Continuing its tradition of Pilot’s Watches paying tribute to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s world-famous novel, IWC creates the Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Le Petit Prince.
Either they’re excellent sellers, or there’s someone at IWC Schaffhausen who has it hard for the most famous character of novelist Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (and probably some unresolved childhood trauma as well). The watchmaker has made a multitude of timepieces dedicated to the little prince who lived on the moon, the latest of which, limited to 300 pieces, is the Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Le Petit Prince.
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The Little Prince has been translated into more than 250 languages to date and is considered the most famous literary work by the French aviator and author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The story describes the journey of the little prince to seven planets and their residents.
As part of its collaboration with the heirs of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, IWC has since 2013 dedicated several Pilot’s Watches to this charming novel. Just as writing and flying were inextricably linked for Saint-Exupéry, these special editions with deep blue dials are a perfect symbiosis of poetry and engineering.
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The new 43-millimetre Big Pilot’s Watch impresses with a case made from 18-carat Armor Gold – an alloy that is significantly harder and more wear-resistant than conventional 5N gold – and a deep blue dial with a beautiful sunray finish.
However, the eye-catcher is the flying minute tourbillon at 6 o’clock. French for “whirlwind”, the tourbillon involves the balance wheel rotating around its axis in a small cage. This constant rotation not only provides a visual spectacle on the dial but also reduces the influence of gravity on the watch’s oscillating system, thereby increasing accuracy.
The complication is powered by the IWC-manufactured 82905 calibre with a Pellaton winding system and a power reserve of 80 hours, with the oscillating mass taking the shape of an asteroid with the little prince standing on it and is visible through the sapphire glass case back.
The watch’s gold-plated hands and appliques, filled with Super-LumiNova, emit an enigmatic glow in the dark, while the timepiece is fitted with a brown calfskin strap with an 18-carat Armor Gold folding clasp.
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