====== IWC Ingenieur Automatic 3227 ======
  *See Also [[IWC Ingenieur]]

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The **Ingenieur Automatic** (Ref. 3227) was [[IWC]]'s main entry in the [[IWC Ingenieur|Ingenieur]] line from [[2005]] until [[2009]].

===== Overview =====
Both [[Rolex]] and IWC saw the need for a [[engineer|watch for engineers and scientists]] in the 1950s, combining rugged [[automatic]] movements, [[water-resistant]] cases, and [[anti-magnetic]] concepts in the [[Rolex Milgauss]] and this IWC Ingenieur. The concept has remained for over 50 years, with the [[IWC Ingenieur|IWC Ingenieur family]] spawning many models, including an iconic redesign by famed designer [[Genta, Gerald|Gerald Genta]], a pivot to [[motor racing]], and the use of exotic materials like [[titanium]] and [[ceramic]].

The Ingenieur had become somewhat stale by the mid 1970s but famed designer [[Genta, Gerald|Gerald Genta]] had shown a stylistic path forward with his groundbreaking [[Audemars Piguet Royal Oak]] in [[1972]]. Genta designed three "SL" or "Steel Line" watches for IWC, of which only the Ingenieur was presented for sale. Measuring 40 mm by 38 mm around a 30 mm dial, the "Jumbo" nickname seemed appropriate for the time. Poor sales spurred IWC to search for a smaller and thinner movement to allow the watch to be reduced in size to 34 mm for the 1980s, with the [[IWC Ingenieur 3305|"Skinny" Ref. 3305 and 3505/3506]] quartz and automatic offerings giving way to the [[IWC Ingenieur 3521|Ref. 3521 "Officially Certified Chronometer"]] for the 1990s.

IWC had stopped producing most in-house movements during the [[quartz crisis]] and turned to [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]] (then 55% owned by IWC parent company [[LMH]]) for the "Officially Certified Chronometer". But [[IWC 8872|Cal. 887/2]] (based on the [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]] [[JLC 889|Cal. 889/2]]) was also used in the competing [[Audemars Piguet Royal Oak]] and [[Vacheron Constantin Overseas]]. IWC had a great deal of experience with the [[ETA 7750]] chronograph movement and used this basic design to create the new in-house [[IWC 80000|Cal. 80000]] family, launched in [[2005]] in this Ref. 3227 Ingenieur.

Named "Ingenieur Automatic" to highlight this new in-house movement, [[IWC 80110|Cal. 80110]], Ref. 3227 was the first clean-sheet design for the Ingenieur line since Genta's 1976 Ingenieur SL. Although it retains many of the SL's signature touches, including the five-bore bezel, the case is much larger and more angular, now measuring a whopping 42.5 mm across. Although even larger than the derided "Jumbo", this was in keeping with the styling trends of the 2000s and was the first "oversized" Ingenieur since the early 1980s.

The Ingenieur Automatic was available in a basic steel model, Ref. IW322701, with or without a steel bracelet, but it was the [[titanium]] [[IWC Ingenieur Mercedes AMG|Mercedes AMG]] models (Ref. IW322702 and IW322703) that made the most waves. This exotic case material was pioneered by IWC in the [[1984]] [[IWC Ingenieur 3350|Ref. 3350 "Ingenieur in Titanium]] and it was welcomed back by brand enthusiasts. Soon, the entire Ingenieur line would be given over to titanium, ceramic, and the Mercedes AMG partnership.

Although it shared the basic look of the Ingenieur SL, with a [[tonneau]]-shaped case and five-bore bezel, the new Automatic diverged in details. Arabic numerals returned, at 6 and 12 in steel models and even hours in the titanium AMG version, and the new dial featured details for added depth. The steel offering features an outer seconds track with numerals at 5 second increments, while the AMG model has red numerals every 10 seconds. The AMG offering also has a circular cutout in the center of the dial somewhat reminiscent of the pie pan dial of the original Ingenieur. All models feature [[sword hands]] and split [[bar markers]] with lume.

The "Ingenieur Automatic" was a modest sales success and was phased out in [[2009]] as the [[IWC Ingenieur Automatic 3233|Ref. 3233 "Vintage" Ingenieur]] was released. But the Mercedes AMG models would set the stage for the next generation Ingenieur line, including the [[2013]] [[IWC Ingenieur Automatic 3239|Ref. 3239]].

===== 2005-2013 Ingenieur Range =====
The Ingenieur line was entirely refreshed in [[2005]] focusing on the [[IWC Ingenieur Automatic|Ingenieur Automatic, Ref. 3227]] and co-branded [[IWC Ingenieur Mercedes AMG|Mercedes AMG model]], the smaller [[IWC Ingenieur 4515|"Midsize" Ref. 4515]], and the [[IWC Ingenieur Chronograph 3725|Ingenieur Chronograph, Ref. 3725]]. The Ref. 3227 Ingenieur Automatic was retired in [[2009]] as the [[IWC Ingenieur Automatic 3233|"Vintage" Ingenieur Automatic, Ref. 3233]] appeared on the scene.

IWC began launching larger and sportier pieces, including the [[IWC Big Ingenieur 5005|Ref. 5005 "Big" Ingenieur]] in [[2007]] and the [[IWC Big Ingenieur Chronograph 3784|Ref. 3784 "Big" Chronograph]] and [[IWC Ingenieur Automatic 3236|Ref. 3236 "Mission Earth"]] in [[2009]].

In [[2011]], the Ingenieur design was rebooted again with a new case, first in the [[IWC Ingenieur Double Chronograph 3765|Ref. 3765 Ingenieur Double Chronograph]] and later on a variety of other models. The entire range was refreshed in [[2013]], centered on the [[IWC Ingenieur Mercedes AMG|Mercedes-AMG]] partnership.


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**Reference:**
  * IW322701 [[Stainless steel]] with matching bracelet or leather strap
  * IW322702 "AMG" [[Titanium]] with matching bracelet
  * IW322703 "AMG" [[Titanium]] with fabric strap

**Movement:**
  * [[Self-winding]] [[manufacture]] movement [[IWC 80110|Cal. 80110]], 28,800 A/h
  * [[Pellaton winding]]
  * Integrated shock absorber system
  * 28 [[jewels]]
  * Power reserve 44 h

**Case: **
  * [[Stainless steel]] or [[titanium]]
  * Ø 42.5 mm, H 14.5 mm
  * Soft-iron inner case for [[magnetic field protection]] up to 80,000 A/m
  * [[Sapphire crystal]], [[antireflective]] on both sides
  * [[Screw-in crown]]
  * Screw-in back
  * [[Waterproof]] to 120 m

**Dial:**
  * Black with comb pattern or black patterned
  * Numerals, indexes and hands with [[luminous material]]

**Functions:**
  * Hours, minutes, [[central seconds]]
  * [[Date window]] at 3 00
  * [[Hacking seconds]]
  * Rapid calendar advance

**Bracelet: **
  * Metal bracelet system with deployant clasp or strap

**Production: **
  * Production [[2005]]-[[2009]]
  * Predecessor [[IWC Ingenieur 3521|Ref. 3521 Ingenieur "Officially Certified Chronometer"]]
  * Predecessor [[IWC Ingenieur Automatic 3233|Ref. 3233 "Vintage" Ingenieur Automatic]]
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{{tag>Watch_models IWC_Ingenieur_models}}