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IWC Schaffhausen’s “The Last Flight” Pilot’s Watch to be Auctioned by Sotheby’s

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October 2014



Sotheby’s Geneva and IWC Schaffhausen Renew their Partnership To Benefit the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, Marking 70 years Since the Last Flight of the Legendary Pilot and Writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

This November, during its sale of Important Watches, Sotheby’s Geneva will proudly offer for sale a special limited edition watch from the celebrated Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen.
The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “The Last Flight” (Ref. IW388005) has been designed to commemorate 70 years since the tragic death of celebrated writer and pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
The sale of the watch will take place during Sotheby’s auction of Important Watches on 11 November 2014, and all the proceeds will benefit the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, dedicated to supporting young people around the world.

Antoine de Saint Exupéry
Antoine de Saint Exupéry

The Last Flight
In 1944, Antoine de 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 a stunning limited-edition watch – the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “The Last Flight” (Ref. IW388005) number 01 out of 17 pieces – featuring a silicon nitride ceramic case with a special engraving goes under the hammer.

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

The proceeds from the sale will benefit the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, in support of the Hospital Pequeno Príncipe in Curitiba, Brazil’s largest children’s hospital. The fund will help to build a library for young patients of this centre, which specializes in highly complex heart operations, organ and bone transplants and cancer treatment.

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.

Looking ahead to the sale, Tim Bourne, Sotheby’s Worldwide Head of Watches said:
“This special edition Pilot’s Watch Chronograph is the perfect timepiece to commemorate a man whose legacy combines poetry and humanity with bold endeavor, continuing to inspire today. We are delighted to renew this partnership, and our contribution to the work of the Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, working hand in hand with IWC.”

Source: IWC Schaffhausen