IWC released two new Big Pilot's limited editions dedicated to Le Petit Prince. Price of ref.IW504901 is €118,000 while ref. IW329501 is €96,800
Continuing its collaboration with the heirs of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, which began in 2006, IWC has released two new special editions dedicated to 'Le Petit Prince' (The Little Prince).
More than 80 years after its initial release, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s novel remains as popular as ever. Translated into more than 600 languages and dialects, this seemingly simple story by the French author and aviator explores profound philosophical themes such as love, loss, and friendship.
Part of the Pilot’s Watches collection, the two limited editions are distinguished by their deep blue colour, a recurring element in these special editions honouring the celebrated novel.
The first model is the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Le Petit Prince (Ref. IW504901). Limited to 100 pieces, it features a 46.5 mm × 16.18 mm case crafted from blue ceramic, with a caseback ring and crown in 18 ct 5N gold, a blue dial, and a blue textured rubber strap.
The gold-plated appliqués and hands are filled with Super-LumiNova for optimal legibility in all lighting conditions.
Consisting of 82 parts and weighig only 0.635 grams, the flying minute tourbillon stands out at 12 o’clock.
The perpetual calendar mechanism, originally developed by Kurt Klaus in the 1980s, presents its information across three sub-dials. At 3 o’clock, the date is displayed alongside a power reserve indicator.
The sub-dial at 6 o’clock shows the month together with the moon phase, which features the Little Prince standing on his asteroid instead of the traditional moon. Thanks to a reduction gear system with two intermediate wheels, this display remains accurate and will deviate by only one day after 577.5 years.
The sub-dial at 9 o’clock indicates the day of the week. The watch also includes a four-digit year display. The entire calendar is mechanically programmed to recognise the varying lengths of months and to automatically include a leap day every four years. All calendar displays are fully synchronised and can be adjusted using the crown.
The watch is powered by the IWC-manufactured calibre 51950. This movement consists of 447 components, operates at a frequency of 2.75 Hz, and delivers a power reserve of 168 hours.
The rotor, made of solid gold and visible through the transparent caseback, is shaped like the Little Prince standing on asteroid B612, complete with wild baobab plants as described in Saint-Exupéry’s novel.
The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Le Petit Prince has a retail price of €118,000.
The second model is the Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Le Petit Prince (Ref. IW329501), limited to 150 pieces.
Its 43 mm × 14.58 mm platinum case is paired with a deep blue sunray-finished dial, featuring rhodium-plated hands and applied numerals filled with Super-LumiNova.
The IWC-manufactured calibre 82905 beats at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) and is equipped with a Pellaton winding system. Developed by IWC’s former Technical Director Albert Pellaton in the 1950s, it uses rotor movements in both directions to wind the mainspring, building up more than three days (or 80 hours) of power reserve.
Components subject to high stress, such as the automatic wheel, are made from virtually wear-free zirconium oxide ceramic. As with the other model, the rotor is shaped like the Little Prince standing on his asteroid.
The watch is fitted with a brown calfskin strap secured by a platinum folding clasp.
The price of the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Le Petit Prince is €96,800.
Both models are water-resistant to 100 metres / 330 feet. iwc.com
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