A unique example of the IWC Big Pilot's watch, dubbed Le Petit Prince, will sell for charity in Sotheby's November 12 Important Watches auction in Geneva.
 IWC have previously released other watches dedicated to Antoine de Saint-Exubery |
The watch has not been given a pre-sale estimate, though Sotheby's state that the current suggested retail price is around $86,000. Its design is inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince, a famous novella from the French aviation pioneer, which stands as one of the most translated books in French literature.
All proceeds will benefit the Antoine de Saint-Exupery Youth Foundation, and will contribute towards the construction of a school in Cambodia.
 A limited re-print of the first English edition will accompany the sale |
The watch continues IWC's longstanding tradition of producing pilot's watches, with this unique example made from platinum with a midnight blue dial. It is being offered together with a limited re-print for the first printed edition of The Little Prince in English, as well as a facsimile of the original manuscript.
"Saint-Exupery's life and work are inseperably connected with the history and romance of aviation. This is also the case with IWC Shaffhausen, as we have been manufacturing timepieces for pilots since the mid-1930s," said IWC Schaffhausen's CEO, Georges Kern.
"Since then, we have launched several special editions of pilot's watches in honour of the illustrious aviation pioneer, legendary writer and adventurer Antoine de Saint-Exupery."
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a superb Longines Olympic series watch for sale.
