Home » IWC Watches » IWC Ingenieur Constant-Force Tourbillon Watch
The flagship model of the renewed Ingenieur family of watches is definitely the Ingenieur Constant Force Tourbillon (the referent number is IW590001). In my opinion, this Ingenieur deserves a leading position in the haute horlogerie Constructors’ Championship and it is one of the most complicated timepieces that we have seen at this year’s SIHH.
IWC Ingenieur Constant-Force Tourbillon Watch
This bold and sturdy newcomer is housed in a platinum and ceramic case with the diameter of 46mm and the thickness of 14mm. The case has five bores in the bezel which are typical for the Ingenieur Family. It is shielded on both sides with flat, antireflective sapphire glass and provides water resistance of 120 meters (circa 400 feet).
IWC Ingenieur Constant-Force Tourbillon Watch IW590001
The new Ingenieur Constant-Force Tourbillon Watch is equipped with the in-house manufactured caliber 94800 mechanical movement with a patented constant-force mechanism integrated within the tourbillon. Thus, it is ensured that the amplitude of the balance remains almost constant. It assures an extremely precise rate over a period of at least 2 days (48 hours).
The newly developed hand-wound movement features two barrels that preserve the energy for the higher torque required to drive the constant-force tourbillon. It also provides the moon phase module with the recquired power. The impeccable mechanism provides no less than 96 hours of power reserve when fully wound.
The stunning dial of the Ingenieur Constant-Force Tourbillon Watch is especially attractive. The double moon display at the 2 o’clock position shows the state of the moon in northern and southern hemispheres. Further, it illustrates the surface of the earth’s only natural satellite so realistically that even tiny craters can be recognized (it was rendered using a specail 3D-laser technique). The moon phase counter comprises the countdown scale which shows the number of days remaining until the next full moon.
IWC Ingenieur Constant-Force Tourbillon Watch Moon Display
The retrograde power reserve display is situated between 4 and 5 o’clock positions and it shows the energy remaining in the mainspring. It has a triangular indicator to show the power remaining that never hides the brand’s logo.
The most interesting part of the dial is the tourbillon which is placed at the 9 o’clock position. The tourbillon revolves around its own axis once every 60 seconds to offset the influence of gravity on any positional error in the balance and its adverse effect on the rate. In the depths of the tourbillon, we can see the constant-force mechanism which is the true heart of this timepiece.
IWC Ingenieur Constant-Force Tourbillon Watch – Tourbillon
IWC Ingenieur Constant-Force Tourbillon has a see-through sapphire-glass back. The design on the mechanism side visible through the transparent case back is inspired by a sports car’s engine block.
IWC Ingenieur Constant-Force Tourbillon Watch IW590001 Caseback
IWC’s top model presented at SIHH 2013 comes with a comfortable black alligator leather strap and it can be purchased for the retail price of $290,000.
This year, IWC Schaffhausen presented the entirely remodeled Ingenieur collection which focuses on its new partnership with the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team. For the creation of each new model, IWC’s design engineers took their inspiration from Formula One.
