Pilot Oliver Webb spotted wearing a IWC

Oliver Webb, professional racing driver and licensed pilot who has competed at Le Mans and in the WEC, was spotted wearing the IWC Schaffhausen Pilot's Watch Chronograph in stainless steel, reference IW377701 — a pairing that feels less like a brand endorsement and more like a logical lifestyle choice.

The IW377701 sits at the core of IWC's modern pilot's watch range. Its 43mm stainless steel case is built around a soft-iron inner cage that shields the movement from magnetic fields, a design principle IWC has applied to pilot's watches since the landmark Mark 11 of 1948. The dial is classically executed: matte black, high-contrast Arabic numerals, luminous hands, and a date window at three o'clock. The chronograph pushers operate a column-wheel mechanism within the calibre 69380, IWC's in-house movement introduced in 2016 as a significant step away from the brand's long reliance on ETA ebauches. Crucially, the 69380 is a flyback chronograph — a single pusher resets and restarts the elapsed-time function, a practical feature with real roots in aviation timing protocol.

The IW377701 replaced the well-regarded IW377709 in IWC's catalogue refresh and represented a meaningful upgrade in movement credibility without a dramatic price jump. Among collectors, the shift to an in-house flyback calibre at this price tier is acknowledged as genuine value. The case dimensions — 43mm diameter, 15.5mm height — suit a broad wrist range, and the black fabric strap with leather lining keeps the aesthetic honest and functional rather than dressy.

Webb's credentials give this sighting real weight. A pilot who also races at the highest levels of endurance motorsport is exactly the audience IWC's marketing team imagines when positioning the Pilot's Watch Chronograph. This is not a celebrity choosing a watch for its logo; it reads as a working professional reaching for the appropriate tool.

On the secondary market, the IW377701 trades at or marginally below retail, reflecting steady but unspeculative demand. It is not a watch flippers target, which is arguably a mark in its favour for buyers seeking a dependable, technically honest chronograph with genuine brand heritage behind it.