Kong shares a candid first-hand experience with the new IWC Ingenieur Automatic Ref. 3234, initially expressing skepticism about the brand's departure from traditional features. His detailed review, complete with personal impressions and observations, explores how the watch's design and wearability challenge preconceived notions. This article offers a valuable perspective on IWC's evolving design philosophy and its reception among collectors.
When the 3 new Ingenieur models ( Ref : 3234[44mm], 5005[46mm] & 3228[40mm] ) were launched without the soft-iron inner-case, I was shocked and disheartened.
A thought flashed by... ' not again...another brand willing to comply to the demands of today's consumers' by sacrificing their iconic classic!"
Perhaps it is a business after...nothing personal. At the same time, telling myself to be more open-minded 
Visited an AD last few days, and after chatting with him for a while, he said he was attracted to a piece of 'simple' 3-hand watch and I should have a look.
I asked, "What is it?" He replied, " Let me bring it out" and dashed off.
Ha...its The ingenieur Automatic! He handed me the piece with a " Beautiful, isn't it?"
I stared at him for a second and telepath him a message " What the heck you want me to reply?"
He got it, and replied " Just play with it."
Ok... be open-minded!
I put it on......
It actually looks good and sits well on my small wrist! Not as heavy as the classic 3227.
Look more sporty and sleeker too...ah...removing the soft-metal case, reduce the thickness. Strangely looking at the spec, the difference is only 0.5mm!
Walk to the nearest full-size mirror, hmmm...
Ingenieur Automatic (Ref 3234)
Case diameter 44mm,
3-part case - a stainless steel middle section, a black high-tech ceramic (zirconium dioxide) bezel & a scew-in back
Retaining the hallmarks of the Ingenier : bezel with 5 drill holes, dial with the check 'graph paper' pattern and the logo
INGENIEUR (in capitals) with the lighting bolt.
Notice the bluish tint on the sapphire crystal.... it is antireflective coated on both sides.
The dial layout is nice too...not like the AMG which has part of the index-10 cut off.
Something special is the extra plates at the 12 & 6 location...which improves its look over the 3227.
Read it somewhere these 2 plates resembled the brake calipers.
Observe the dial carefully, it includes the half-second inner RED indices ring, coupled with the RED-tip second hand,
it gives an impression of a speedometer and evocative of a sports car!
The middle stainless steel body has a cut-in at the crown area which is gloss-finished where as the 2 flanks are brush-finished.
That's quite an attention to details.
Besides aesthetic reason, the bezel made of scratch resistance ceramic as this is likely or most often the areas exposed to impacts and shocks and also prone to scratches.
The matt finish of the bezel compliments the brushed finished top, good contrast.
Look at the crystal... observe a series of halo or rings.. not sure the term to use - Corona or Newtonian Rings..
I guessed this could be due to the crystal is Convex Sapphire.
The screw-in caseback is also having a ceramic rim.
The Automatic movement is Cal. 80111, 28 jewles, beating at 28,800 bph with the Pellaton Winding System.
Power reserve of 44 hours. The centre second can be hacked.
The movement does not seem to have much to look at, as the rotor blocks the view. Perhaps it will get even thinner if use a solid back instead.
I feel the Cal 51112 has more details to see.
Does it warrant to remove the soft iron cage if only reduce the thickness by 0.5mm and nothing much to view?
Here, the case work displayed 2 type of finish on a single plane... the 2 flanks in brushed and the centre in gloss finish.
Take a look at the smart lug design,. It can even embrace a small wrist like mine...so ladies should try it out too!
Ah..the crown with the IWC Quality Seal .
"Probus Scafusia" : good, solid craftmanship from Schaffhausen.
A very nice crown, with multiple cut-in steps...
Can anyone see a secretive Pentagon surrounding the seal?
Another perspective.
Observe how the strap flushed with the flanks.
Not sure what type of soft material ...in the specifications, it is called 'soft black strap'.
Strangely this can be called specifications.
Buckle, nice subtle work...a combination of brush and shiny finish too.
A final wrist shot.
All in all, this piece of Ingenieur is appealing in both aesthetic and price/value aspect.
The 3 new models are an avenue for consumers to choose...as IWC said " ...not everyone who is attracted of owning an Ingenieur works in a high energy environment or .....vicinity of an MRI scanner which generate magnetic field.....It is for the buyer to decide : more transparency, or more safety".
What's your take?
Kong
