With the new Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Antoine de Saint Exupéry” and the Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Edition “Antoine de Saint Exupéry”, IWC Schaffhausen pays tribute to the extraordinary life’s work of a great humanist and aviation pioneer.
The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Antoine de Saint Exupéry” (Ref. IW503801) is limited to 750 watches. The stainless steel case is 46mm and the watch has a tobacco brown dial. It is complemented by a matching Santoni leather strap.
The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Antoine de Saint Exupéry” (Ref. IW503801)
As its name suggests the watch is a perpetual calendar, automatically adjusting for months with 28, 30 and 31 days and also takes into account the leap year. It also includes a four digit year display. Every hundred years (2100, 2200, etc.), the leap year that would normally occur is omitted (29 February 2100, for instance), which means that on 1 March, a watchmaker will need to adjust the calendar manually. If the watch has not been used for some time and has stopped, the displays are advanced together using the crown. the perpetual moon phase display keeps the promise of its name and will need to be adjusted by only one day after 577.5 years.
Viewable through the sapphire caseback is the IWC manufactured 52610-calibre self winding movement. This the first time the movement from the IWC 52000-calibre family has been used in a Pilot’s Watch. The watch has a power reserve of 7 days. The rotor is made of solid 18-carat red gold and bears the engraved inscription EDITION SAINT EXUPÉRY. The additional ONE OUT OF 750 is an indication that the special edition is limited to just 750 watches. Prominent at the centre of the rotor is a medallion with an initial A., as in Antoine (de Saint-Exupéry).
The IWC manufactured 52610-calibre self winding movement
The Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Edition “Antoine de Saint Exupéry” (Ref. IW371808) has a 44mm stainless steel case and has the same tobacco brown dial colour and Santoni strap as the Big Pilot. It will a limited edition of 1,000 watches.
The Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Edition “Antoine de Saint Exupéry” (Ref. IW371808)
As its names suggests the watch is a Double Chronograph. The word “rattrapante” comes from the French and denotes the split seconds hand in a double chronograph. Unlike a standard chronograph, the split-seconds chronograph has two hands that start simultaneously. The rattrapante or split seconds hand, which is superimposed on the stopwatch hand, can be stopped independently using a third push button at “10 o’clock”, while the stopwatch hand continues to run. This permits the user to record two separate times, with down-to-the-second accuracy, within any given minute. If the split-seconds button is pushed again, the split hand instantaneously catches up and is synchronized with the other hand. It is then possible to record a new lap time or intermediate time. This function originated in flying, where specific curve radii had to be timed during flight.
The upper and lower counters show aggregate times up to 12 hours, while the subdial at “9 o’clock”, as usual, contains the permanent seconds hand, which shows that the watch is functioning normally. In the subdial at “6 o’clock” is an A. for Antoine. The day and date are located at the 3’olock position.
Powering the watch self winding Calibre 79420 with 44 hours of power reserve. Engraved into the back of the watch is a Lockheed P-38 Lightning. This was the aircraft in which writer and flying pioneer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry took off on 31 July 1944 to make what turned out to be his last reconnaissance flight, over the south of France.
Engraved into the back of the watch is a Lockheed P-38 Lightning
IWC Schaffhausen is a partner to the Fondation Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Working with its partners, it helps young people worldwide who are growing up in difficult and often hostile circumstances. Part of the proceeds from sales goes to the foundation and its partner organizations.
The watches will retail for the following prices:
The Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph “Antoine de St Exupéry” Ref IW371808 will retail for $18,200 Singapore Dollars.
Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar “Antoine de St Exupéry” Ref IW503801 will retail for $39,700 Singapore Dollars.
For more information please visit IWC
