IWC Schaffhausen has unveiled the Big Pilot’s Watch Monopusher Edition “Le Petit Prince”, the first Big Pilot’s Watch with a chronograph function. The mechanical stopwatch is controlled via a single push-button which is beautifully integrated into the distinctive conical crown. Limited to 500 pieces, this “Le Petit Prince” edition features the characteristic deep-blue sunburst dial and a stainless-steel case.
Press Release info with commentary in italics.
Commentary
It is interesting that from the myriad of IWC Big Pilot watches, this is the first to feature a chronograph, despite IWC’s legacy as a technical watch supplier rooted on the chronograph as a core offering. The new watch retains the clear, legible and simple dial layout of the classic Big Pilot watches, an essential feature for a tool watch to be used in the cockpit of an aircraft. And gives up on the multiple counters and sub-dials often associated with chronographs. Only two sub-dials arranged at the 12/6 position adorn the sunray finished blue dial – one for the continuous seconds hand, and the other for the minute totaliser. The pilot watch design of the triangle with two dots is retained, although the triangle is stylized with an arc as the base. The huge arabic humerals, infilled with lume are used as hour markers, in line with the traditional look of the Big Pilot’s Watch.
Even the pusher layout is discreet, as the Big Pilot’s Watch Monopusher Edition “Le Petit Prince” is a monopusher, where the activation of the start/stop/reset is done with the button integrated into the crown. As with classical monopushers, the chronograph button is coaxial with the crown. But as the crow is very large, with its signature conical shape, this button is visually well integrated into the crown, that it looks like the raised logo. Visually, very clean approach.
The movement is the Caliber. 59365, one of three in-house chronograph movements from IWC, and features an 8 day power reserve. This hand wound movement is visible through the sapphire case back. From the caliber reference, it appears that this is the first watch IWC has used this movement in.
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Monopusher Edition “Le Petit Prince”
Retail of the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Monopusher Edition “Le Petit Prince” Ref. IW515202 is priced is SGD 23,900 inclusive of GST. Limited edition of 500 pieces.
Chronographs are a core competence of IWC. The mechanical stopwatch is also a mainstay in the brand’s Pilot’s Watches collection. Now, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer pairs its most iconic aviator’s watch with a chronograph function for the first time.
“IWC has always been about tackling engineering challenges and finding technically elegant solutions. We have had the idea to present a Big Pilot’s Watch with a chronograph function for some time now. However, one can hardly imagine the unmistakable design with the large case and conical crown with two chronograph pushers on the side of the case. Therefore, we hit upon the surprising and at the same time logical idea to integrate a monopusher chronograph.”
Christian Knoop, Creative Director of IWC Schaffhausen.
The monopusher chronograph is controlled via a single push-button integrated into the crown, making it exceptionally user-friendly and practical. When the button is pushed once, a new timing starts. Pressing the button a second time stops the timing. Stop times of up to one hour are displayed on the totaliser at 12 o’clock. When the button is pushed a third time, the chronograph is reset to zero.
In the tradition of IWC’s special editions in honour of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s world-famous novel, the Big Pilot’s Watch Monopusher Edition “Le Petit Prince” features the signature deep-blue sunburst dial. It is complemented with a stainless-steel case and rhodiumplated hands. In addition, the hands, indices, and applied numerals have been coated with luminous material to make the dial easier to read at night.
The IWC-manufactured 59365 calibre is one of three in-house chronograph movements from IWC. Alongside the movements from the 69000 and 89000 calibre families, it underscores the comprehensive expertise that IWC has acquired in the design and manufacturing of chronographs. In addition, it is also the brand’s only chronograph movement that is wound manually: 70 revolutions of the crown are enough to build up the maximum power reserve of eight days. A power-reserve indication on the back of the movement, which can be seen through the sapphire-glass case back, shows the energy remaining in the mainspring.
Fitted with a brown calfskin strap with a folding clasp, the Big Pilot’s Watch Monopusher Edition “Le Petit Prince”
is available through IWC boutiques, authorised retail partners or online on IWC.com. In addition, the timepiece is eligible for registration under the My IWC care programme and can benefit from a 6-year extension to the standard 2-year International Limited Warranty.
IWC BIG PILOT’S WATCH MONOPUSHER EDITION “LE PETIT PRINCE” REF. IW515202 Specifications
FEATURES
Mechanical movement – Monopusher chronograph with minutes and seconds stop function –
Power reserve display – Date display – Small hacking seconds – Glass secured against displacement
by drops in air pressure – See-through sapphire-glass back – Limited to 500 pieces
MOVEMENT
IWC-manufactured calibre 59365
Frequency 28,800 vph / 4 Hz
Jewels 36
Power reserve 192 h (8 days)
Winding Hand-wound
WATCH
Materials Stainless steel case, deep blue dial, rhodium-plated hands and appliques,
brown calfskin strap with folding clasp
Glass Sapphire, convex, anti-reflective coating on both sides
Water-resistant 6 bar
Diameter 46.2 mm
Height 14.6 mm
