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racing driverSpotted September 2026

Racing driver Kimi Antonelli spotted wearing a IWC

racing driver Kimi Antonelli spotted wearing a IWC IW388101
Who & what: IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 Oceana Ref. IW388101 with Blue Ceramic Case and Dial

Kimi Antonelli's remarkable comeback from 19th to first place at the Monza Grand Prix in 2024 earned him a place in Italian motorsport history—and caught the attention of watch enthusiasts worldwide. Strapped to the young Ferrari driver's wrist during his podium celebration was an IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 Oceana in blue ceramic, a timepiece that mirrors the precision and determination demanded by Formula 1 competition.

The IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 Oceana Ref. IW388101 represents a bold departure from traditional pilot watch aesthetics. The 41 mm case is crafted entirely from IWC's proprietary blue ceramic, a material chosen for its scratch resistance and distinctive hue. The matching blue ceramic dial features applied hour markers and a tachymeter scale, while three subdials register hours, minutes, and seconds. The watch is powered by the IWC calibre 69385, an in-house automatic chronograph movement with a column-wheel mechanism, delivering a 46-hour power reserve. Water resistance reaches 60 metres, adequate for daily wear despite the chronograph's precision-timing focus.

The Oceana collection signals IWC's commitment to ceramic case construction—a material rarely seen in pilot watches before this release. The blue ceramic variant distinguishes itself from the standard stainless-steel Pilot's Chronograph 41, attracting collectors who value material innovation alongside functional design. Limited production and ceramic's manufacturing complexity have kept grey-market availability restricted, supporting strong secondary-market pricing.

Antonelli's choice of the IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 Oceana underscores a growing trend among racing drivers toward pilot watches with chronograph functionality. The combination of IWC's aviation heritage and Ferrari's red suit creates an unspoken alignment between horological precision and motorsport performance. His historic podium finish—Italy's first Grand Prix victory in six decades—elevates this sighting from routine celebrity endorsement to a moment embedded in both racing and watch collecting memory.

Retail pricing for the IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 Oceana typically sits around $13,500 USD. Secondary-market examples trade between $14,000 and $16,500 depending on condition and availability, reflecting sustained collector demand for ceramic-case pilot chronographs.

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