Launched by Swiss luxury watch brand IWC Schaffhausen, known for its pilot watches and Big Pilot watches, Le Petit Prince pays tribute to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, a French aviator and author of the children’s book of the same name. The series initially launched in 2013, marking the 70th anniversary of the book’s publication. An updated model, the IW500908, followed in 2015, featuring much of the original watch’s DNA with refined aesthetics.
Precision Watches proudly features this later date model, part of a limited run of just 1,000 pieces. This pre-owned IWC is currently selling for $10,995. This article reviews our experience with the Le Petit Prince at our luxury watch store in Lower Gwynedd, PA.
Big Pilot Le Petit Prince 46mm IW500908 Review
The IWC Big Pilot Le Petit Prince 46mm is finished in brushed and polished stainless steel, offering exceptional aesthetics and functionality in a larger-than-life case. It digs deeper than previous models, with 1930s and 1940s luxury watch refinements. We’ll break down the details further in the following sections.
Appearance
The first thing to note about this watch is its oversized appearance. Everything about it is oversized, from its large numerals, its prominent hands, its 46mm case (57mm from lug to lug), and its 16mm thickness. Though ideal for flyers who need the legibility of larger features, it also appears childlike, paying homage to Saint-Exupéry’s Renaissance Man versatility.
The dial is a stunning blue sunburst that has a glowing hue in interior spaces but is truly vibrant outdoors. Compared to older models, the minute track is more calibrated for greater legibility. The applied Arabic numerals are more stylized, and the index triangle at 12 o’clock is more rounded.
The bold minute and hour hands are broadsword and tapered, maintaining the oversized theme with added elegance. The date wheel at 12 o’clock is updated to lie in a framed aperture. A single subdial at 3 o’clock serves as a power-reserve indicator and has been notably updated from previous models.
The Fit
As a larger watch, this watch looks best on wrist sizes 7.25” (18.5cm) and up. However, the curved lugs mean it is still wearable on a medium-sized wrist, though it will hang close to the edge. If you have a smaller wrist (6.75” or less), the watch will overhang.
Beyond that, the watch is ergonomically designed for optimal comfort. The combination of the curved lugs and (once broken in) soft leather strap helps it hug the wrist and keep the watch in place. It is best for people who like a watch with serious presence and don’t mind the extra weight.
It will be bulky under a slim, tailored cuff, and may be best for casual wear.
The Strap
The watch features a brown calfskin leather strap, replacing the previous alligator skin, with a semi-patina stitch, producing a more refined, vintage appearance. It closes with a single stainless-steel deployment clasp that is fully brushed, even on the interior. The completely finished look, with no mark of machining or stamping, pays the ideal tribute to the author/pilot for whom it was named.
Caseback and Movement
Turning the watch over, we see the solid steel casbeack features a large medallion-style engraving of The Little Prince standing on his asteroid/planet and looking at the stars. Although many limited editions feature a marking indicating their production number, this watch does not. The strategy was purposeful, preventing wearers from favoring one watch over another based on its place in the manufacturing line.
The movement is Calibre 5111, with a signature Pellaton bidirectional winding system offering high-wear parts for optimal durability. The free sprung balance and over-coil hairspring make it resistant to positional deviations. It is optimally shock-protected and rugged.
Designed to fit the 46mm case, the watch houses the world’s largest automatic calibre.
History of the Big Pilot Le Petit Prince 46mm IW500908
IWC began creating military and observation watches in the 1930s and 1940s, featuring huge crowns, oversized cases, and matte dials. The brand followed up with the first Modern Big Pilot in 2002. It offers a 3-hand layout and boasts the largest automatic movement in a wristwatch.
In 2013, the anniversary year of Le Petit Prince, the brand set out to create a watch for Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. He flew as an airmail and test pilot in the pioneering days of aviation, wrote books about flying, and disappeared in 1944 on a reconnaissance mission, making him worthy of tribute. They partnered with the pilot’s estate to launch a watch that honored both the Petit Prince and aviation history.
Many of the limited watches are auctioned, with proceeds donated to the Antoine de Saint-Exupery Youth Foundation, which supports literacy programs, libraries, schools, and educational projects.
Experience the Big Pilot Le Petit Prince 46mm IW500908 at the Precision Watches Showroom
We invite you to experience this limited-edition watch at our showroom, which features a wide selection of new watches and pre-owned pilot watches, ensuring you can find a timepiece ideally suited to your needs. If you can’t come in person, you may also browse our online selection.
We also offer professional watch repair to support you throughout your watch’s lifetime. Contact us to learn more about our comprehensive products and services. For those searching to sell a luxury watch near me, Precision Watches offers both in-store service in Lower Gwynedd, PA and secure nationwide transactions.
FAQs
What is special about the ‘Le Petit Prince’ edition?
The Le Petit Prince edition is special because it is a tribute to Antoine de Saint-Exupery and his novella, Le Petit Prince, combining IWC’s pilot-watch heritage with a midnight blue sunray dial and a Little Prince engraving on the caseback.
Does the watch have any anti-magnetic protection?
Yes, the watch has a soft-iron inner case that protects the movement against magnetic fields- in line with the IWC’s pilot watch tool heritage.
What are the key specs of the IW500908?
Key specs of the IW500908 include a 46.2mm stainless steel case, a metallic blue sunray dial with Arabic numerals, automatic movement with a 7-day power reserve, a 6 o’clock date window, a power reserve subdial at 3 o’clock, and 60-meter water resistance.
