The IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Racer 2

The chronograph functions of this watch really shine, appropriately enough. The totalizer at 12 o’clock contains both hour and minute readings, read the same as any clock. The red-tipped timing seconds hand will flyback on order. Perhaps best of all are the large, steel start/stop and reset buttons inset along the right-hand side of the case. Their construction and finishing make using them a dramatic affair (as dramatic as using your chronograph can get, at least). Actuation is crisp though firm and using the flyback causes little fuss. The execution of the chronograph complication as a whole lends to the strong presence and personality of the watch, urging its use rather than sitting content with its own novelty. The case back is a simple affair with the F1 car engraving taking center stage. The car is a 2013 model, the W04 as it was known. None of the awkwardness of the W05 2014 model in sight, thankfully. The engraving itself feels a little generic, to be honest. It looks like a standard image of any F1 car was used as a template. Perhaps a more interesting angle or detail of the car would have made a stronger impact here, otherwise an exhibition case back probably would have been the right route. I just can’t see F1 fanatics gushing over this case back. While this Ingenieur is offered with a rubber/leather strap, the model I spent time with sat on a steel bracelet with large, overlapping links. The bracelet’s heft plays well with the watch as a whole, and it wears comfortably enough, however the rubber strap might help offset some of the weight being carried around. The easy-to-use clasp features a press that allows for fine-tuning, which goes a long way on a Jacob Co replica uk like this. The shape of the case along with the bracelet integration makes the watch wear seamlessly. It doesn’t spill over the wrist awkwardly or feel uncomfortable with its girth. While bigger than any watch I would normally wear, the Chronograph Racer fit my 6.75" wrist without issue. If you’re accustomed to larger watches and the weight doesn’t bother you, you’ll be perfectly happy here. Inside the watch ticks the caliber 89361, an in-house job that features a few amenities that I ended up really appreciating by the end of the week. Its 68-hour power reserve make winding less of a chore if you go a few days without wearing it, while the quick set date and hacking seconds make setting a breeze. Over my time with the watch I experienced around +4 seconds a day. All details you’d expect in a movement at this price range. The caliber 89361 is becoming a mainstay of IWC's current chronograph lineup. You'll find it in the Portuguese Chronograph Classic (which I reviewed right here) and the Pilot's Watch Edition Antoine de Saint Exupéry, for example. It's IWC's latest in-house chronograph movement and is immediately recognizable by the nested hour/minutes counter at 12 o'clock. While there's no getting around that this movement results in much higher prices than you'd find with a modular or ebauche chronograph, it is a true in-house caliber that takes advantage of IWC's technical prowess. Reading the time is done easily enough, though without the hours labeled some work will be required. The hands and hour indices are large and easily visible from a distance. The date and minute/hour totalizer on the other hand will take more attention. The tachy scale moved out to the bezel surface helps keep a clutter free dial space. If you can handle the heft of this Longines replica uk, there isn’t much to complain about. Pricing for the Ingenieur Chronograph Racer starts at $13,100 for the rubber/leather strap and jumps to $14,300 if you want the bracelet. This makes it about $10,000 cheaper than a new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore chronograph, and places it squarely inline with the likes of Girard-Perregaux’s Chrono Hawk, Rolex’s Daytona in steel, and Omega’s Speedmaster Dark Side Of the Moon. The Girard-Perregaux Chrono Hawk is a watch I’ve spent time with and stacks up quite nicely against the new Inge here. It offers an in-house movement (albeit with a module), offers a beautifully detailed and symmetrical dial and is now offered on a steel bracelet. You lose much of the sporting details enjoyed on the Ingenieur, but if you’re looking for a good all-rounder the Chrono Hawk has a lot to offer for the same price. The Omega Speedmaster, both in Dark Side Of the Moon form and ’57 Co-Axial form, offers a compelling case. They also sport in-house column wheel automatic movements and symmetrical dials, plus you get a whole lot of heritage with the name. They are also sized a little more appropriately for some wearers. Again, you’re trading some of the aggressive sporting personality here, but the ’57 Co-Axial can be had for under $10,000 while the ‘Dark Side Of the Moon’ comes in at $12,000. The new Ingenieur offers loads of personality and the Chronograph Racer embodies IWC replica uk’s attempt to connect with a wider audience by way of its F1 partnership. While I’d argue that this watch misses the mark on leveraging that F1 connection, I do think it has wide appeal as a bold, interesting sports chronograph that watch lovers and racing fans alike will enjoy. The Ingenieur carries with it a rich history of innovation in engineering and design, and the Chronograph Racer embraces that while pushing the envelope a little further. Whether that’s a good thing or not, will be up to you.