Horology

IWC Pilot Chronograph Le Petit Prince

IWC — International Watch Co — is a Swiss watch manufacturer located in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Founded by American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones in 1868, IWC has been a subsidiary of the Swiss Richemont Group since 2000.

Since 2013, IWC has released “Le Petit Prince” special edition timepieces with their trademark blue dials commemorate the wonderful story of “The Little Prince”. But long before that, the brand had been supporting the Fondation Antoine de Saint Exupéry on various projects, ensuring that his spirit would continue to be honoured in the most special ways.

My Pilot Watch Chronograph “Le Petit Prince” special edition (IW 377714) displayed above is a production of 2017. The blue dial features three sub-dials that display the chronograph functions, including elapsed minutes, seconds, and hours. The date is displayed in a window at the 3 o’clock position.

The watch is powered by an automatic movement, the IWC Calibre 79320, which is based on the Valjoux 7750. It has a power reserve of 44 hours and beats at a frequency of 28800 vibrations per hour. The IW377714 is water-resistant to 60 meters and has a screw-down crown to ensure maximum water resistance.

This watch does not only show the technical supremacy of IWC, but also the poetic side of watchmaking. It relates to the intricacies of the movement that are mostly hidden inside watch cases and can be truly appreciated only by a real connoisseur; just the way the fox said to the little prince: “One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eyes.”