New Release: IWC Celebrates 20 Years of Le Petit Prince with A New Anniversary Watch Collection

Le Petit Prince remains one of the most enduring literary works ever written, capturing profound human emotion through the journey of a young prince from a distant asteroid. At Watches and Wonders Geneva 2026, IWC Schaffhausen marks 20 years of collaboration with the heirs of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry by unveiling a collection of five Le Petit Prince Anniversary Edition Pilot’s Watches.

The heritage of IWC Schaffhausen is deeply connected to the evolution of aviation. Established in Schaffhausen in 1868, the brand was already firmly rooted when the Wright brothers made their historic flights over Kitty Hawk. As aviation advanced, IWC began developing purpose-built pilot’s watches, debuting its first in 1936 with the Special Pilot’s Watch, also known as the Mark IX.

Over the decades, IWC has become synonymous with professional-grade aviation timepieces. Yet despite the precision and seriousness of flight, there’s always space for imagination and storytelling—something perfectly embodied in the Le Petit Prince collection.

IWC Schaffhausen first partnered with the heirs of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in 2006 to honor his life, legacy, and his timeless literary masterpiece. Drawing inspiration from his own experiences—including surviving a crash in the Sahara Desert—the story of Le Petit Prince follows a young traveler as he journeys across the universe, visiting distant planets and encountering their inhabitants.

Though often perceived as a children’s book, The Little Prince explores profound themes of loneliness, loss, friendship, and love. Its universal resonance is reflected in its remarkable reach, having been translated into more than 650 languages and dialects and selling approximately 140 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling books in history.

Over the past two decades, IWC has paid tribute to this universe with midnight blue dials that evoke the prince’s voyage through the stars. The new anniversary collection introduces five references, ranging from 36mm to 43mm, including both classic three-hand Pilot’s Watches and chronograph models.

Pilot’s Watches

The anniversary collection introduces three classic Pilot’s Watches—two in 40mm and one in a 36mm case size. Leading the lineup are the 40mm IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Le Petit Prince IW328301 and IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Le Petit Prince IW328221. Both models feature a rich blue sunray dial paired with gold-toned hands for a refined contrast.

The 18-carat 5N gold version elevates the design further with a matching gold crown and solid gold appliqués, reinforcing its luxurious character. All indices and hands are filled with Super-LumiNova for low-light legibility. The pairing of gold and deep blue creates a striking aesthetic harmony. Completing the design, the gold Mark XX is fitted with a custom blue rubber strap, an 18K gold buckle, and IWC’s EasX-CHANGE quick-change system for effortless strap swapping.

The stainless-steel version of the IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Le Petit Prince IW328221 delivers a more understated interpretation of the design. While it retains the same overall layout, its execution feels subtler thanks to the stainless-steel case and printed dial indices.

A key highlight is the gold-plated hands, which stand out beautifully against the steel case and deep blue dial. Beyond their visual appeal, they also serve as a subtle signature, distinguishing this model as a special Le Petit Prince edition.

Both IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Le Petit Prince IW328301 and IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Le Petit Prince IW328221 are powered by the IWC-manufactured 32112 calibre, offering an impressive 120-hour power reserve.

As with all Le Petit Prince editions, each model features a distinctive caseback detail. The gold version comes with a tinted sapphire caseback showcasing an illustration of the Little Prince, while the stainless-steel model features an engraved caseback with the same motif.

The third three-hand model in the lineup is the compact IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 36 Le Petit Prince IW458802. It serves as a smaller counterpart to the stainless-steel Mark XX, but omits the date window at 3 o’clock for a cleaner dial layout.

It is powered by the IWC-manufactured 32102 calibre, essentially the no-date version of the 32112, while still delivering the same 120-hour power reserve.

Chronographs

The anniversary collection also includes two chronographs: the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Le Petit Prince IW378011 and the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Le Petit Prince IW388120. As expected, the main distinction lies in case size—43mm versus 41mm.

Both models share the collection’s signature aesthetic, featuring a deep blue sunray dial paired with gold-plated hands, reinforcing the elegant Le Petit Prince design language across the lineup.

Both chronographs are powered by the IWC-manufactured 69385 calibre, a mechanical column-wheel chronograph offering a 46-hour power reserve. They are also equipped with the same custom blue rubber strap used on the Mark XX models.

On the reverse, each watch features a blue-tinted sapphire crystal caseback, decorated with an illustration of the Little Prince.

The IWC Schaffhausen Le Petit Prince Anniversary Editions once again serve as a thoughtful tribute to Le Petit Prince. The gold-plated hands stand out beautifully against the deep blue dials, enhancing the collection’s signature aesthetic. The availability of the chronographs in two sizes will likely appeal to a wider range of collectors, although a greater size distinction—such as 43mm versus 39mm—might have offered clearer variety.

Personally, the understated simplicity of the 36mm model, paired with its gold-hand contrast, feels like the most compelling interpretation in the lineup. At the time of writing, IWC has not yet announced pricing for these editions. For more information, visit the official IWC Schaffhausen website.