WWR #34: Ingersoll Scott ref. IN8402GY

A few weeks ago, news broke out in the horological world about the the rarest (only two in the world) watch to be Auctioned.  And apart from that, its a Patek, and previously owned by guitar god himself, Eric Clapton.  Price will be monumental and for sure will break records.  Which brings us to a question, did Clapton wear this watch?  I think not.  I believe there are watches meant to be preserved in a vault somewhere and be unearthed from golden slumber again for the world to appreciate.  And then there are watches that are meant to be worn and care less about scratches, theives, resale value nor personal status.

Our 34th Weekly Watch Recommendation is the Ingersoll Scott ref . IN8402GY.

Now a lot of people shun the idea of a Chines made watch.  Yes, Ingersoll is an American brand, designed in Germany, and made in China.  For me, it really doesn't matter where its made, as long as it delivers what its supposed to and commensurate to the price tag.

What atttracted me to this watch is that it looks similar to Clapton's Patek.  Now the monumental price tag of that Patek is nowhere for the masses, this Ingersoll is.  Ingersoll Scott to be specific.

Scott is highly influences by the styling and cues of a classic Swiss dress watch with complications.  Now at first glance this may seem to have a split chronograph and possibly a perpetual calendar, it actually doesn't.  What the Ingersoll Scott has is a moon phase, day, date and month complications aside from the usual three hander.  Now the two chronograph-like buttons are a wild guess for me, it could either set-up any of those features mentioned above.  Will try to get my hands on one and update on the specific button functions.

Here is a view of the movement from the exhibition caseback.  We would all know that only a company named Seagull would create this movements in China, thus we'd assume Ingersoll bought their movements from them.  The movement is labelled as a 435 calibre automatic with 35 jewels.

The case size is 45mm including the crown with mineral glass on the top and bottom.  The dial is a light gray color with blue hands, big aperture under the 12 o'clock for the date and and roman numeral indices fill the whole dial.  Water resistant is 3atm, pretty standard for dress watches like these.  Do take note at the bottom of the dial, the print Germany Design. Well I find it to marketing cheesy and honest too.  The less knowledgeable on the WIS stage would find this value adding to the product while the rest of us so called idiot savants would know what this means.

But with all these characteristics at hand, as popularly would be the outcome, a lot of serious watch lovers would neglect the idea of having this strapped to their wrists.  But I tell you, in these times of economic struggle, where ever you put your business too, life ain't as easy as it used to be.  And it that these kind of watches come in.  With a dollar price tag of around  450$, it doesn't at all account to a mortal sin to have this to be paired with your everyday work suit, dress shirt and tie, to tell everyone that sometimes, we don't need to be extravagant, but just be humble and practical.  Yes that is what that watch is, humble and practical. If you are one, got get one.