IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Le Petit Prince

To celebrate its long-standing collaboration with the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, IWC introduces a refined platinum version of the Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Le Petit Prince. This 150-piece limited edition fuses the aviation-inspired DNA of the Big Pilot with high watchmaking, offering a flying tourbillon, Pellaton winding, and 80-hour power reserve inside a more wearable 43mm case. With its luminous blue dial, rhodium accents, and a whimsical caseback engraving of the Little Prince on asteroid B 612, this release highlights IWC’s continued dedication to combining technical mastery with poetic storytelling.
The case of the new IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Le Petit Prince is crafted from platinum, giving it a luminous silvery-white sheen that sets it apart from its ceramic counterpart released alongside. It measures 43mm in diameter with a thickness of 14.58mm, offering a substantial yet more wearable profile compared to the larger 46mm Big Pilot references. The case features alternating brushed and polished finishes across its sharp edges and smooth surfaces, maintaining the bold presence expected from the Grosse Fliegeruhr lineage.
Around the back, a sapphire crystal caseback offers a clear view of the automatic calibre 82905 and its whimsical, engraved rotor depicting the Little Prince standing on asteroid B-612, surrounded by tiny baobab trees. The exhibition back is seamlessly integrated into the platinum mid-case and secured in place without disrupting the silhouette of the lugs or interrupting the watch’s robust design language.
Mounted on the right side is IWC’s hallmark oversized conical crown, designed for easy manipulation even while wearing gloves, an echo of the watch’s utilitarian pilot origins. The front crystal is convex sapphire with anti-reflective treatment on both sides and is secured to withstand sudden pressure drops during flight. Water-resistance can reach up to 100 meters (330 feet).
The dial of the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Le Petit Prince showcases the signature deep blue tone of the collection, finished with a refined sunray brushing that shifts subtly in varying light. Balanced across the dial are bold applied Arabic numerals and a traditional triangle-and-dots marker at 12 o’clock, evoking the classic pilot watch layout.At 6 o’clock, a large aperture dramatically displays the one-minute flying tourbillon, suspended within its own cutout and framed by polished bevels. This visually striking complication adds mechanical depth to the dial without overwhelming its symmetry. A discreet small seconds indication is integrated directly onto the rotating tourbillon carriage, maintaining functional clarity.Rhodium-plated propeller-style hour and minute hands, along with the applied numerals and triangle marker, are filled with Super-LumiNova to ensure optimal legibility in low-light environments. These luminous elements maintain the watch’s purpose-driven pilot aesthetic while subtly reinforcing the whimsical Le Petit Prince storytelling that underpins the entire edition.

The “IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Tourbillon Le Petit Prince” (Ref#: IW329501) is powered by the automatic self-winding in-house mechanical movement, caliber 82905 with 25 jewels, 197 components and 28,800 Vph. This movement features the brand’s efficient Pellaton winding system and integrates Diamond Shell technology to reduce friction on the escape wheel and pallet lever. Power reserve can last up to 80 hours, when fully wound
Mounted on this watch is a brown calfskin leather strap with exposed contrasting stitchings, secured by a matching platinum folding clasp. It echoes the warm tones of traditional pilot’s gear while enhancing the refined feel of the platinum case.
This exclusive platinum edition of the Big Pilot’s Watch Tourbillon Le Petit Prince is limited to just 150 pieces worldwide, underscoring its rarity and appeal to collectors seeking a refined blend of literary tribute and high horology. For more information visit the official IWC Schaffhausen website here.