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All the watch news, reviews, videos you want, brought to you from fellow collectors
Dedicating two timepieces to French author and aviator Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s famous novel, The Little Prince, IWC Schaffhausen has unveiled the new Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Le Petit Prince (Ref. IW504901) and Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Le Petit Prince (Ref. IW329501). Since 2006, the brand has been in collaboration with the author’s family and the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation and has created several dedicated timepieces featuring a blue theme.
Established in 2009 under the Fondation de France, the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation (FASEJ) was founded by the author’s family, admirers, and figures from culture, science, and aviation. The foundation supports youth-focused initiatives in education, culture, disability inclusion, and the fight against illiteracy.
The first novelty, Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Le Petit Prince, is a limited edition of 100 pieces. The 46.5 mm timepiece comes in a deep blue ceramic case, paired with an 18K 5N gold crown and case back ring. This marks IWC’s first Le Petit Prince watch in ceramic. The matching blue dial features gold-plated appliques and hands filled with Super-LumiNova®. At 12 o’clock lies the flying tourbillon and the perpetual calendar is displayed on the three subdials—the 3 o’clock has the date and power reserve complications, the month and moon phase (featuring the Little Prince on asteroid B612) stay at 6 o’clock, and day of the week is shown at 9 o’clock. The calendar can be adjusted via a single crown, with all displays advancing in synchrony. A blue textured rubber strap completes the look.
The watch is powered by the IWC-manufactured calibre 51950, which drives the perpetual calendar and the flying minute tourbillon at a frequency of 2.75Hz and with a whopping 168h power reserve. Visible through the sapphire case back is the solid gold rotor, shaped like the Little Prince standing on his asteroid. It is priced at approx. INR 1,21,95,000.
The other, Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Le Petit Prince, is limited to 150 pieces, this model features a 43 mm platinum case and crown. Its deep blue sunray-finished dial features a flying minute tourbillon at 6 o’clock. The hands and Arabic numerals are rhodium-plated and filled with Super-LumiNova®. The watch is paired with a brown calfskin strap and is water-resistant up to 100 metres.
Powering the timepiece is the IWC-manufactured 82905 calibre, featuring the brand’s Pellaton winding system, which winds the mainspring bidirectionally. The key components of the movement are made of zirconium oxide ceramic for enhanced durability, and the pallet lever and escape wheel are coated with Diamond Shell® technology, developed by IWC to reduce friction and enhance energy efficiency. The calibre beats at 4 Hz frequency and offers a robust 80-hour power reserve. A sapphire glass case back reveals the custom rotor depicting the Little Prince.
What we think -
IWC is on a warpath to reassert themselves as the premier Pilot’s watch manufacturer, and these two releases, with high end calibres, cement that impression. What is hurting them, though, is the dilution by way of collaborations - what is a pilot’s chronograph doing doubling up as a racing watch? Don’t they have an Ingeneur for that?
Dedicating two timepieces to French author and aviator Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s famous novel, The Little Prince, IWC Schaffhausen has unveiled the new Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Le Petit Prince (Ref. IW504901) and Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Le Petit Prince (Ref. IW329501). Since 2006, the brand has been in collaboration with the author’s family and the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation and has created several dedicated timepieces featuring a blue theme.
Established in 2009 under the Fondation de France, the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation (FASEJ) was founded by the author’s family, admirers, and figures from culture, science, and aviation. The foundation supports youth-focused initiatives in education, culture, disability inclusion, and the fight against illiteracy.
The first novelty, Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Le Petit Prince, is a limited edition of 100 pieces. The 46.5 mm timepiece comes in a deep blue ceramic case, paired with an 18K 5N gold crown and case back ring. This marks IWC’s first Le Petit Prince watch in ceramic. The matching blue dial features gold-plated appliques and hands filled with Super-LumiNova®. At 12 o’clock lies the flying tourbillon and the perpetual calendar is displayed on the three subdials—the 3 o’clock has the date and power reserve complications, the month and moon phase (featuring the Little Prince on asteroid B612) stay at 6 o’clock, and day of the week is shown at 9 o’clock. The calendar can be adjusted via a single crown, with all displays advancing in synchrony. A blue textured rubber strap completes the look.
The watch is powered by the IWC-manufactured calibre 51950, which drives the perpetual calendar and the flying minute tourbillon at a frequency of 2.75Hz and with a whopping 168h power reserve. Visible through the sapphire case back is the solid gold rotor, shaped like the Little Prince standing on his asteroid. It is priced at approx. INR 1,21,95,000.
The other, Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Le Petit Prince, is limited to 150 pieces, this model features a 43 mm platinum case and crown. Its deep blue sunray-finished dial features a flying minute tourbillon at 6 o’clock. The hands and Arabic numerals are rhodium-plated and filled with Super-LumiNova®. The watch is paired with a brown calfskin strap and is water-resistant up to 100 metres.
Powering the timepiece is the IWC-manufactured 82905 calibre, featuring the brand’s Pellaton winding system, which winds the mainspring bidirectionally. The key components of the movement are made of zirconium oxide ceramic for enhanced durability, and the pallet lever and escape wheel are coated with Diamond Shell® technology, developed by IWC to reduce friction and enhance energy efficiency. The calibre beats at 4 Hz frequency and offers a robust 80-hour power reserve. A sapphire glass case back reveals the custom rotor depicting the Little Prince.
What we think -
IWC is on a warpath to reassert themselves as the premier Pilot’s watch manufacturer, and these two releases, with high end calibres, cement that impression. What is hurting them, though, is the dilution by way of collaborations - what is a pilot’s chronograph doing doubling up as a racing watch? Don’t they have an Ingeneur for that?
