Basketball player Kobe Bryant spotted wearing a IWC

At the 2018 Academy Awards ceremony, Kobe Bryant made history as the first NBA player to win an Oscar, taking home Best Animated Short Film for 'Dear Basketball.' On his wrist that evening sat an IWC Da Vinci Chronograph in stainless steel, reference IW393402 — a watch whose own design history carries considerable weight in Swiss watchmaking circles.

IWC revived the Da Vinci name in 2017 after a full generational reset, shedding the tonneau-shaped cases of the 1980s and 1990s in favour of a cleaner, round 42mm case architecture. The IW393402 sits at the core of that relaunch. It runs on Calibre 69375, IWC's proprietary flyback chronograph movement developed entirely in-house at the Schaffhausen manufacture. The movement beats at 28,800 vph, offers a 46-hour power reserve, and incorporates a column wheel and vertical clutch for precise chronograph engagement. The dial presents a classic bi-compax layout — 30-minute counter at three o'clock, running seconds at nine — framed by a brushed and polished steel case on a structured leather strap.

For collectors, the reborn Da Vinci represented IWC making a credible claim to full manufacture status. The 69000-series calibre family, shared across the Portugieser and Da Vinci lines, is the movement that gave serious enthusiasts reason to reconsider IWC's in-house credentials. The IW393402 specifically offers that movement in the most accessible Da Vinci configuration — no moonphase complication, no annual calendar — just a well-resolved chronograph at a relatively attainable entry point for the line.

Bryant's decision to wear the IWC Da Vinci Chronograph IW393402 to the Oscars rather than a more conspicuous tourbillon or bejewelled dress watch reflects the kind of restrained confidence that watch collectors respect. The Da Vinci reads as knowledgeable without performing wealth.

At UK list price of approximately £11,250 — translating to roughly $14,500 USD at the time — the IW393402 sits in the mid-tier of IWC's catalogue. On the grey market it has traded at modest discounts from retail, typically between $10,500 and $12,500 USD depending on condition and box-and-papers completeness, reflecting solid but not speculative demand.