IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “The Last Flight” (Ref. IW388005)

On November 11, 2014, during its sale of Important Watches, Sotheby’s Geneva will offer for sale a special limited edition watch, the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “The Last Flight” (Ref. IW388005). Designed to commemorate 70 years since the tragic death of celebrated writer and pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the proceeds of the sale will benefit the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, dedicated to supporting young people around the world. The fund will help the Hospital Pequeno Príncipe in Curitiba, Brazil’s largest children’s hospital, to build a library for young patients of this centre, which specializes in highly complex heart operations, organ and bone transplants and cancer treatment.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: The Last Flight

On the 31st of July, 1944, Saint-Exupéry took off on a reconnaissance flight over France and never returned. Mystery surrounded his fate until 1998, when a fisherman found a bracelet belonging to the French national hero off the shores of Marseille. Pieces of wreckage were later recovered and identified as parts of Saint-Exupéry’s aircraft. Patriotism and a sense of adventure had led the celebrated writer into the path of a German Luftwaffe pilot, who unwittingly shot down one of his favourite authors.

Seventy years later, the life and work of this aviation pioneer and creative genius will be remembered in
Geneva at Sotheby’s, when one of only 17 pieces ever made of the stunning IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “The Last Flight” — featuring a silicon nitride ceramic case with a special engraving — will go under hammer.

In keeping with IWC’s continuing homage to Saint-Exupéry, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “The Last
Flight” features a brown ceramic case, a brown dial and a calfskin strap in the same colour, echoing the tobacco colour of the pilot’s flying suit. The watch features a crown, buttons and case back in platinum.

The back of the watch is decorated with an engraving in memory of Saint-Exupéry’s last flight.

The retail price of this piece is CHF 32,000 ($37,400 CAD), yet Sotheby’s prefers not to give an estimate as the sale is done for charitable purposes.

For more information take a look at the following website:

www.iwc.com
www.sothebys.com
www.fasej.org

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry