Sixth tribute to the French aviator and poet Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
For last couple of years, IWC has been releasing special editions of Pilot’s Watch to commemorate the life, work and achievements of the famous French author Antoine de Saint- Exupéry. Saint- Exupéry was a poet and a pilot who mysteriously disappeared over the Mediterranean on his last assigned reconnaissance mission in July 1944. He is best remembered for his novella The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince), which was voted the best book of the 20th century in France and became one of the best-selling books ever published.
In 2012, IWC dedicates a special Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Antoine de Saint- Exupéry to the French writer, poet and pioneering aviator. This year’s edition celebrates the anniversary of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s memorable first flight, and represents the sixth special edition issued in his memory. The watch is crafted in 18-carat red gold and produced in a limited numbered edition of only 500 exemplars. The golden hue of the case is matched with the tobacco-colored dial and chocolate-brown alligator strap, which gives it a distinctively vintage appeal.
The watch is powered by IWC in-house 89361-calibre movement which offers hour and minute counters combined in a totalizer at 12 o’clock. There is a date display at 6 o’clock, a stopwatch function with hours, minutes and seconds, a flyback function, and small hacking seconds. Everything is arranged neatly in 43 mm diameter, and topped with a sapphire crystal glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure.
There is a special engraving on the back of the case, depicting the last aircraft Antoine de Saint-Exupéry ever flew, a Lightning P-38. The commemorative case-back evokes Saint-Exupéry’s last reconnaissance mission over occupied France, from which he never returned. It is believed that the famous writer tragically lost his life during this flight, especially after the wreckage of his plain was recovered in 2003 from the Mediterranean Sea near Marseille. However, the body was never found, so the myth surrounding his disappearance will continues to live on.
Technical specifications
Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition Antoine de Saint Exupéry
Ref. IW387805
Features
Sixth tribute to the French aviator and poet Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in the form of a Pilot’s Watch Chronograph, mechanical chronograph movement, date display, stopwatch function with hours, minutes and seconds, hour and minute counters combined in a totalizer at 12 o’clock, flyback function, small hacking seconds, screw-in crown, glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure, limited edition of 500 watches in 18-carat red gold
Movement
Calibre: 89361
Frequency: 28,800 A/h / 4 Hz
Jewels: 38
Power reserve: 68 h
Winding: automatic
Watch Materials: case and folding clasp in 18-carat red gold, tobacco-coloured dial, brown calfskin strap with quilted stitching
Glass: sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Water-resistant: 6 bar
Diameter: 43 mm
Case height: 15.5 mm
Author: Marina Milojevic
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