IWC Schaffhausen · ref 666A / 666AD · 1955–1967
IWC built the Ingenieur for people who worked around strong magnetic fields, the scientists, engineers and doctors of the 1950s. The 666 arrived in 1954–55 with a soft-iron cage, made up of the inner case and the dial, that protected the movement up to 80,000 amperes per meter. Inside is the Pellaton automatic developed under technical director Albert Pellaton, the cal. 852 in the no-date 666A and the cal. 8521 in the 666AD with its date at 3. Cases came in steel or gold, about 36.5mm across and rated to 100m, and dials were silver or black with pointed applied markers and the lightning bolt around the Ingenieur name. A second generation, the 866, took over in 1967, and Gérald Genta's very different Ingenieur SL followed in 1976. Listings mix all three, so make sure you're looking at a 666. They're hard to find, partly because many were scrapped over the years.
The caliber
The 666 runs IWC's Pellaton automatics, the cal. 852 without a date and the cal. 8521 with one, later refined as the 853 and 8531. Albert Pellaton's pawl winding arrived in 1950 and earned a name for being efficient and tough. The same family grew into the cal. 8541 that went into the Aquatimer and the Yacht Club, so the Ingenieur sits at the root of IWC's 1960s automatics.
Replaced and refinished dials are the main risk, including black service dials fitted later. A missing soft-iron inner case takes away the whole point of the watch.
Buying guide
We'd buy the 666AD a US seller titles excellent with its box, at $4,500 delivered, inside the band. There are about 23 for sale and most ask $3,525–5,050 delivered, though seven Japan dealer listings put 666ADs at $2,822–3,574. Make sure it's a 666 and not an 866 or a Genta SL, ask for a movement photo showing a Pellaton automatic (with the date wheel on a 666AD), and confirm the soft-iron inner case is still fitted, since that's the whole point of the watch. Check each seller's feedback and return policy on the item page, since eBay's watch search doesn't show them.
$2,822.00est. delivered
The lowest ask on a 666 at $2,822 delivered from Japan, a 666AD with a silver dial, about $700 under the band. Ask for photos of the movement and the inner case, and budget for possible import duty.
IWC 666AD Ingenieur Silver Dial Automatic Stainless Steel Leather Men’s
$4,500.00delivered
Titled excellent and boxed, a 666AD from a US seller at $4,500 delivered, so there's no import duty to add. Ask for a movement photo that shows the Pellaton automatic with its date wheel.
IWC Ingenieur 666AD, Cal 8531, exellent, box
$4,814.19est. delivered
Titled serviced and on a Gay Frères bracelet, at $4,814 delivered from Switzerland, inside the band. Ask when the service was done and whether the soft-iron inner case is still fitted.
1960s IWC Ingenieur 666 AD - Serviced w. Gay Frères Bracelet
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 6, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 6, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$2,822.00est. delivered
$2,787.00 + $35.00 shipping
Buy It Now$2,787.00
Good buy
Lowest ask, a 666AD. Ships from Japan.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$4,500.00delivered
$4,500.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$4,500.00
Good buy
Titled 666AD, excellent, with box.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Serviced$4,814.19est. delivered
$4,669.40 + $144.79 shipping
Buy It Now$4,669.40
Good buy
Titled serviced, on a Gay Frères bracelet. Ships from Switzerland.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$4,900.00est. delivered
$4,750.00 + $150.00 shipping
Auction · no bids yet
Our take
Auction with no bids, titled first-generation 666A. Ships from Japan.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$4,950.00delivered
$4,950.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$4,950.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled cal. 852, the no-date Pellaton.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$10,073.23est. delivered
$9,848.13 + $225.10 shipping
Buy It Now$9,848.13
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Solid 18ct gold, so it asks about twice a steel one.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$4,788.36est. delivered
$4,726.74 + $61.62 shipping
Buy It Now$4,726.74
Check the seller
Same photo as another Italian listing at a different price. Ask the seller why.
Seller: Seller on eBay
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Used$4,810.16est. delivered
$4,787.65 + $22.51 shipping
Buy It Now$4,787.65
Check the seller
Same photo as another Italian listing at a different price.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 6, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchA fresh strap, a set of spring bars and a spring-bar tool are the cheap part of making an old IWC Ingenieur 666 wearable again. This searches Amazon for the usual kit.
Search straps & tools ↗Amazon search
IWC Schaffhausen · Pilot's Watch
Pilot and fieldref Mark XI (6B/346)
$8,050–$8,725 typical ask
IWC Schaffhausen · Yacht Club
Dressref 811
$2,200–$3,075 typical ask
IWC Schaffhausen · Aquatimer
Diveref 812 / 812 AD / 1812
$10,200–$14,675 typical ask
Omega · Constellation
Dressref 168.005
$2,500–$3,275 typical ask