What Do You Need to Know About the IWC Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Chronograph?

Rubber B is one of the leading industry experts when it comes to the crafting and production of custom rubber watch straps, and we believe it is important to use our platform to educate the general public on the world of horology. Recently, we have been running a series of blog posts about some of the more notable timepieces from the IWC Pilot’s Watch collection, and in our final installment of the IWC Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Chronographe series, we will be focusing on the IWC Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Chronograph, reference number IW387806.

This timepiece has a fascinating story behind it, so we will begin by taking a brief look at the life of the man who inspired the watch, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. We will then look at the technical and aesthetic aspects of the watch, and finally, we will conclude the post by offering up our thoughts on what the best watch straps to pair with this timepiece are.

Who Was Antoine de Saint-Exupéry?

A celebrated national hero in his native France, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is most remembered today for being the author of the children’s book “The Little Prince,” which is now celebrated as a classic of children’s literature. As of April 2017, the book became the most translated non-religious text in the world, having been translated into over 300 languages (along with the original Italian novelization of Pinocchio.)

However, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry did not first come to prominence as a writer of children’s books, but as a highly-skilled pilot. He was one of the world’s first professional pilots and helped to pioneer the delivery of mail by plane. His early writings, which are still widely read in France but are not as well-known internationally, focused more on his lyrical depictions of flying.

Tragically, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry passed away at the age of 44, when he was killed during an intelligence-gathering mission during his World War 2 service. His remains were never positively identified, and exactly what happened to him in his final moments is still being debated among his biographers.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s pioneering life and spirit was celebrated by IWC with the production of several commemorative timepieces, including this one. In the early years of IWC, they began by producing chronographs that were specially made for pilots, so it is very fitting that they would choose to honor the legendary Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and continue to keep his memory alive today.

What Are The Technical Specifications of the IWC Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Chronograph?

In terms of its technical specifications, the IWC Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Chronograph is one of IWC’s most technically advanced watches and proudly builds on the quality and legacy that IWC has spent the last several decades carefully curating.

Encased in highly polished stainless steel, the IWC Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Chronograph measures at 43 mm in diameter and 15.4 mm in height, making it slightly bigger than the average sports luxury watch. The casing has screw-in crowns, and the timepiece is water-resistant for up to 6 bars.

However, the movement of the IWC Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Chronograph is truly where this watch begins to stand out. This timepiece is powered by the 89361 caliber, which is manufactured in-house by IWC. This is notable because IWC has only recently started to build movements of their own accord, so there are only a few models of IWC watches that do not have third-party movements installed in them.

The movement is automatic and self-winding and has a power reserve of 68 hours, which is one of the longest reserve times available from any watch currently available on the market. It vibrates at a frequency of 28800.0 vph and is comprised of 299 components and 38 jewels.  The average luxury timepiece only has 12 jewels inside of it, so the fact that this chronograph has over three times the amount of jewels one would normally see reflects the complexity of its construction.

Being that this watch was designed to celebrate the life of a noted aviator, several of its features were specially designed with pilots in mind. This timepiece is a true chronograph, meaning it is capable of keeping track of hours, minutes, and seconds simultaneously. The hour and minute counters are combined in a totalizer that is visible at 12 o’clock. It also has a flyback function and a soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields. The glass has also been secured against displacement by any sudden drops in air pressure.

What Should You Know About the Look and Design of the IWC Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Chronograph?

Being that Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is best remembered from his exploits during the 1930’s and 1940’s, it very much stands to reason that this timepiece would take its inspirations from pilot’s watches of that era. The brown dial, which is luminescent, also has a date display on it and has sapphire glass with an anti-reflective coating on both sides of it.

If one had to select just a single word to describe the overall aesthetic of the IWC Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Chronograph, that word would be “timeless.” It is elegant without being overly flashy, sturdy without being overly bulky. It is an adventurous watch meant for an adventurous wearer, but its lack of diamonds or other ostentatiousness means that you can wear it in either the board room or your living room and feel equally at home.

What Watch Straps Pair Best With The IWC Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Chronograph?

One of the best parts about owning a luxury timepiece is that it allows you to, as time goes on, customize it in a way that allows you to further express your own personal style. The most effective way to go about that is to simply change out the watch straps on the timepiece, which can often give the wearer the feeling that they are wearing an entirely new timepiece.

In our humble opinion, we think that the best alternate strap for the IWC Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Chronograph is our brown Alligator strap. This strap is made from 100% rubber and includes no actual animal products in the watchband. The timepiece itself, and its original watchband, are also brown, so this would allow you to change out the strap without deviating too much from the original color scheme of the watch.

Are You In Need of a Custom Rubber Watch Strap For Your IWC Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Chronograph? Visit Rubber B Today

If you are interested in learning more about this particular watch strap, or about our product catalog as a whole, simply visit the Rubber B website today for more information. We produce custom rubber watch bands for a wide variety of timepieces from respected luxury retailers, including IWC.

Our watch straps are made from 100% vulcanized rubber that has been specially tested to ensure its durability. It is also waterproof and allergen-proof, which has led to them being certified as such by the EPA and other international organizations. We are always happy to answer any questions you may have about our products, so if you would like to reach out to us, you can always e-mail us via the contact information on our website.

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