IWC Da Vinci Watches

[ via IWC ]PRESS RELEASE: IWC Ingenieur Automatic Edition "Climate Action" A carbon-neutral watch, made for a cause that benefits everyone - this is the IWC Ingenieur Automatic Edition "Climate Action". It is the symbol of a world that can be saved. Provided many people pull their weight. The campaign by environmentally aware management also helps. And IWC plays its part. Can we save the world with a watch? Perhaps. For the fight against global warming begins within - in the minds of as many people as possible. And the Ingenieur Automatic Edition "Climate Action" is a positive indication that more and more of us are doing something for the love of our planet. IWC, for example, is doing something as a carbon-neutral certified enterprise. The Schaffhausen manufactory is supporting The Climate Group, an independent nonprofit organization founded in 2004, with the Ingenieur Automatic Edition "Climate Action". Part of the proceeds from sales will be channeled into projects of this internationally active organization, which works with governments and business leaders around the world with a view to the rapid establishment of a low-carbon economy. Many companies, states, regions and municipalities around the world are demonstrating that a reduction in greenhouse gases is essential, and that this is achievable alongside a simultaneous increase in profitability and competitiveness. The Climate Group uses the work of these trailblazers as a catalyst to enable it rapidly to identify pragmatic solutions in its international efforts against global warming. "The next five years will prove decisive for the world's climate," says Steve Howard, CEO of The Climate Group. "Our emissions on a worldwide scale must reach their peak in the foreseeable future and then decrease. We must restrict heating of the atmosphere to two degrees centigrade. The further we exceed that limit, the more radical the ensuing changes will be." The Climate Group was founded in London in 2004. Steve Howard and his staff have since succeeded in enlisting the support of a series of multinational corporations for their cause. These are people who most certainly do not stand around at the Wailing Wall of environmental policy. They actually do something, by proposing market-oriented solutions leading us away from the problems associated with CO2. The Ingenieur Automatic Edition "Climate Action" will be limited to 1,000 watches and fills the bill precisely, as do all the other watches from IWC, of course. The carbon footprint of the manufactory is impressive. All the CO2 emissions previously generated by the business are gradually being reduced by the use of alternative technologies. For the unavoidable CO2 emissions, such as those resulting from business air travel, an equivalent balancing amount is invested in a wind energy project in China, which promotes the utilization of regenerative energies. However, the Ingenieur Automatic Edition "Climate Action" does more than support this project. It is also a symbol. With its purist Ingenieur design, its "regenerative" mechanical drive and the mix of conventional and advanced materials - namely stainless steel and ceramic - it is an ideal ambassador for the notion that the world's climate is a subject that concerns us. As always, actions speak louder than words. And as a long lived, robust high-quality product - like all the other watches from IWC - it also satisfies the requirement for sustainability. The limited special edition differs from the standard model through its silvered dial and the discreet use of yellow five-minute indices and a back engraving. The colour theme is repeated in the backstitching of the strap and the engraving "IWC supports voluntary action on climate change" reiterates the commitment of the Schaffhausen watch manufactory to the environment. TECHNICAL DATA Features Mechanical movement, automatic Pellaton winding system, integral shock absorber system, date display, central seconds hand with stop function, limited to 1,000 watches MovementCalibre 80111 Vibrations 28,800/h / 4 Hz Jewels 28 Power reserve 44 h Winding automatic Case Material stainless steel and ceramic (zirconium oxide) Glass sapphire, antireflective Back ceramic mounting, stainless steel, engraved Crown screw-in Water-resistant 12 bar Diameter 44mm Height 14mm Weight Watch in stainless steel with black soft strap 130 g

The green production process of the watch manufacturer in Schaffhausen, is something to be proud of. Not only , but a lot of other companies seem to embrace durable entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility. One of ‘s projects is to support projects like ‘s Plastiki Expedition. David de Rothschild and his Adventure Ecology organization built a 60 foot catamaran made entirely of plastic bottles, PET plastic and recycled waste products. With this ship, named the Plastiki, David and his carefully picked crew members will sail approx. 10,000 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to Sydney.The name of this boat, Plastiki, was inspired by the famous Kon-Tiki expedition in 1947, lead by Thor Heyerdahl.To ‘celebrate’ (and make some money of) this joint venture between IWC and David Rothschild, IWC launched the IWC Ingenieur Automatic Mission Earth Edition (Limited Edition). There will be 1000 pieces of this special edition Ingenieur Automatic. The Mission Earth watch has been , right after the SIHH 2009.I have to get one thing of my chest immediately, I LOVE the fact that IWC didn’t put a transparant case back on this watch. That does NOT belong on an Ingenieur watch. I suspect that they have a stainless steel case back installed in order to get the engravings and inscriptions right, but still… A watch that is famous for its anti-magnetic construction should not be transformed into a ‘fashion’ watch.If you take a look at the picture above (by IWC press), you will also see another neat feature. The inside of the strap has the same little shapes as the dial of the Ingenieur. Way cool! The engraving in the back is nice as well, optical finish is something you can leave to IWC for that matter. The Adventure Ecology and Plastiki inscription is very futuristic, matching perfectly by the further design and ‘joint venture’ reason of this watch.Inside this watch ticks IWC’s inhouse caliber 80110 movement. Some people might think that this is just a de-chrono’ed ETA (Valjoux) 7750, but that’s not the case. I have written an article on that subject about a year ago which you can find . The case of this watch has a 46mm diameter (similar to the BIG Ingenieur) and a height of 15mm.As you can see above, the watch is very blue-ish, reminding me a bit of the IWC launched in 2004. This blown-up version of the regular IWC Ingenieur ref. 3227-01 (discontinued in 2009) has two major differences in comparison to the ‘original’ IWC Ingenieur Automatic, except for the colors and the size. These are the crown guards, which were applied to the IWC Ingenieur Chronograph, but not on the regular 3227-01 version. Owning one myself, I can’t say the absence of it bothers me, but I can imagine the ‘request’ for them. The other major difference, and this is actually only easy to witness when you have the Mission Earth in your hands, is the lack of sharpness on the edges of the casing. I have held this watch in my hands during the , not too long ago, and this was the first difference that I noticed about the watch when holding it. Therefor, this watch has a completely different feel (at least to me).So, in conclusion, what do I like about this watch and what’s not to like. The design is still intact despite the supersizing and the addition of crown guards. The stainless steel case back (instead of a transparant case back) is also a pro. Then of course, for the techies, the movement is a nice inhouse caliber with IWC’s Pellaton winding system. These movements are quite accurate as well, adopting IWC’s own standards for this, instead of using the more generic COSC standards.When this watch will be worn on a daily basis or as ‘your only watch’, the colors are a bit too much I think. I also think the blue strap could be seen as ‘looking cheap’ for many. However, to me, the major setback is the lack of sharp edges of the case. The design of this watch is so incredibly cool in my opinion, and it should feel as it looks. Sharp. And it doesn’t. If you remember that I wrote recently, you know how much I care about the ‘feel’ of watches with a design like these.With a list price of a mere 9K USD and the fact that there are some cons about this watch, I am happy that I have the discontinued (that has been produced from 2005 till now) 3227-01 model. A tribute to the original SL1832 Ingenieur in my opinion, without losing its own identity. It is cheaper too, and I really don’t see why the Mission Earth has to cost more. It makes no sense to me.So I guess I can keep the 42.5mm Ingenieur Automatic with its stainless steel bracelet without feeling the urge to do (yet another) trade for something new. Of course, I don’t want to sound to negative, the Mission Earth is still a fine watch, but for this kind of money I want a watch exactly right and to my taste, and it’s not.