Pilot Nico Rosberg spotted wearing a IWC

Nico Rosberg — Formula 1 World Champion in 2016 and now a prominent venture capitalist and sustainability advocate — was photographed on the wrist of the IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Edition 'Expedition Charles Darwin', reference IW379503. The choice is quietly revealing: Rosberg has publicly championed environmental causes since retiring from racing, and this particular IWC is one of the brand's most ecologically charged limited editions, conceived in direct collaboration with the Charles Darwin Foundation to fund research in the Galapagos Islands.

The IWC Aquatimer Chronograph IW379503 houses Calibre 89365, an automatic column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch, delivering a 68-hour power reserve — impressive for a sport-oriented piece of this size. Water resistance is rated to 300 metres, underpinned by IWC's external SafeDive system: an inner bezel coupled to an outer rotating element, allowing the diver's elapsed-time function to be operated without compromising the crown seal. The case measures 44mm in stainless steel, fitted on a vulcanised rubber strap with a folding clasp. The dial features a textured dark-green finish evoking the volcanic terrain of the Galapagos, with a 12-hour totaliser at 6 o'clock and a running seconds subdial at 9.

The 'Expedition Charles Darwin' edition was introduced in 2014 as part of IWC's broader Aquatimer Galapagos platform, a family of references that has cultivated a dedicated niche following among collectors who value purposeful, mission-driven limited editions over pure complications. The IW379503 specifically — the chronograph variant — remains the most technically accomplished piece in that sub-family and is considered a benchmark sport-chronograph in IWC's catalogue from that era.

Rosberg's post-F1 identity has been shaped significantly by his Green Tech Festival in Berlin and a string of investments in clean-energy companies. A conservation-linked dive chronograph from IWC aligns precisely with the public persona he has cultivated since hanging up his helmet after Abu Dhabi 2016.

On the secondary market, the IWC Aquatimer Chronograph IW379503 trades in a tight band around its original retail price, reflecting solid but not speculative demand. It is not a watch flippers chase, which arguably makes it more attractive to the considered buyer.