurs with Arabic numerals "at the corners" -- all
with different case types. And as shown in this
advertisement from 1961, a dial was also available with
Arabic numerals used for all 12 hour markers.
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A "mixte" case
Ingenieur from 1958/59 -- 14kt with
a stainless steel back.
Click here
for another view.
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Same dial on an
18kt case |
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Arabic numerals
only at the 12 and 6 positions. |
Same dial
as at left. |
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Arabic numerals on a ref. 666A, no
date. |
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853x Ingenieurs --
Other Variations |
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The above style of the 853 (non-date) Ingenieur is intriguing
because all known variations have the applied "IWC" logo on the dial
(typically only found on 854x models), as well as bar markers
instead of slash markers. Too many examples exist for the dials to
all be subsequent replacements and a picture of this same variation
appears in IWC's magazine, "International Watch." It is possible
that 853 movements were used to produce these examples at a later
date or that the applied logo was used on some watches while the c.
853 was still in widespread use. All but the first example have
baton hands. |
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This variation has pie-pan dial and
distinctive gold wedge-shaped hour markers. |
Same watch as at left after an overhaul
and refinishing |
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Same dial-type but with silver markers, on
original bracelet. Another view here. |
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Like those depicted above but with black dial. |
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This is actually a cal. 8521 with
similar markers but featuring an 18kt case. |
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An unusual c. 853 Ingenieur
with a dial similar to the c. 852 pictured in the previous
section. Notice the thick single bars on the corners and
the baton hands. |
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This dial is unlike any other encountered.
It is unknown whether the dial as presented on this watch is
original. |
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