IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Le Petit Prince

IWC celebrates its long-standing partnership with the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation by unveiling a technically ambitious and visually arresting addition to its Big Pilot lineup. The new Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon “Le Petit Prince” stands out with a bold matte blue ceramic case accented by warm rose gold details, housing one of the brand’s most advanced movements. As the first “Le Petit Prince” edition to combine both a flying tourbillon and perpetual calendar, it elevates the familiar celestial aesthetic into grand complication territory, uniting material innovation with poetic storytelling.
The case of this bold limited edition is crafted from matte-finished blue ceramic, giving the 46.5mm diameter a highly modern and technical edge. Measuring 16.18mm in height and paired with prominent, angular lugs, the watch delivers the commanding wrist presence expected from the Big Pilot line. Accents in polished 18k 5N rose gold, specifically the screw-in crown and titanium caseback ring, offer contrast and warmth against the cool, ultralight case.On the reverse, a sapphire display back reveals the in-house calibre 51950, including its beautifully engraved solid gold winding rotor featuring a silhouette of the Little Prince. The exhibition caseback is secured with six screws and framed by the aforementioned gold ring, further tying the design to its commemorative character.It comes equipped with a screw-in crown and prominent guards for added protection. A convex sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides ensures legibility while being secured against displacement from sudden pressure drops. Water-resistance can reach up to 100 meters (330 feet), providing a high level of robustness for such a complex grand complication.
Time is displayed on a sunray-brushed blue dial, enriched by gold-plated hands and applied markers that reinforce the regal Le Petit Prince aesthetic. The combination of deep blue and warm gold tones creates a striking yet legible interface, firmly rooted in the poetic design codes of this long-running series. The hour markers are luminescent, and the characteristic Big Pilot-style hands offer a high-contrast, aviation-ready look.The perpetual calendar subdials are arranged in the familiar Kurt Klaus layout, indicating the date at 3 o’clock, the day of the week at 9, and the month at 6, all accompanied by a four-digit year aperture at 8. The perpetual moon phase at 6 o’clock includes a charming illustration of the Little Prince on his asteroid, while the tourbillon, unusually positioned at 12 o’clock, adds technical depth and balance to the dial. All complications are synchronized and can be adjusted via the crown.Gold-plated rings surrounding each register and the flying tourbillon aperture provide subtle framing without overwhelming the overall layout. The luminous material on the hands and hour markers glows softly in low-light conditions, while the richly detailed surface finishing contributes to the watch’s elevated technical and artistic feel.

The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Le Petit Prince (Ref#: IW504901) is powered by the in-house self-winding mechanical movement, caliber 51950, with 54 jewels, and 447 components. operating at 19,800 vph (2.75Hz). It features a flying one-minute tourbillon made of just 82 parts and weighing only 0.635 grams, along with IWC’s signature perpetual calendar module that displays the date, day, month, year in four digits, and a moon phase requiring correction only once every 577.5 years. Power reserve can last up to 168 hours (7 days), when fully wound.

Mounted on this watch is a textured blue rubber strap that complements the matte ceramic case and sunray blue dial, secured to the wrist by an 18k 5N rose gold folding clasp. The pairing of modern materials with precious metal accents reinforces its luxurious yet technical character.Limited to just 100 individually numbered pieces, this exclusive edition underscores the rarity and prestige of IWC’s most complex “Le Petit Prince” timepiece to date. For more information visit the official IWC Schaffhausen website here.