IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition ‘Le Petit Prince’

IWC has honored Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in 2013 by releasing a limited edition timepiece which features elements based on one of this author’s most famous children’s books – Le Petit Prince. The story celebrated its 70^th anniversary last year. This model is made in red gold and is limited to just 270 examples. This Big Pilot’s Watch is fitted with a perpetual calendar originally designed by Kurt Klaus. The perpetual calendar will not need adjusting until the year 2100 as this is not a leap year. Included with the purchase is a reproduction of the original first edition in English, and a reprint of the original hand written manuscript in French. These two collectibles are produced exclusively for IWC.

The Le Petit Prince is made with an oversized case dimension of 46mm and rides high on the wrist with a case height of 16mm. This watch features all of the detailing that the Big Pilot’s Watches have become famous for. The crown is very prominent and ridged for the modification of the time while wearing gloves. The middle case is finely brushed, while the perfectly circular fixed bezel is polished framing the dial. A brown leather strap with white contrast stitching is charged with securing the watch to the wrist. The case back is made from sapphire crystal and shows off the in house movement.

The movement is self-winding reference 51613 and features a full seven days of power reserve when fully round. This movement also carries a Glucydur beryllium alloy balance wheel and a Breguet main spring. The 51613 employs a Pellaton winding system for the oscillating mass, which is IWC’s proprietary system that winds the watch in both directions. The rotor is fitted with a gold medallion which gives it weight.

The dial is midnight blue and carries Arabic numeral hour markers with an oversized triangle marking the 12 position. The hands are sword shaped and, like the hour markers, are generously coated with lume. At the 12 position is a moon phase indicator with a depiction of the Little Prince staring up at a star-filled sky. The counter at 3 indicates both the date and power reserve in analog format, while register at 9 offers the small seconds and the day of the week. At the 6 position, there is a subdial displaying the month. To complete the perpetual calendar is a 4 digit year aperture at 7:30. The entire perpetual calendar is controlled by the screw locked main crown.