To mark the start of the Rallye Passione Caracciola, IWC Schaffhausen is proud to present two special editions from the Ingenieur watch family.
The Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Rudolf Caracciola” is dedicated to an exceptionally talented racing driver of the 1930s, while the Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “W 125” recalls the legendary Silver Arrow from Mercedes-Benz. Both models are limited to 750 examples worldwide and powered by the new IWC-manufactured 69370 calibre.
With their enormous power and roaring engines, the sports and racing cars of yesteryear still exert an irresistible fascination on a wide body of enthusiasts. At the same time, these classic cars symbolise the timeless elegance of high-quality mechanical watches. This is one of the reasons IWC Schaffhausen has such a strong commitment to historic motorsport.
“The Rallye Passione Caracciola preserves the memory of one of the greatest racing drivers of all time and brings together a unique collection of lovingly maintained vintage cars and their owners. As partners, we’re proud and honoured to support this exclusive event for the second time,” explains Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.
Following an advance announcement at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting in England and to mark the start of the Rallye Passione Caracciola, IWC unveiled two special limited editions, both inspired by historic motorsport, from the Ingenieur watch family.
One of the more conspicuous features is the simplicity of the case. It differs from the technically inspired design by Gérald Genta previously used for this watch family and gives these particular models an unexpected elegance.
Technically speaking, the new IWC-manufactured 69370 calibre found in both timepieces is a first. The chronograph movement serves as a further example of IWC’s expertise as a manufacturer of its own movements, and, thanks to Swiss precision and engineer-ing, sets new benchmarks in terms of quality and reliability.
The Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Rudolf Caracciola”
Vital Stats
- Features:Mechanical chronograph movement – Automatic pawl winding – Date display – Stopwatch function with hours, minutes and seconds – Small hacking seconds – Screw-in crown – See-through sapphire- glass back – Limited to 750 watches worldwide
- Frequency:28,800 A/h | 4 Hz
- Jewels: 33
- Power reserve: 46H
- Winding: Automatic
- Materials:Stainless-steel case, rhodium-plated hands and appliqués, slate-coloured dial, brown calfskin strap, stainless-steel pin buckle
- Glass:Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
- Water-resistant: 6 bar
- Diameter: 42 mm
- Height: 15 mm
The Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Rudolf Caracciola” (Ref. IW380702) honours the memory of legendary racing driver Rudolf Caracciola. Back in the 1930s, the Mercedes star driver won three European Championship titles and took the chequered flag in 144 of the 204 races he finished. In an allusion to his driving skills on wet tracks, the champion was often called the “King of the Rain”.
Limited to just 750 examples, the chronograph is housed in a stainless-steel case. The slate-coloured dial and embossed tachymeter scale, together with the rhodium-plated hands and appliqués, give the watch a technical, but distinctly elegant appeal. The timepiece is held to the wearer’s wrist by a brown calfskin strap, the embossing of which is reminiscent of the seats in racing cars of days gone by.
The Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “W 125”
Vital Stats
- Features: Mechanical chronograph movement – Automatic pawl winding – Date display – Stopwatch function with hours, minutes and seconds – Small hacking seconds – Screw-in crown – See-through sapphire- glass back – Limited to 750 watches worldwide
- Frequency: 28,800 A/h | 4 Hz
- Jewels: 33
- Power reserve: 46H
- Winding: Automatic
- Materials: Titanium case, black hands and appliqués, silver-plated dial, black calfskin strap, titanium pin buckle
- Glass: Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
- Water-resistant: 6 bar
- Diameter: 42 mm
- Height: 15 mm
The Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “W 125” (Ref. IW380701) is a tribute to the Silver Arrow W 125 from Mercedes-Benz. Seventy-eight years ago, at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz W 125 with a V12 engine, Rudolf Caracciola recorded 432.7 kilometres per hour on the Frankfurt–Darmstadt autobahn – to this day the highest speed ever driven on a public road. Limited to 750 watches, the chronograph is housed in a rugged titanium case.
The silver-plated dial contrasts starkly with the black hands and appliqués. The two totalisers, the small seconds and the tachymeter scale imitate the instrument look found in the cockpit of a W 125. The watch features a luxurious strap made of black calfskin.
A gala dinner to mark the start of the rally
Together with all the drivers and many guests of honour, IWC celebrated the start of the Rallye Passione Caracciola with an exclusive Welcome Dinner at Zurich’s Dolder Grand hotel. Also present was former German racing driver and Le Mans winner Jochen Maas, who accompanied the first stage of the rally.
The Rallye Passione Caracciola is designed as a regularity rally and is taking place for the second time this year. Classic cars of all brands built up to 1980 are eligible for entry. In all, the route takes drivers through four stages, from Regensdorf via Berne, Interlaken, Andermatt and Ambrì to Lugano, where the presentation ceremony will be held.
Highlights of the event are a visit to the Bremgarten circuit, where the Swiss Grand Prix was held in the 1930s, as well as a track day featuring per formance cars from Mercedes-AMG on the airstrip at Ambrì-Piotta.
IWC Schaffhausen
With a clear focus on technology and development, the Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has been producing timepieces of lasting value since 1868.
The company has gained an international reputation based on a passion for innovative solutions and technical ingenuity. One of the world’s leading brands in the luxury watch segment, IWC crafts masterpieces of haute horlogerie at their finest, combining supreme precision with exclusive design.
As an ecologically and socially responsible company, IWC is committed to sustainable production, supports institutions around the globe in their work with children and young people, and maintains partnerships with organisations dedicated to climate and environmental protection.