IWC Pilots’s Watch Mark XVII Edition “Le Petit Prince”

I am a big fan of IWC's Mark series of Pilot's Watches. The minimalist design, military heritage and value for money proposition these watches represent are appeal to me. A bit more than US$4,000 gets you watch with an interesting heritage and the prestigious IWC branding. And yes, 4K for a luxury watch these days is a very good deal.  IWC's latest Pilots Watch Mark edition, the IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XVII Edition "Le Petit Prince" will probably cost you a fair bit more than that. I do not know retail price, but being built on a stainless steel case, there is a fair chance that it won't cost you both your arm and leg. Just one. After all, the Pilot’s Watch Mark XVII Edition “Le Petit Prince” in stainless steel is limited to a production run of 1,000 watches.

IWC Schaffhausen celebrates the 70th birthday of the “The Little Prince”, the highly acclaimed novella with the launch of two limited special editions: the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince” and the Pilot’s Watch Mark XVII Edition “Le Petit Prince”. Both these, watches pay tribute to one of the best-selling books in literary history, written by legendary writer, pilot and adventurer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. 

IWC has has maintained a cordial partnership with Saint-Exupéry’s heirs and their charitable organization, the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, and release watches in honor of this legendary pilot. Celebrating his highly acclaimed book is a very nice touch.

Unlike the stark matter black with white and red highlights of the military inspired Mark XVII, the "Little Prince Edition" has a lighter feel to it with a blue dial. At the short end of the second hand is a small star, which indicates that this watch represents something special. The little star is likely to get a query from a curious onlooker as to what it represents. At the back, you have an engraving that shows the little prince with his fluttering scarf standing on a tiny asteroid. 

Part of the proceeds from sales of the Pilot’s Watch Mark XVII Edition “Le Petit Prince” will go to the Foundation to support its worldwide commitment against illiteracy. This is in keeping with the thinking of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who once wrote: “Your task is not to foresee the future, but to enable it.”

So you have a watch with a long history of use with the Royal Air Force which commemorates a legendary pilot and takes as back to our youth and this little illustrated novella we were once asked to read. This is something worthy of any collection. At the same time, you will help a little bit, in making Antoine de Saint-Exupéry aspiration come a bit closer to fruition.

About IWC. IWC or the the "International Watch Co. Schaffhausen" was founded by an American engineer from Boston, Florentine Ariosto Jones, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland in the year 1868. IWC Schaffhausen is notable for being the only major Swiss watch factory located in eastern Switzerland, as the majority of the well-known Swiss watch manufacturers are located in western Switzerland.