Handed down through generations, the wonderful tale of the Little Prince written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in 1943 has so far been translated into 290 languages and dialects. The Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation aims to reach new heights in the coming years by producing a version of the book in braille, adapting both the text and pictures.

The proceeds from the sale will go towards supporting the launch of the foundation in the United States and to collaborate with local NGOs and associations. The organization will help visually impaired children to discover the Little Prince’s magical world and its enchanting illustrations, via specially conceived educational workshops. There will be an official launch of the programme in 2017, combined with an event in New York.

Technical Prowess and Visual Poetry: The IWC Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince” (Reference IW502704, Lot 175).

For Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, poetry and technology, writing and flying were two sides of the same coin; the IWC Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince” brings these two worlds together. The front side of the watch features a midnight blue dial with annual calendar and red gold luminous hands. The reverse side of the watch reveals an outstanding blue movement – the first ever developed by the manufacturer.

The dial shows the Little Prince gazing in amazement at the sky. He stands on a tiny planet, which forms the rotor and revolves around its axis. Due to the highly complex techniques required to ensure an even blue finish on the movement, followed by the delicate process of assembling the pieces, the movement took IWC nearly 2 years to develop.

The sumptuous blue of the movement creates the impression of depth within the watch, echoing the extraordinary adventures of the little prince.

In addition to its spectacular blue movement, the sleek exterior of the IWC Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince” hides numerous other features that illustrate the exceptional quality of IWC’s technical workmanship. These include an annual calendar, which shows the month, date and day of the week in three separate windows. Its highly complex mechanism takes into account the differing lengths of different months, with the exception of February; once a year, it requires a simple manual correction using the crown.

This superb piece in 18-carat red gold also includes a 7-day power reserve and a transparent sapphire-glass back.

In Detail: The IWC Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince” (Reference IW502704, Lot 175).Features:                  Unique piece – Midnight blue dial – Blue mechanical movement – Power reserve display – Annual                                      calendar with displays for the month, date and day of the week – Small hacking seconds – Breguet                                      spring – Rotor in 18-carat red gold shows the little prince standing on his planet – Screw-in crown –                                      Glass secured against displacement by drops in air pressure – See-through sapphire-glass back

Movement:             Calibre: 52850 (blue)                                      Jewels : 36                                      Power reserve            : 7 days when fully wound                                      Winding system: Pellaton automatic

Materials:                 Case in 18-carat red gold, midnight blue dial, red gold hands and appliqués coated with Super                                      LumiNova®, gold-plated star display, matte brown calfskin strap with decorative beige stitching, 18-                                      carat red gold pin buckle

Glass:                          Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sidesWater-resistant:    6 barDiameter:                 46mmHeight:                       15.5mm

The Antoine De Saint-Exupéry Youth FoundationUnder the aegis of the Fondation de France, the foundation was created by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s family to promote the great French writer’s humanist philosophy. Liaising closely with companies that share its values and aims, the foundation works primarily to help disadvantaged young people all over the world by encouraging and financing local initiatives designed to provide education and training across a broad spectrum of areas. By instilling a sense of purpose into young people and teaching them to live together as part of their communities, to find fulfilment in work and to access culture through reading and writing, it helps them to become responsible citizens. Website: www.fasej.org

IWC SchaffhausenWith a clear focus on technology and development, the Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has been producing timepieces of lasting value since 1868. The company has gained an international reputation based on a passion for innovative solutions and technical ingenuity. One of the world’s leading brands in the luxury watch segment, IWC crafts masterpieces of Haute Horlogerie at their finest, combining supreme precision with exclusive design. As an ecologically and socially responsible company, IWC is committed to sustainable production, supports institutions around the globe in their work with children and young people, and maintains partnerships with organizations dedicated to climate and environmental protection.