What Should You Know About the IWC Big Pilot Watch Le Petit Prince?

IWC, or the International Watch Company, are one of the most respected watchmaking firms in the world, yet they tend to receive less attention in the press than some of their other Swiss colleagues, such as Rolex or Audemars Piguet, because of their tendency to eschew flashy advertising and press campaigns.

However, their timepieces are some of the most finely crafted in the world, and as such, the IWC certainly deserves to be looked at more closely. One of its more well-known timepieces, the “Le Petit Prince,” is considered to be a highly sought after watch among collectors. It is worth taking a few moments to more closely examine the company’s history, as well as the technical merits of the Le Petit Prince timepiece.

What Should You Know About the IWC Big Pilot Watch Le Petit Prince?

What is the History of the International Watch Company?

IWC was founded in Schaffhausen, Switzerland in 1868 by a watchmaker and engineer named Florentine Ariosto Jones. Unlike a lot of other Swiss watchmaking companies, IWC is distinct because Florentine Ariosto Jones was not Swiss, or even European. He was, in fact, an American from Boston who had taken an interest in Swiss watchmaking.

Florentine Ariosto Jones had a very specific goal – he wanted to start a watchmaking company that combined the craftsmanship of Swiss watchmaking with the efficient manufacturing processes that were sweeping through the United States at the time. This had not been previously attempted before, and though the idea was considered experimental at the time, Jones would ultimately prove to be successful in this endeavor.

IWC is known for its relationship with several highly respected watchmakers, such as Kurt Klaus, who has been an eminent name in the watchmaking field for several decades. They are also recognized as being pioneers with regard to environmental protection and sustainably producing watches.

What Are The Technical Specifics Of The IWC Le Petit Prince?

The IWC Le Petit Prince is a timepiece that has achieved some headlines in recent years. Bradley Cooper wore a specially engraved one to the Oscars in 2019, and that timepiece was later auctioned off for charity for $75,000. There are only a limited number of these timepieces currently available, and as such, they are considered to be something of a collector’s item.

IWC- BIG PILOT LE PETIT PRINCE ROSE GOLD WATCH ON LEATHER WATCHBAND

The Big Pilot Le Petit Prince Rose gold features around 465mm rose gold case. On the case back, is engraved ” Le Petit Prince” drawing. This is an automatic watch with IWC Calibre and a brown leather watchband.

The watch is encased in stainless steel and has a diameter of 46.2 mm, which makes it slightly larger than the average luxury sports watch. It has a height of 15.7 mm and screwed in crowns on the guard, which add to its heft and durability. The dial has a blue background and is also luminescent.

This timepiece is powered by the 51111 caliber, which is an in-house manufactured movement. It is an automatic, self-winding caliber that has a 168-hour power reserve. It vibrates at a frequency of 21600.0 and is comprised of 311 components, along with 42 jewels.

One of the most notable aspects of this timepiece is its power reserve, which lasts for seven days. This is one of the longest-lasting power reserves on the market, as the average timepiece only lasts for 72 hours. It also has a soft-iron inner case, which helps with protection against magnetic fields. There are also displays for the power reserve and the date, both of which are easy to read.

As its name implies, the Le Petit Prince has a connection to aviation, as it was inspired by Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince. As a result, this timepiece has several unique features to it that are specifically related to flying. One of those includes the fact that the glass has been specially secured against displacement due to a drop in air pressure.

If you are looking to purchase this watch, it retails for around $38,000 from the manufacturer. However, diligent collectors may be able to find it for a cheaper price on the gray market. As always, if that is an option you are considering, make certain that you are purchasing the watch from a vendor that you are familiar with and trust.

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