Yes, but...it really depends on your swing. The problem with all automatic watches is the rotor which winds the watch (what repairers call an oscillating weight. It's theoretically possible to dislodge it with great force. It's very rare and it's not IWC that's the issue. It can happen with any automatic watch.
While you can, this reminds me of seeing a famous bicycle racer wearing a Cartier while in the Tour de France. Sure, he could --but why take the chance of a many thousands of dollar watch?
4,735 Discussions and CommentsMember since Dec. 18, 2006
Michael provided the correct answer about the technical part. Besides that, the watch isn't exactly light and has some sharp corners. It is very well possible that you hurt yourself or the opponent (more likely during squash than tennis :-)
I have worn my 322701 once while mountainbiking and found it very uncomfortable. Probably worse for my wrist than for the watch.
5,024 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 29, 2003Sarasota, FL,
United States
This topic has been raised before. The general consensus is that while you can wear any watch while performing sports activity, why take the risk? I am an avid tennis player and I always wear my digital Casio for that activity.
2,081 Discussions and CommentsMember since Jan. 7, 2005
Hi Peter,
I'm currently testing the inge riding everyday my motorbike on pavements like this:
I don't know if there's a more dangerous activity than this one for a watch.
I'm keeping the watch on my wrist since two weeks relentlessly so far, the watch keeps going, being its performance costant during the period.
Note I take this chance to beg pardon to the forum since I've never introduced this watch of mine but, as you can see, I'm "testing" it, I will be back with some further comments and a worthy presentation later on, in the next months.
1,592 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 16, 2002
The shock of playing golf tennis squash transmitted into a watch movement can do damage to all mechanical watches whether auto or HW. Better to take the watch off and put it with your wallet and keys in say the racket cover under the tin and the front wall. Why risk damage to an expensive watch. Roger Federer takes his Rolex day date off and puts it in his bag. Dare I suggest that he is a) not short of CHF US$ or GB£ and he can afford to buy them by the dozen and b) his ability to hit a clean shot that does not jar through the racket into his wrist and the watch is far greater than your efforts dare I suggest. Also a hard shock to a mechanical watch whether auto or HW can cause the balance spring to get snagged and the watch then gallops at a fast rate until the balance spring is released whether by a service or another shock. Also why do you want to give your nice watch a bath in your sweat? Would you rally a road going car over dirt roads such as a Merc or BMW let alone an Italian thoroughbred? Please reconsider where your good watches are when playing the likes of tennis or squash.
2,081 Discussions and CommentsMember since Jan. 7, 2005
Greg Chalk Wrote:The shock of playing golf tennis squash transmitted into a watch movement can do damage to all mechanical watches whether auto or HW. Better to take the watch off and put it with your wallet and keys in say the racket cover under the tin and the front wall. Why risk damage to an expensive watch. Roger Federer takes his Rolex day date off and puts it in his bag. Dare I suggest that he is a) not short of CHF US$ or GB£ and he can afford to buy them by the dozen and b) his ability to hit a clean shot that does not jar through the racket into his wrist and the watch is far greater than your efforts dare I suggest. Also a hard shock to a mechanical watch whether auto or HW can cause the balance spring to get snagged and the watch then gallops at a fast rate until the balance spring is released whether by a service or another shock. Also why do you want to give your nice watch a bath in your sweat? Would you rally a road going car over dirt roads such as a Merc or BMW let alone an Italian thoroughbred? Please reconsider where your good watches are when playing the likes of tennis or squash.
Greg,
I beg myself to differ in part, regarding the contents of your contribution, but especially regarding the attitude. We're talking about a contemporary watch made to perform in difficult environments, I wonder when should we use a tool watch like an ingenieur rather than in such circumstances?
A friend of mine owns several vintage watches, he wears them on a rotary basis, he really does everything with his watches (I'm definitely conservative compared to him) he, to my knowledge, never reported troubles to the performances of his watches, by the way, he's a watch mag journalist.
Why should we put at risk an expensive watch using it in harsh conditions? Why buy it then? Are we preserving the watch for its next owner? An inge it's made to be challenged!
@Alan: my dear friend, you're disappointing me, you own several IWC tool watches and you take a casio to play tennis? If I were you, I've never give up wearing my Inge while playing tennis. You may not have Roger Federer's first service but you'd beat him 6-0, 6-0 when it comes to class!
Ehm, actually this would happen even if he played wearing a Rolex :)
5,024 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 29, 2003Sarasota, FL,
United States
Roberto, Any of the Ingenieurs on my wrist would totally change my balance on the tennis court. I would have to relearn my shots as my left arm would now weigh too much. lol But seriously, I would have no problem wearing my watches while riding a bike or hiking or at elevation. But tennis or golf impart a tremendous force on a repeated basis. And in tennis I am always crashing into fences chasing after shots. So the Casio stays for that.
1,592 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 16, 2002
My very first job was with a Swiss watch importer, for Oris and caught balance springs and galloping timepieces came in 2 or 3 times a month and it used to make the Swiss service manager get steamed up with the treatment that some watches had received. Outside cases filthy with dirt sweat and congealed skin between the lugs, non waterproof watches showing aged water damage and watches bone dry of lubrication. Watches are fairly robust but they are not designed to carry on no matter what abuse we put them through. I remember him saying vehemently that golf tennis squash etc were not good for watches. An Ingie is designed for places of high magnetism, an AT for diving but no IWC that I know of is designed to be robust enough for using a hammer or playing games like tennis golf etc, remember when you hit the ball incorrectly how it can sting the hands or forearm and likewise that shock is transferred into the watch. I am am just repeating without the veheamance of the service manager as to what advice he imparted, but hey it's your watch and it's yours to treat kindly or abuse heavily or anywhere in-between.
Since a short while, I own a Ingenieur 3227-01. I am (also) lefthanded and wearing my IWC on my left wirst.
I also like to play squash and tennis. Can I wear the Ingenieur, playing squash and tennis?
Be reading,
Peter
While you can, this reminds me of seeing a famous bicycle racer wearing a Cartier while in the Tour de France. Sure, he could --but why take the chance of a many thousands of dollar watch?
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
Last edited: 5 April, 2012 - 19:53
I have worn my 322701 once while mountainbiking and found it very uncomfortable. Probably worse for my wrist than for the watch.
Kind regards,
Clemens (via iPhone)
Last edited: 30 May, 2012 - 20:59
I am an avid tennis player and I always wear my digital Casio for that activity.
Last edited: 8 November, 2012 - 12:49
I'm currently testing the inge riding everyday my motorbike on pavements like this:
I don't know if there's a more dangerous activity than this one for a watch.
I'm keeping the watch on my wrist since two weeks relentlessly so far, the watch keeps going, being its performance costant during the period.
Note
I take this chance to beg pardon to the forum since I've never introduced this watch of mine but, as you can see, I'm "testing" it, I will be back with some further comments and a worthy presentation later on, in the next months.
Regards,
Roberto
Last edited: 11 January, 2013 - 11:07
Cheers Greg Chalk
Cvanwhite at aol dot com
Last edited: 21 February, 2013 - 13:47
Greg,
I beg myself to differ in part, regarding the contents of your contribution, but especially regarding the attitude. We're talking about a contemporary watch made to perform in difficult environments, I wonder when should we use a tool watch like an ingenieur rather than in such circumstances?
A friend of mine owns several vintage watches, he wears them on a rotary basis, he really does everything with his watches (I'm definitely conservative compared to him) he, to my knowledge, never reported troubles to the performances of his watches, by the way, he's a watch mag journalist.
Why should we put at risk an expensive watch using it in harsh conditions? Why buy it then? Are we preserving the watch for its next owner? An inge it's made to be challenged!
@Alan: my dear friend, you're disappointing me, you own several IWC tool watches and you take a casio to play tennis? If I were you, I've never give up wearing my Inge while playing tennis. You may not have Roger Federer's first service but you'd beat him 6-0, 6-0 when it comes to class!
Ehm, actually this would happen even if he played wearing a Rolex :)
Regards,
Roberto
Last edited: 11 January, 2013 - 11:07
Any of the Ingenieurs on my wrist would totally change my balance on the tennis court. I would have to relearn my shots as my left arm would now weigh too much. lol
But seriously, I would have no problem wearing my watches while riding a bike or hiking or at elevation. But tennis or golf impart a tremendous force on a repeated basis. And in tennis I am always crashing into fences chasing after shots. So the Casio stays for that.
Last edited: 8 November, 2012 - 12:49
Playing squash would be even more dangerous. How many times does your arm hit the wall, your opponent or his racquet?
Enough said.
Last edited: 8 November, 2012 - 12:49
Cheers Greg Chalk
Cvanwhite at aol dot com
Last edited: 21 February, 2013 - 13:47