IWC Le Petit Prince 70th Anniversary Watch Collection

Over the past few years, watchmaker IWC has released a grouping of special edition watches to benefit the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation as an homage to the early 20th century aviator and acclaimed author who disappeared during WWII. His most famous work – Le Petit Price (The Little Price) – celebrated its 70th anniversary this year and IWC comes through with a pair of watches to continue their tribute. The first is a new take on the Mark XVII pilot’s watch that features a smaller 41mm casing, a brushed midnight blue dial with Arabic numerals, and a counterweight on its seconds hand that is shaped like a small star – the home of Saint-Exupéry’s fictional prince. Now its second release is IWC’s Big Pilot’s Perpetual Calendar watch. This timepiece features a red and gold rendering, the same midnight blue dial as its counterpart and IWC’s in-house 51623 caliber which combines a seven-day power reserve with a full perpetual calendar that includes both moon phase indications and a year indicator that is good through 2299. What’s different with this Big Pilot is the special moon phase indicator at 12 o’clock shows the little prince starring into the sky while riding a small planet. While the special Mark XVII is limited to 1,000 pieces priced at $5,400 USD each, the commemorative Big Pilot retails for $51,200 USD with only 270 pieces available. The IWC Le Petit Prince 70th Anniversary Watch Collection will reach stateside sometime this November.