WATCH & JEWELRY /
SIHH＆BASEL
March 28, 2019
The 'Le Petit Prince' collection welcomes a new model with a tourbillon | IWC
IWC | International Watch Company
“I” ponder, gazing at the night sky. The sky seems to be filled with smiles...
The world of that timeless masterpiece, and thoughts of the sky,
reflected in a limited edition watch.
Introducing a new model from SIHH 2019, from IWC's popular collection known as the 'Le Petit Prince' collection. This is the first model to feature a constant-force tourbillon in the 'Pilot's Watch'. Also noteworthy is the striking detail of the Little Prince standing on the moon of the moon phase display.
Text by KOIZUMI Yoko
With thoughts directed towards the midnight blue sky
The 'Little Prince' is a renowned masterpiece. Its author was the French writer and pilot, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Born in 1900, he was involved in pioneering the Europe-South America flight routes during the dawn of aviation, excelling as a pioneer. He dedicated his life to flying until his death in 1944.
Saint-Exupéry's writings were based on his experiences as a pilot; his dual roles as aviator and author were inseparable, defining Saint-Exupéry. Furthermore, in 1936, the same year Saint-Exupéry soared through the skies, IWC released the first 'Pilot's Watch' model, and has continued to contribute to the development of aviation ever since.
It is this shared passion for 'flying' between Saint-Exupéry and IWC that has led IWC to present the 'Pilot's Watch' from 'The Little Prince' collection since 2006.
The latest model, unveiled at SIHH 2019, is the 'Big Pilot's Watch Constant-Force Tourbillon "Le Petit Prince"'. This marks the first time a tourbillon complication has been incorporated into the 83-year history of IWC's 'Pilot's Watch'.
Moreover, this tourbillon features the patented constant-force mechanism, achieving exceptional precision. Caliber 94805 combines this tourbillon with a perpetual moon phase that accurately displays lunar cycles for 577.5 years without manual adjustment, and a 96-hour power reserve. This timepiece is a symbolic model that showcases IWC's advanced technical prowess.
The perpetual moon phase at 1 o'clock depicts the Little Prince standing on the moon, seemingly watching over the operation of the tourbillon at 9 o'clock. Incidentally, the illustrations for 'The Little Prince' were drawn by Saint-Exupéry himself.
The case materials are platinum or IWC's first use of 'hard gold'. Hard gold is harder than 18K red gold, with 5 to 10 times greater wear resistance. Its defining characteristic is its significantly enhanced scratch resistance.
Big Pilot's Watch Constant-Force Tourbillon "Le Petit Prince"
Ref | IW590302 (Platinum), IW590303 (Hard Gold)
Movement | Manual-winding (Cal. 94805)
Functions | Constant-force tourbillon, perpetual moon phase, 96-hour power reserve (4 days)
Case Material | Platinum or Hard Gold
Case Diameter, Thickness | 46.2mm, 13.5mm
Strap Material | Calfskin
Water Resistance | 6 bar
Price | Inquire for details
Limited Edition | 10 pieces worldwide for each model