Jewellery & Watch News
Time for an intuitive blue-clad travel companion that offers a simplified timezone-changing concept. The IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Edition “Le Petit Prince” – a beautiful St Exupery tribute with a patented bezel feature.
If you consider yourself an IWC Schaffhausen watch aficionado, you’ll no doubt be more than familiar with the Swiss manufacturer’s long-standing relationship with refined pilot’s watches, namely post-war models from the Mark 11 series or its Big Pilot’s watches from the 1940s. Some important sub-families have branched off from the Big Pilot’s watch collection, however. These include the Spitfire, the Top Gun and the Petit Prince, distinguishable by its signature blue dial. The recently-introduced Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Edition “Le Petit Prince” ref: IW395503 is limited to 1500 pieces worldwide and keeps the classic Petit Prince theme, but combines this with an effortless system for changing time zones without having to stop the mechanism inside.
How does the IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Edition “Le Petit Prince” work?
With the IWC pilot’s Watch Timezoner Edition “Le Petit Prince – the action is all in the bezel. Its clever mechanism makes the bezel and movement interact with one another. Although not an entirely new concept within the company’s catalogue, when the Timezoner first launched in 2016 it was a clear game-changer. Whereas other GMT watches rely on the crown (sometimes having to unscrew it) or the push-pieces to switch from one time zone to another, the IWC Schaffhausen Timezoner differs. It uses a system developed by skilled watchmaker Michael Vogt. He created the bezel-set system under the name Vogard before selling the patent to IWC Schaffhausen. The motion of the bezel has a direct impact on the movement itself. To put in simple terms – 1) press on the bezel – 2) turn the bezel to your desired time zone (aligning it to the cities indicated on the ceramic bezel) – 3) release. It’s that simple.
IWC Schaffhausen loves to go beyond basic watch manufacturer, and as far as watches with multiple time zone functions go – its solution to avoid disengagement of the movement certainly comes as a welcomed feature. Handing the reigns over to IWC enabled the company to refine the patent, integrating it into a luxury watch that not only ticks all the boxes for frequent travellers, but also those who like the idea of adding another innovative complication to their sphere of collectables. The bezel of this new IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner is presented in a coordinating deep blue colour with a white engraved scale depicting the main 24 world cities. Each one corresponds to a full-hour time zone. The UTC time is highlighted in a red hue. Home time is displayed centrally on the sunray-brushed blue dial with Arabic numerals, framed in metal – built to last - and filled generously with luminescent material.
Why a “Le Petit Prince” Edition?
IWC Schaffhausen has been paying tribute to the work and pioneering spirit of Antoine de Saint-Exupery since it launched a partnership with the Antione de Saint-Exupery's estate in 2005. His literacy work includes the famous Little Prince novel of which iconic illustrations from the story have been decorating the casebacks of many IWC watches from the popular collection ever since. The appeal of an IWC watch from the Petit Prince series is, no doubt, its rich blue dial, imparting an even more elegant look on the wrist. Despite its unique bezel design, the Pilot’s Watch Edition “Le Petit Prince” remains a classic Flieger watch with prominent Arabic numeral hour markers and a legible, lume-detailed dial for assistance during the night.
The IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Edition “Le Petit Prince”
In 2019 IWC Schaffhausen released the Longest Flight edition, and the Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Edition “Le Petit Prince” is very similar in design to this, albeit with very obvious nods made to the successful pre-WWII commercial pilot and French author, Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Although not a member of the Big Pilot’s watch collection, it still carries many characteristics of the oversized instruments. The 46mm case is crafted from stainless steel and executed in a mix of brushed and polished finishes. The front and back of the watch are sealed with anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure. The watch is also fitted with a screw-in crown and promises a 60-meter water resistance.
Inside the robust case of the new IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Edition “Le Petit Prince” is an engine from the company’s 82000 calibre series. The in-house developed Calibre 82760 is capable of offering a 60-hour power reserve when fully wound and performs at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour. In addition to the hours, minutes and seconds it features a second time zone display and date aperture which can be referenced at 3 o’clock on the dial. IWC’s meticulous hand-engraving and Côtes de Genève/perlage decoration are put on show through a sapphire-backed case which puts the performance of the mechanical beating heart and its 284 components on display whilst in motion. The Pellaton automatic winding mechanism (enforced with components made of virtually wear-free ceramic) is also adorned with a rotor with an 18-carat gold medallion. The 24-hour scale on the dial of the IWC Pilot’s Watch is represented in a retrograde display at 12 o’clock against a clean white background and the crown at 3 o’clock on the case is crafted in the recognisable diamond-shaped easy-grip design for facilitating through thick pilot gloves.
Enabling the watch to continue keeping accurate time without missing a second, the new IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Edition “Le Petit Prince” is yet another excellent example of IWC engineering. The ingenious complication is paired with a classic brown calfskin strap, which secures to the wrist or a leather flight jacket with a refined folding clasp engraved with the famous IWC lettering. The watch retails at £12,700 and is now available to order from C W Sellors here. Alternatively, you can call our sales team on 01335 453453 or email us at sales@cwsellors.com for more details.
Technical specifications of the IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Edition “Le Petit Prince”
Case: Width: 46mm / Height: 15mm / brushed and polished stainless steel / 60-meter water resistance / anti reflective convex sapphire glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure / transparent caseback / screw-in crown / bezel with Worldtimer function
Dial: Blue sunray-brushed dial / luminous-coated Arabic numerals and hands / date at 3 o’clock / retrograde-style 24-hour display at 12 o’clock
Movement: in-house self-winding Calibre 82760 / 60-hour power reserve / 28,800 v.p.h / 22 jewels / 284 components / Pellaton automatic winding / rotor with 18ct gold medallion / hours, minutes, central hacking seconds / date
Strap: Brown calfskin strap with steel folding clasp / 22mm
Availability: Limited to 1500 pieces worldwide
Price: £12,700
