What We Know
IWC never fails to release many new models at Watches and Wonders, and—arguably—their releases are, on average, the strongest of any brand. It helps when they drop seven solid releases that, while mostly just a new dial color, are pieces I can imagine a lot of people will gravitate toward. It also matches the new ProSet perpetual calendar models, two of which feature Le Petit Prince variations. What makes a “Le Petit Prince” IWC? Well, namely a blue sunburst dial and some caseback branding of the beloved Antoine de Saint-Exupéry novella featuring a pilot who crash-landed in the Sahara and a little prince from another planet. As for the watches, that means 9 total Le Petit Prince IWC’s this year, so let’s take a look at the other seven.
The ref. IW389410 with 41mm by 15.5mm with white ceramic case and 4Hz automatic movement with 46 hours of power reserve.
The ref. IW328221 with 40mm by 10.8mm stainless steel case and 4Hz automatic movement with 120 hours of power reserve.
The ref. IW328301 with 40mm by 10.1mm 18k 5N gold case and 4Hz automatic movement with 120 hours of power reserve.
Instead of breaking them all down one at a time, I’ve posted all the images of the watches and brief specs above and below. Above this paragraph are the 41mm white ceramic chronograph, the 40mm stainless steel and rose gold Mark XX variants, all of which have this beautiful contrast of deep blue sunburst dial and rose gold hands (with lume and, in the case of the gold version, rose gold surrounds).
Below, we’ve got a 43mm and 41mm stainless steel version of the same chronograph with the caliber 69385 movement. A cool feature on these watches is how Le Petit Prince is integrated into the branding. The steel chronographs have a tinted sapphire
glass case with an illustration of the little interplanetary adventurer, as does the rose gold version. The stainless steel Mark XX and the ceramic chronograph have a solid caseback.
Then there’s the Portofino, which is the first time the model has featured the “Le Petit Prince” treatment. With the small 34mm by 8.9mm stainless steel case, gold-plated hands and appliques, central hacking seconds, and a day-and-night display, it looks far less toolish than the other options, but it also presents a more feminine option.
The ref. IW378011 with 43mm by 14.8mm stainless steel case and 4Hz automatic movement with 46 hours of power reserve.
The ref. IW388119 with 41mm by 14.8mm stainless steel case and 4Hz automatic movement with 46 hours of power reserve.
Finally, theres a 36mm automatic Pilot’s Watch with a 100m water resistance and the caliber 32102 movement with 120 hours of power reserve. This one also has a stainless steel caseback to match the case. And the best part is that the brand hasn’t left out the small-wristed fans of their pilots watches. All around, it’s a solid slate of releases (even more so with the ProSet perpetual calendars). Prices range from $5,300 to $22,500 (though that high price is for the gold model) and the watches aren’t limited edition.
What We Think
Perks of the job, but we got to see these in our office a little while back. I was incredibly captivated by the blue dial and combo with the gold-toned hands. The white ceramic combination as well was a real winner and punches up the eye-catching nature through the shifting color of the dial. The black dial and white ceramic was always great, but the blue dial turns it into something that I think will drive even more buyers. Yes, the ceramic case is pretty thick (as are most of these chronographs) but since when was anyone buying an IWC for its compact sizing? Its about the aesthetic, and that’s a winner here.
Pricing & Availability
Price: Varies from $5,300 to $12,900 based on model (with gold at $22,500)
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: No
For more, click here.
