231 IWC Rare and Attractive Ingenieur, Automatic Wristwatch in Yellow Gold, With Black Gilt Dial, Reference 766A

Estimate: € 12,000 –⁠ 24,000

Sold € 15,600

Model: Ingenieur
Reference: 766A
Case Material: Yellow Gold
Bracelet Material: Yellow Gold
Year: 1960s
Movement: Automatic
Caliber: C853
Case N°: 1782216
Movement N°: 1724784
Dimensions: 36 mm
Signed: Dial, Case and Movement

The IWC Ingenieur was introduced in 1954-55 under the references 666A and 666AD (the latter being the Date version). It featured the caliber 852 (for the 666A) or caliber 8521 (for the 666AD). As the name can indicate, the Ingenieur was a watch created for scientists, engineers, doctors and, on a larger scale, people working in magnetic environments. In 1959, the Ingenieur benefited from an enhanced version of the IWC automatic movement. The new caliber 853/8531 represents a natural evolution of the caliber 852/8521, incorporating relatively minor improvements on the balance wheel and the barrel. In a time where the date function was somehow a standard fit on automatic wristwatches, the calendar version became far more popular and the ref. 766 AD vastly outsold the non-date ref. 766 A. This means that the present specimen 766A is a true gem and very rare example of Ingenieur. It was available in steel or, such as this one, in gold, could be equipped with a variety of dial styles but is mainly very remembered by watch aficionados for its particular logo of an arrow passing through the name “Ingenieur”. Memory of the Swiss thunderbolt icon which warns of the presence of an electrical current that specific symbol was chosen to mark the model’s anti-magnetic properties with the soft iron shield protecting the movement against magnetic shields. Preserved in nice and fair conditions, the lot here offered is equipped with a charming black dial with applied gold indexes and texture and an elegant gold bracelet.