The International Watch Company (IWC) debuted the Ingenieur in 1955 as the brand’s first technical sports line, focusing on magnetic protection for engineers and professionals. The IWC Big Ingenieur 45.5mm IW500501 was introduced in 2007 as part of a revival that began in 2005 with an 80110-caliber movement (although larger models featured 5000-series movements). Later designs stood out for their Gerald Genta (1970s) inspired aesthetics, jumbo size, lighter weight, high water resistance, and versatility.
Precision Watches is pleased to welcome the IWC Big Ingenieur to our collection, a pre-owned model selling for $5,195. The article reviews our experience as we passed it around our Lower Gwynedd showroom.
IWC Big Ingenieur 45.5mm IW500501 Review
This watch is characterized by its bold, vintage appearance. Let’s break down each feature to better understand its aesthetics and functionality.
Appearance
The overall aesthetics of this watch are big and bold with a distinct vintage appeal. At 45.5mm diameter, it has definite heft. Its rounded case and integrated lugs pay homage to the Gerald Genta designs of the 1970s.
The brushed stainless steel with polished accents gives the watch an industrial look, which is further emphasized by the five recessed screws that decorate the bezel. Its large screw-down crowns and substantial crown guards provide a sporty character.
Focusing on the dial, it’s a deep black with a fine radial pattern and smooth outer ring, offering a sense of depth. The applied polished baton indices with lume stand out nicely against the dark background. Broad, faceted hands with luminous inlays complement the angular style.
Without numbers (aside from the bold 12 at the top of the dial), the watch is modern and straightforward, supporting its versatile style.
The Fit
With a diameter of 45.5mm, this is a big watch, and its broad integrated lug and wide bezel make it wear even bigger. The 15mm thickness gives it a significant vertical presence. It’s best suited to medium- to large-wristed wearers, and even then, it will provide an oversized appearance.
Due to its substantial height, it will not fit under a dress cuff, which further establishes the IWC Big Ingenieur as a sports watch. However, the lugs hug your wrist, which means the watch wears comfortably and stays in place well.
The Strap
The strap is black alligator leather, integrated into the dial with thick silver lugs. We admired how the silver contrasts with the black of the dial and strap, with the black carrying through to create a cohesive appearance.
A rubber backing holds the strap in place nicely. While stiff at first, it will break in eventually to distribute the weight. Additionally, its taper and thickness prevent the watch from rolling from side to side.
The finishing touch here is the stock pin buckle, which allows you to micro-adjust your watch to the ideal setting.
Caseback and Movement
Although mainly a sports watch, the Big Ingenieur 45.5mm features a sapphire display caseback with a broad, round steel ring that screws it down into place. The center is a large sapphire crystal that provides an almost full view of the movement. Finishing details include branded engravings around the rim and a brushed-steel ring, which match the watch’s industrial theme.
One update to the watch is the absence of the traditional soft-iron inner cage. While it diminishes some of the anti-magnetism, it also makes the watch lighter and fits the large display back, allowing the wearer to view the movement.
And speaking of movement, the watch features a calibre 5113-5000 series that visually fills the case, with a partially open shape so you can see the components as they swing. Witness the 7-day power reserve achieved via a large mainspring barrel, evident from the partially transparent backing. Overall, this is a true engineer’s watch, allowing you to witness its engineering firsthand.
Functionality
Functionality-wise, you have a lot going on for such a simple watch—the numbers and markings around the dial track minutes and seconds. Without a printed numeral for each minute, you can read the time more precisely and track short events using the second hand against the dial.
The subdial at 7 o’clock indicates the power reserve. It sweeps over a graduated scale marked from zero to seven days, falling into the red danger zone as it nears zero.
Experience the Big Ingenieur 45.5mm IW500501 at Precision Watches
If you love big sports watches, come to our Lower Gwynedd showroom to experience the Big Ingenieur 45.5mm firsthand. We carry a curated selection of pre-owned IWC watches, along with new and pre-owned timepieces from other leading Swiss brands. If you can’t visit in person, you can browse our IWC inventory online. We also offer Swiss watch repair services, supporting you throughout your ownership timeline.
FAQs
How does the IWC Big Ingenieur compare to the Big Pilot?
The IWC Big Ingenieur has a similar size and power reserve to the Big Pilot, an earlier IWC model. However, it offers higher water resistance and lacks a soft iron case, which lowers magnetic resistance but allows a display caseback and makes the watch lighter overall.
Is the IWC Big Ingenieur water-resistant, and for what activities?
Yes, the watch is water-resistant up to 120m, making it ideal for swimming and showers. It is more robust than the Big Pilot, which offered 60m water resistance.
What are the key specifications of the IWC Big Ingenieur IW500501?
Key specifications of the watch include a 45.5mm case, 15mm thickness, 120m water resistance, a black dial with luminous baton indices, a power reserve at 3 o’clock and a date window at 6 o’clock, an automatic calibre 5113 movement, a black alligator strap, and a sapphire display caseback.
What movement powers it, and what’s special about it?
The watch is powered by Calibre 5113 movement, from IWC’s 5000 family. It offers a 7-day power reserve via a highly efficient Pellaton pawl-winding system, a Breguet overcoil hairspring, hacking seconds, and shock protection, all visible through a sapphire caseback with Geneva stripes.
