Comments:
First (non-Ocean) IWC delivered
This just arrived today all the way from Paris. Ref 666 IWC Ingenieur from the mid to late 1950s. Back when the Ingenieur was made to resist high magnetic fields like the Rolex Milgauss and Omega Railmaster.
This is an early model as the crown is unsigned and the dial has the metal dagger markers. 60+ years old I think.
This is my first IWC that isn’t an Ocean Bund or an Ocean 2000 (I have a total of 9 of those!).
666
Very nice! The ref. 666 Ingenieur was my first 'good' watch (over 20 years ago), and I have had a soft spot for them (and the subsequent ref. 866) ever since.
Yours appears to be in excellent, unpolished condition. However, it would have originally been fitted with a 'fish' crown to denote high water resistance. It was common for IWC to replace those crowns with the type affixed to yours when servicing, as the original guarantees no longer applied.
Cheers,
Tony C.
Thanks Tony
It wasn’t easy finding an unpolished no-date Ingenieur in good condition.
I’ve heard both versions about the plain vs fish crown. I have yet to find anything definitive on the official IWC forum though.
I’ve heard both versions about the plain vs fish crown. I have yet to find anything definitive on the official IWC forum though.
crowns
Anything is possible from that period, however, given that the 666 was a serious "tool" watch, I would have expected IWC to also trumpet its water resistance.
Here are two early ads, one with the fish icon (presumably matching the one on the crown), and one with the earliest of the bracelets, which appears to show a fish crown as well.
Cheers,
Tony C.
Here are two early ads, one with the fish icon (presumably matching the one on the crown), and one with the earliest of the bracelets, which appears to show a fish crown as well.
Cheers,
Tony C.
Thanks for posting these historic ads
The dial on the bottom ad matches the one on my watch so mine could definitely have had a fish crown when born.
As I mentioned in my reply to Blomman below I do have a NOS fish crown inbound so I can have the option of fitting it on.
Looks great. For its age. Handsome watch.
Cheers! I feel you did well to buy it. 
Geross.
Halilujaah, my favorite Inge!!!
Congratulations - the condition looks superb.
Best
Christian
Wow, Reintitan, bravo. Huge congratulations. I love this no date version a lot. A must have for collectors of amagnetic watches. [nt]
No message body
Congrats, great catch!
Yes, the crown should have a fish...
But that detail should not be too hard to fix.
Best
Blomman