After finally having been able to find a nice 322701 to add to my collection again I thought it was time to compare this great wristwatch with my other less known Ingenieur: the rare but impressive Ingenieur XXL.
First Impressions:
Both the regular 322701 and the XXL share he same Gerald Genta 70ties look that hallmarks a design era from the past, but now in an unparalleled and futuristic way. The attention to detail is great and staring at the dial pattern can have a mesmerizing effect on either one of them.
Case:
The case of the 322701 and the XXL are both made of steel. Most notable difference is the diameter of the case. The 322701 measures 42mm without the crown whereas the XXL is tiny bit larger with a diameter of 350mm. Some might consider this too much as recent discussions about the diameter of watches have proven, but the XXL makes the ultimate statement that big can be handsome in it’s own way. It all depends on the context. An interesting detail is that the Schaffhauser designers left out he crown on the XXL. This helps balancing the overall look of this watch. Setting the time is done by turning a crown like wheel on the back. One might consider both timepieces as rather heavy: the 322701 gets away with 216 grams including the bracelet, the XXL takes the strength of a real man to carry around, weighting around 2350 grams
Dial:
Both dials are very well executed with a wonderful and technical sophisticated pattern. The dial and hands show a lot of fine details. The hands and indices are highly reflective and the look of both Ingenieurs can vary depending of how the light catches the dial. This makes both very good looking in their own way. The hands of the 322701 and the XXL contain luminova, but the luminosity is not really fantastic. But who cares. If it’s dark just get your iPhone to tell the time.
Two differences about the dials of the 322701 and the XXL are immediately noticeable: the 322701 has a date window and a central second hand that you will not find on the XXL.
Movement and accuracy:
Inside the 322701 we can find the impressive in house automatic IWC movement calibre 80110. The smooth winding mechanism gives you a power reserve of 44 hours and if you wear the watch daily you shouldn’t be concerned about stopping because of the very efficient automatic Pellaton winding system. An extra feature of this movement is the shock absorbing system that protects the movement plates en components. That makes this movement especially interesting for people that engage themselves in all kind of outdoor activities. The accuracy of the calibre 80110 is stunning, mine running at +1 second a day, well within COSC specifications.
The movement of the XXL is different altogether and might be a drawback for mechanical watch enthusiasts. It is a quartz driven swiss made movement made by Elag with an average power reserve of 365 days or more. Not nearly as impressive as the calibre 80110 but very efficient and even more accurate, comparable with an atomic clock.
Fit and Finish
The moment you put the 322701 around you wrist you know it’s there. The weight and the height of the case make it noticeable. The integrated bracelet is a stunning piece of art and maybe the best IWC has ever made. It makes the watch balance perfectly on the wrist. The finish is wonderful with again lot a attention to detail. The bezel is kind of a scratch magnet and it is almost impossible to prevent slight damage to it in daily life. But this is a watch that wants to live a life outdoors, not in a safe, and every scratch tells you the story of an adventure.
The XXL lacks the integrated bracelet. I guess the weight would then be unbearable. The only way to wear this watch properly would be around the neck on a steel chain, but it will require a lot of guts and a well-trained body to do so. I lack both, so I have no first hand experience on wearing this watch outside.
The verdict
The overall conclusion is that both IWC’s are wonderful timepieces that capture the beauty and craftsmanship of the watchmakers from Schaffhausen in every detail. There are a lot of similarities but also some noticeable differences. Putting everything together one might say that the IWC Ingenieur automatic 322701 can be considered the perfect outdoor companion on the wrist whereas the Ingenieur XXL is by far the most impressive indoor companion for any IWC addict. If you can find any of them, don’t hesitate, just go for it.
