Overview
A quartz movement that's more impressive than its mechanical peers? One could argue that was the case with the JLC caliber 633, which contained over 200 moving parts and combined quartz stepping motors with a mechanically driven chronograph enhanced by an alarm function. A workhorse movement like this needed an equally workhorse housing. IWC delivered in 1991 with the sportiest Ingenieur yet—the reference 3805-01.
Iterating on Genta's foundation, the Chrono Alarm added a flieger dial, knurled crowns and pushers, and a red skeleton alarm hand. For a watch with this much hubris, one would expect the case to be up-sized to match. Luckily, taste in the 90s was still relatively restrained so the designers opted to keep it the same 34mm size as the standard Ingenieur. With so much visual and mechanical interest, it's no surprise the 3805-01 has developed a collector quite a following in recent years.
Specifications
Brand:
IWC
Model:
Ingenieur Chrono Alarm
Reference:
IW3805-01
Year:
1990s
Case Number:
2539272
Case Material:
Stainless steel
Diameter:
34 mm
Lug Width:
23 mm
Thickness:
9.0 mm
Lug-to-Lug:
Dial:
Black
Lume:
Tritium
Crystal:
Sapphire
Movement:
Meca-quartz
Caliber:
JLC 633
Bracelet/Strap:
IWC stainless steel bracelet
Max Wrist Size:
7.25in (23 links)
Hand model has a wrist size of 6.2 in
Condition
UNWORN: Case is pristine with no signs of use. Original stickers may still be present. Dial, hands, and lume have no imperfections and may show natural, even aging.
MINT: Case has only a few superficial hairlines. Lugs are thick, full, and sharp with superb finishing. Dial, hands, and lume may have micro imperfections visible only with a loupe.
EXCELLENT: Case has very light scratches or nicks. Lugs are thick, full, and well-defined. Dial and hands may have imperfections visible upon close inspection. Lume is fully intact and may show slight discoloration.
VERY GOOD: Case may have a few moderate scratches or nicks. Lugs are thick and full but may have softened edges. Dial and hands may have light stains or marks. Lume may have cracks or discoloration.
GOOD: Case has many scratches and nicks. Lugs may show signs of moderate polishing with worn edges. Dial and hands may have noticeable stains or marks. Lume may be damaged or show significant discoloration.
Case: The case shows light signs of wear with several small hairlines throughout and a couple very small nicks, mostly at the bezel edges. The original satin-brushed finish remains present and the case side bevels are still visible. The knurled edges of the crowns and pushers retain some dirt/debris buildup that presumably would be removed with a proper cleaning. The case back shows signs of prior removal with markings around the recessed gripping edges. There’s also a few small scratches to note on the plate itself, but the serial number engraving remains deep and sharp.
Dial, Hands, & Crystal: The matte black dial is in fantastic condition. The tritium hands and hour markers are an even and consistent shade of yellow. They exhibit no glow when exposed to UV light. The subseconds and chronograph hour hands show light signs of oxidation. The sapphire crystal is clear and scratch-free.
Bracelet/Strap: The IWC stainless steel bracelet shows practically no stretch. The condition is consistent with the rest of the watch with the original satin-brushed finish present and a few hairlines and small scuffs visible. The “IWC” engraving on the clasp is nice and sharp.
Movement
Functions: All functions including the crown-winding, time-setting, date-setting, alarm, and chronograph start/stop/reset are working as expected.
Service History: Unknown.
