Sotheby’s Auctions Off IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince”

This week we saw incredible results as auction season got underway in Geneva, Switzerland. One of the most outstanding lots to go under the gavel was the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince”.

The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince” went under the hammer at Sotheby’s Important Watches auction. A unique platinum piece, this watch was created by IWC Schaffhausen to celebrate the 70th anniversary of “The Little Prince”, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s bestselling novel. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, and contribute to the construction of a school with a library in Cambodia.

Sold for CHF 173,000 (approximately US$188,600), this unique piece was auctioned off with a limited re-edition of the first printed copy of The Little Prince in English and a facsimile of the original manuscript in French.

The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince” features a platinum case and midnight blue dial. The hour and minute hands are rhodium-plated, the indices are coated with Super-LumiNova®, and the date, day and month hands have red tips. An 18K gold medallion set in the rotor bears an engraving of the Little Prince with his signature shock of blonde hair and fluttering scarf standing on his tiny planet – a depiction that is repeated in the moon phase display at 12 o’clock.

At its heart is a 51613-calibre movement with Pellaton automatic winding system and a seven-day power reserve. This one-of-a-kind timepiece features a wealth of complications, including a perpetual calendar with moon phase display, four-digit year display and other indicators for the day, date and month. The rotor bears an engraved “Unique Piece” inscription.

Photos courtesy IWC Schaffhausen.