IWC Schaffhausen – Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Rudolf Caracciola” (Ref. IW380702) & Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “W 125”(Ref. IW380701)

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To mark the start of the Rallye Passione Caracciola, IWC Schaffhausen has unveiled two special editions from the Ingenieur watch family.

The Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Rudolf Caracciola” is dedicated to an exceptionally talented racing driver of the 1930s, while the Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “W 125” recalls the legendary Silver Arrow from Mercedes-Benz. Both models are limited to 750 examples worldwide and powered by the new IWC-manufactured 69370 calibre.

Following an advance announcement at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting in England and to mark the start of the Rallye Passione Caracciola, IWC unveiled two special limited editions, both inspired by historic motorsport, from the Ingenieur watch family.

One of the more conspicuous features is the simplicity of the case. It differs from the technically inspired design by Gérald Genta previously used for this watch family and gives these particular models an unexpected elegance.

Technically speaking, the new IWC-manufactured 69370 calibre found in both timepieces is a first. The chronograph movement serves as a further example of IWC’s expertise as a manufacturer of its own movements, and, thanks to Swiss precision and engineering, sets new benchmarks in terms of quality and reliability.

IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Rudolf Caracciola” (Ref. IW380702)
Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Rudolf Caracciola” (Ref. IW380702)

The Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Rudolf Caracciola” (Ref. IW380702) honours the memory of legendary racing driver Rudolf Caracciola. Back in the 1930s, the Mercedes star driver won three European Championship titles and took the chequered flag in 144 of the 204 races he finished.

In an allusion to his driving skills on wet tracks, the champion was often called the “King of the Rain”. Limited to just 750 examples, the chronograph is housed in a stainless steel case. The slate-coloured dial and embossed tachymeter scale, together with the rhodium-plated hands and appliqués, give the watch a technical, but distinctly elegant appeal. The timepiece is held to the wearer’s wrist by a brown calfskin strap, the embossing of which is   reminiscent of the seats in racing cars of days gone by.

The Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “W 125”(Ref. IW380701) is a tribute to the Silver Arrow W 125 from Mercedes-Benz. Seventy-eight years ago, at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz W 125 with a V12 engine, Rudolf Caracciola recorded 432.7 kilometres per hour on the Frankfurt–Darmstadt autobahn – to this day the highest speed ever driven on a public road.

IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “W 125”(Ref. IW380701)
Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “W 125”(Ref. IW380701)

Limited to 750 watches, the chronograph is housed in a rugged titanium case. The silver-plated dial contrasts starkly with the black hands and appliqués. The two totalizers, the small seconds and the tachymeter scale imitate the instrument look found in the cockpit of a W 125. The watch features a luxurious strap made of black calfskin.

Technical details

Model: IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Rudolf Caracciola” Ref. IW380702

IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Rudolf Caracciola” Ref. IW380702

Functions
Date display
Stopwatch function with hours, minutes and seconds
Small hacking seconds

Movement
IWC-manufactured calibre 69370
Mechanical chronograph movement
Automatic pawl winding
Frequency: 28,800 A/h | 4 Hz
Jewels: 33
Power reserve: 46 h

Case, dial and strap
Stainless-steel case
Water-resistant: 6 bar
Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 15 mm
Glass: Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Screw-in crown
See-through sapphire glass back
Slate-coloured dial
Rhodium-plated hands and appliqués
Brown calfskin strap, stainless-steel pin buckle

Edition
Limited to 750 watches worldwide

Model: IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “W 125” Ref. IW380701
IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “W 125” Ref. IW380701

Functions
Date display
Stopwatch function with hours, minutes and seconds
Small hacking seconds

Movement
IWC-manufactured calibre 69370
Mechanical chronograph movement
Automatic pawl winding
Frequency: 28,800 A/h | 4 Hz
Jewels: 33
Power reserve: 46 h

Case, dial and strap
Titanium case
Glass: Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Water-resistant: 6 bar
Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 15 mm
Screw-in crown
See-through sapphire glass back
Silver-plated dial
Black hands and appliqués
Black calfskin strap, titanium pin buckle

Edition
Limited to 750 watches worldwide