Wednesday, April 13, 2016

IWC – BIG PILOT's Watch Annual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince”

















IWC Schaffhausen BIG PILOT's Watch Annual Calendar Edition Le Petit PrinceNEW


A COMBINATION OF
TECHNOLOGY AND POETRY

In 2016, the annual calendar makes its debut appearance in the Pilot’s Watches from IWC Schaffhausen. The Big Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince” is dedicated to the leading figure in the eponymous fairy tale. On the reverse side of the watch, the original design of the rotor illustrates a leitmotif in the work of writer and pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: the inseparableness of technology and poetry.

Sooner or later, anyone who turns their attention to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry realizes that this is a man of two talents: on the one hand, the world-famous poet and author of the fabulous tale of “The Little Prince”; on the other, the pragmatic pilot, technician and owner of patents relating to flying. For Saint-Exupéry, writing could not exist without flying, and vice versa. For him, flying was a school that taught discipline. In the cockpit, every move had to be just right. In direct contrast to writing, one false manoeuvre here could be fatal. At the same time, formulating his ideas gave him the far-sightedness, imagination and poetic perspective essential for flying. For literature back in those days, the link between writing and flying was a new phenomenon – and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry mastered it with aplomb.

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The Big Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince” (Ref. IW502701) likewise connects the two worlds of flying and writing, technology and poetry, in a breathtaking fashion. The result is an elegant special-edition timepiece featuring a red gold case, which is available in a limited edition of 250 watches.

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THE FIRST PILOT’S WATCH WITH AN ANNUAL CALENDAR

On the front of the Big Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince”, the feature that stands out first and foremost is the attractive colour combination. Combined with the red gold of the case, hands and appliqués as well as the dark brown of the Santoni calfskin strap, the shimmering blue sun-pattern finish on the dial underscores the exclusive character of this timepiece. If we look more closely, we discover three separate windows, arranged in a semicircle at “12 o’clock”, which show the month, date and day of the week. A year after the launch of the annual calendar, this is the first Pilot’s Watch to feature this particular complication. The advance mechanism requires correction just once a year, in February.

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And that is unfortunate, one is tempted to say, because the big, chunky, cone-shaped crown simply cries out to be used for resetting the watch. And with a 7-day power reserve – the display is in the subdial to the right – there is little opportunity for winding the watch. The counter to the left shows the seconds. The exquisite appearance of the watch is underpinned not least by thoughtful details such as the white and red gold outlines of the hands, numerals and appliqués, the polished bezel on the satin-finished case and the beige-coloured ornamental seams on the strap. The hands and indicators are coated with white Super-LumiNova®* and guarantee excellent legibility even when visibility is poor.


MOMENTUM FROM THE LITTLE PRINCE AND HIS PLANET

The Little Prince” is one of the world’s most widely read books. Millions of young and older readers have been enthralled by the fairy tale. Now, for the seventh time, IWC Schaffhausen is producing a special edition of the bestseller and immortalizes the little prince on the reverse side of the Big Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince”.

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Through the big sapphire-glass back, the little prince can be seen standing on his tiny asteroid – the rotor – and staring at the heavens with wide-open eyes. The tiny, flower-bedecked asteroid is the weight that revolves eccentrically around its own axis. Free-standing, and acting to a certain extent as a counterweight, the hero of the tale rotates too, the movement an image reflecting the little prince’s odyssey. It takes him from one unusual inhabitant to the next, until finally he lands back on his home planet with his beloved rose.

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Based on a drawing by Saint-Exupéry himself, the rotor involved an enormous amount of intricate design and was finally crafted in solid red gold. The interplay of sandblasted and polished surfaces on the rotor brings every single detail of the sketch to life.

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The IWC-manufactured 52850 calibre has twin barrels to deliver the higher torque needed to drive the annual calendar’s three display discs. In addition, when fully wound, the two barrels supply enough energy for a full week’s power reserve.


IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN AND THE FONDATION ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY

IWC Schaffhausen has been a partner of the Fondation Antoine de Saint-Exupéry since 2005. The foundation works closely with Sipar in Cambodia, a non-governmental organization that equips school and mobile libraries with reading material, and supplies literature to remote areas. Through this cooperation and thanks to the commitment of IWC Schaffhausen, two school buildings with libraries were opened in 2014 and offer an education to 1,200 children. On top of this, a school building with its own library has also been constructed in the village of Roluosin Siem Reap province. Last year, new recreation rooms and a modern library were inaugurated at the children’s hospital in Curitiba, Brazil.

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IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN AND THE “LE PETIT PRINCE” SPECIAL EDITION

For 3 years now, Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has taken up the theme of the little prince in special editions. With these, IWC pays tribute to one of the bestselling books in literary history, written by legendary writer, pilot and adventurer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It all started in 2013, when the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince” (Ref. IW502802) and the Pilot’s Watch Mark XVII Edition “Le Petit Prince” (Ref. IW326506) were launched in honour of the world-famous story’s 70th anniversary. A unique example of the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince” (Ref. IW502801) in platinum was auctioned by Sotheby’s in Geneva. The record sum of CHF 173,000 it raised went to the Fondation Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which used it to further the humanitarian heritage of the Frenchman. The series of special limited editions of “Le Petit Prince” continued in 2014 with the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Le Petit Prince” (Ref. IW377706) and the Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Le Petit Prince” (Ref. IW500908). In 2015, IWC Schaffhausen presented the Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Le Petit Prince” (Ref. IW500909) in red gold in a limited edition of 250 watches. That same year, IWC Schaffhausen launched the new Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Edition“ Le Petit Prince” (Ref. IW371807) with an innovative day display in the form of a circle comprising seven stars.

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Technical Specifications

Model: BIG PILOT’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince” Limited edition of 250 watches

Ref: IW502701 Case in 18-carat red gold case, blue dial, dark brown calfskin strap by Santoni, 18-carat red gold folding clasp

FEATURES
    Mechanical movement
    Pellaton automatic winding
    Power reserve display
    Annual calendar with date, day and month displays
    Small hacking seconds at “9 o’clock”
    Indexless Glucydur®* beryllium alloy balance with high-precision adjustment screws on the rim
    Breguet spring
    See-through sapphire-glass back
    Glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure
    18-carat gold rotor
    Limited edition of 250 watches
MOVEMENT
    IWC-manufactured calibre: 52850
    Frequency: 28,800 A/h | 4 Hz
    Jewels: 36
    Power reserve: 7 days (168 h)
    Winding: Automatic
WATCH
    Materials: 18-carat red gold case, blue dial
    Glass: Sapphire glass, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
    Water-resistant: 6 bar
    Diameter: 46 mm
    Height: 15.5 mm
STRAP
Dark brown calfskin strap by Santoni, 18-carat red gold folding clasp


* IWC Schaffhausen is not the owner of the Super-LumiNova® trademark.

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Further Information
Clemens von Walzel
Department Manager Public Relations
Tel. +41 (0)52 235 79 29
E-mail clemens.vonwalzel@iwc.com
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Press releases 2016
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 IWC Schaffhausen
Uwe Liebminger
Department Manager Public Relations
Mobile  +41 (0)79 957 72 52
E-mail  uwe.liebminger@iwc.com
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RJ-Romain Jerome – BATMAN-DNA Gotham City Limited Edition














RJ-Romain Jerome BATMAN-DNA Gotham City Limited Edition NEW

THE CAPED CRUSADER IS AT IT AGAIN!

RJ-Romain Jerome returns by enriching its Batman-DNA collection with a new collectible timepiece - the Batman-DNA Gotham City - to please fans and collectors. In collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, on behalf of DC Entertainment, the new limited edition pays tribute to the city and its strong aesthetics.

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True to the original model, the Batman-DNA Gotham City timepiece is enhanced with the facetted bezel in black PVD-coated steel, reminiscent of the Batmobile. Each of the facets, either sand-blasted or polished, has been hand-finished and given RJ typical “rough” effect to mimic the roughness of Gotham City.

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The bezel gives way to an all-black and sophisticated dial built on three layers. Thanks to a great 3D effect, Gotham City seems to be coming out of the dial. This striking perspective of Gotham City’s buildings is the result of a complex engraving process.

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Batman sits on the top of the dial as if he is watching over Gotham City. The black sand-blasted applique with a polished and hand-chamfered outline conveys the power and strength of Batman, who dominates the scene and the entire timepiece.

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At night, Gotham City comes alive thanks to a strong blue Superluminova, lighting up the hand-applied Batman applique and showcasing Gotham City’s different personalities.

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Inspired by The Dark Knight trilogy, the Batman-DNA Gotham City timepiece is limited to 75 pieces in honor of the iconic DC Comics Super Hero.

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ABOUT WARNER BROS. CONSUMER PRODUCTS
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licen-
sing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

ABOUT DC ENTERTAINMENT
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman,
The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integra-
ting its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert
with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but
not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing
thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is one of the largest
English-language publishers of comics in the world.

ABOUT RJ
Air, earth, sea, collaborations : RJ-Romain Jerome offers the raw energy of imagination to those who are
capable of nurturing their most secret dreams. Born at the dawn of the 3rd millennium, RJ-Romain Jerome
creates the watches of the new horological era. The magic of the Moon, the power of lava, underwater
mysteries and creative collaborations are the poetic driving forces behind this artistic explosion.
Whether through recovering steel from the Titanic or from the Apollo 11 spacecraft, mingling silver with moon
dust or sculpting volcano lava, RJ-Romain Jerome asserts its iconoclastic spirit and electrifies tradition by
celebrating contemporary legends. Its approach is characterized by a blend of raw character and elaborate
refinement, drawing as much on the roar of an erupting volcano as on the writings of H.G. Wells.
A taste for an all-conquering spirit and visionary avant-gardism merge with the realm of the imagination in
the “Air”, “Earth”, “Sea” or “Collaborations” collections. These worlds exalt contemporary horizons through
a resolutely masculine and contemporary touch. From the ocean depths to the immensity of space, from
incandescent lava to age-old minerals and metals, the RJ-Romain Jerome collections are far more than
just astonishing watches: they define a new era in watchmaking.
Offering every man a chance to explore a dreamlike new dimension, they also embody the values of their time :
a sense of distinctiveness, a need for speed, and a spectacular yet discreetly sophisticated aura of virility.
Air, earth, sea and collaborations: it is now up to everyone to find his own universe, and to give substance
to his dream and to his own vision of Time.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Model: BATMAN-DNA Gotham CityBlack |Collection GENERATIONAL ICONS | Universe COLLABORATIONS 

Reference RJ.T.AU.WB.001.02

Movement
Caliber: RJ001-A
Mechanical self winding movement
Frequency: 28,800 v/h
Jewelling : 23 jewels
Power reserve: 42 hours
Water resistance: 3atm (30 meters)
Functions: Central hours & minutes
Case Ø 46 mm
Black PVD-coated steel
Case back: Batman medallion engraved on the case back with RJ’s “rough” finish
Bezel: Faceted black PVD-coated, polished and satin-brushed steel
Paws: Faceted black PVD-coated and satin-finished steel
Lugs: Black PVD-coated satin-brushed steel
Crown: Black-PVD-coated steel screw-lock crown with black rubber
Dial
3D map of Gotham city filled with black Superluminova C1 “blue emission”
Satin-finished RJ applique
Batman logo applique
Hands: Black satin-brushed hands with Superluminova C1 “blue emission”
Flank: Black PVD-coated satin-finished steel 
Strap Black hornback crocodile with black PVD-coated steel folding clasp

Limited edition 75 pieces

Retail price: CHF 15’950.-* / EUR 17’950.-*/ USD 19’500.-*

*Suggested retail price. RJ-Romain Jerome reserves the right to change prices without prior notice

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