Inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
IWC Schaffhausen Expands Its Le Petit Prince Universe
For over 150 years, IWC Schaffhausen has crafted timepieces that speak to the spirit of exploration – a value shared deeply with Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the French aviator and author whose novella The Little Prince has captivated generations. This year at Watches & Wonders 2026, IWC celebrates both 90 years of Pilot's Watches and two decades of collaboration with the heirs of Saint-Exupéry – marking the occasion with a constellation of new Le Petit Prince editions that span the breadth of the collection. A hallmark of these special editions is the deep blue dial with a sunray finish and charming depictions of the Little Prince on the case backs.
Ref. IW458802 & IW328221
Time, Pure and Simple
Two refined three-hander references anchor the Anniversary Edition lineup, offering the pure pleasure of time in the Le Petit Prince tradition. The Pilot's Watch Automatic 36 is the slimmer, more understated sibling of the range: a modestly sized stainless-steel piece without a date window, powered by the 32102 calibre with an impressive 120-hour power reserve.
Its companion, the Pilot's Watch Mark XX, is housed in a 40-millimetre stainless steel case, featuring a deep blue sunray dial with printed white indices and numerals, gold-plated hands filled with Super-LumiNova®, and IWC's EasX-CHANGE® system for effortless strap swaps. Together, these two watches distil the Le Petit Prince story to its most essential form: clean, legible, and full of quiet poetry.
Ref. IW329601
Mastering Every Dimension of Time
For those who seek a deeper relationship with time, IWC introduces one of its most technically ambitious Le Petit Prince editions yet. The Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar ProSet centres around a newly engineered system that allows the perpetual calendar to be adjusted forwards and backwards directly through the crown – a first for the collection.
This stainless-steel reference measures 42mm and is powered by Calibre 82665, an automatic movement with Pellaton winding, ceramic wear-resistant components, a 60-hour power reserve, and a moonphase accurate to one day in 1,040 years. In this watch, the wonder of the night sky that so captivated the Little Prince finds its most precise mechanical expression.
Ref. IW388120 & IW389410
One Story, Two Expressions
Two chronographs extend the Le Petit Prince story into new expressive territory. The stainless-steel Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 features a 41mm case, a deep blue sunray dial with white-printed indices, gold-plated chronograph hands filled with Super-LumiNova®, and a tinted sapphire display case back showcasing the Little Prince.
Joining it is the Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 – a striking first for the Le Petit Prince line, crafted from white zirconium oxide ceramic, whose brilliant white case creates a breathtaking contrast with the deep blue sunburst dial. Both chronographs are powered by the IWC-manufactured Calibre 69385, a column-wheel automatic movement with a 46-hour power reserve. Side by side, they represent two faces of the same dream: one rooted in tradition, one boldly reaching for the stars.
Ref. IW459806
Day, Night, and the Magic in Between
In a milestone moment for the partnership, the Little Prince makes his debut in IWC's elegant Portofino family. The Portofino Automatic Day & Night 34 features a 34mm stainless steel case with a deep blue sunray dial, gold-plated hands and appliques – the signature elements of IWC's Le Petit Prince editions.
Its most enchanting feature is a day-and-night indication at 6 o'clock: a small disc that completes one full rotation every 24 hours, revealing the sun at noon and the moon at midnight – with the Little Prince himself depicted standing on the golden moon, gazing up at the starry night sky. The watch is fitted with a blue alligator leather strap by Santoni and powered by Calibre 35180. Graceful, intimate, and full of wonder, it is perhaps the purest distillation of what makes this collaboration so enduring.
