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To mark 20 years of its collaboration with the heirs of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, IWC expands its Le Petit Prince lineup with new Pilot’s Watch Chronograph editions in steel and white ceramic. Blending deep blue sunray dials and signature storytelling details!

One of the main themes for Watches & Wonders 2026 for IWC Schaffhausen is celebrating 20 years of its collaboration with the heirs of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry through a new range of Le Petit Prince anniversary editions. While there are quite a few timepieces dedicated to Le Petit Prince shown during this year’s convention, one of the standouts for me is the new Pilot’s Chronograph collection.

IWC Schaffhausen is presenting this Pilot’s Chronograph collection with three new timepieces. Two stainless steel editions are presented in either a 43mm or 41mm case size, while a brand new 41mm white ceramic model also makes an appearance. All three timepieces feature the iconic deep blue sunray dials that have become a hallmark of IWC’s special editions dedicated to Le Petit Prince.

For 20 years, IWC has collaborated with the heirs of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, honouring the French Pilot and author’s humanist values and his literary legacy through a number of special edition timepieces. And of course, at the heart of this collaboration is Le Petit Prince, Saint-Exupéry’s most famous literary work, which has been translated into more than 650 languages and dialects.

For those that may not know, the timeless story follows a young prince as he leaves his tiny asteroid and journeys through the cosmos, encountering different characters and uncovering deeper truths about love, friendship, and loss. This beautiful story, combined with Saint-Exupéry’s own background in aviation, has made Le Petit Prince a natural fit for the IWC Pilots Chronograph collection.

What initially began as a tribute to Saint-Exupéry’s literary work has grown into one of IWC’s most beloved signature design themes. The deep blue dial editions inspired by Le Petit Prince have become a signature element of the partnership, and now, whenever we see timepieces dedicated to this story, the defining moment is the dial execution. And now, for the 2026 20th anniversary models, IWC continues that tradition, using the signature Le Petit Prince design language across a range of case sizes, while the chronographs bring that same spirit into one of the brand’s most popular Pilot’s Watch formats.

A Modern Expression Of The Pilot’s Watch

IWC Schaffhausen is offering the Le Petit Prince Pilots Chronograph in two variations. Firstly, we get the standard stainless steel editions in either 43mm or 41mm case sizes. Then we are presented with a first for the Swiss watchmaker, a new 41mm Pilot’s Chronograph in white ceramic. This isn’t the first time the brand has done a white ceramic edition, but rather it’s the first in this case material to be offered in a 41mm case size.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “Lake Tahoe”

Previously, IWC presented the Pilots Chornograph in white ceramic in their 2022 Lake Tahoe Edition, which came in a 44.5 case size and a full black dial. Taking inspiration from this timepiece, IWC has now combined the Le Petit Prince design with the white ceramic to present a beautiful new rendition of the iconic Pilots Chronograph timepiece.

While it may be hard to photograph at certain angles on the wrist, the watch is just gorgeous in person. The matte look of the white ceramic case is actually quite perfect for this model, purely because it allows the metallic dial with the sunburst finish to not only contrast, but also stand out beautifully. The case in white ceramic looks and feels like a very contemporary design, and while you may not get the polished and brushed surface finishing of the steel variant, you can still see the outlines of the case nicely with its matte finish.

A signature design element of IWC’s ceramic pieces, which in this case references the Lake Tahoe edition released in 2022, is the chronograph pushers and crown being done in steel. This helps retain part of a traditional aesthetic within a very contemporary design. The 41mm case is certainly welcome, especially in my case, where I have slightly slimmer wrists (16cm). While the 44.5mm is not the worst fit, the 41mm certainly sits a lot nicer, with the lugs just extending to the contours of my wrist.

The rubber strap also makes for a comfortable experience and, in my opinion, helps in achieving the right fit. It does elevate the wearing experience, as the rubber is really comfortable to wear, especially in hot climates, as we have in Australia. What the white rubber strap also does is elevate the timepiece aesthetically. Having a white strap to match the white ceramic case means that it is a lot more prominent on the wrist.

Let’s face it, this is not exactly a watch built to fly under the radar, so why not go all the way with the look? Instead of fitting a blue strap or any other colour, it makes more sense to me to have this visual aesthetic. Is this a timepiece you can wear daily? Maybe, maybe not. It is bold, it is a head turner. It is a watch that you wear out for nicer events, but that should not stop you from wearing it when you like. With the full white look, it is a bit more versatile compared to other colours, other than black or grey, which means that it should complement most outfits nicely.

Then we have the stainless steel editions in both 41 and 43mm sizes. These timepieces follow the same design as the previous Pilot’s Chronograph models, while offering a more versatile size range to cater to both small and large wrist sizes. The only difference here is that the steel versions does present a more wearable daily option compared to the white ceramic. The models are also presented on a blue strap, which in this case makes perfect sense as it matches the Le Petit Prince dials perfectly.

Le Petit Prince Design Through A Chronograph Lens

The Le Petit Prince is presented in the signature Le Petit Prince midnight blue dial; however, I found that its sunburst effect is a bit more subtle in low light conditions (or even artificial light), but in natural light, it certainly shows up more. What gets highlighted on the dial are the metallic subdials, which have a more prominent effect. The midnight blue of the Le Petit Prince collection also feels like it slightly varies from model to model, with this chronograph edition having a slightly darker tone compared to, say, the perpetual calendar variant.

I have always been a fan of the blue and white colour combination, and I feel like this model really nails that aesthetic. The two colours work together beautifully to achieve a striking visual, while the AR coating also gives the dial, or crystal, a slight blue tinge at certain angles, which adds further to the blue aesthetic of the watch.

Having the day and date wheels colour-matched to the dial could perhaps present a more balanced aesthetic, but I think in this case it can be justified, as with the IWC logo in white sitting above, it helps the date features not feel out of place on the dial.

The signature Pilot’s chronograph Arabic numerals for the indices, along with the bold minute track, are retained here, and while this can make the dial appear busier, it actually works really well against the white ceramic case. Unlike the steel variant, which features gold-tipped hands, this white ceramic model features rhodium-plated or steel-toned hands. While I would have liked to have seen a bit more colour, I think this works well too, as it allows the white Super LumiNova to take centre stage, which, with the white ceramic model being an overly white-themed timepiece, fits in nicely with the overall aesthetic.

High Performance Chronograph For A Timeless Story

This new Le Petit Price Pilots Chronograph collection boasts two of IWC’s high-performance calibre movements. Firstly, the steel editions both feature the IWC Calibre 69385, which uses a classic column wheel design and is generally seen as the more “premium” chronograph movement in the brand’s lineup. The movement operates at a high-frequency of 4Hz (28,800 VpH), while delivering a power reserve of 46 hours. The movement uses a bi-directional pawl winding system, which helps to efficiently convert the wrist movement into stored energy!

For the white ceramic Le Petite Prince Pilots Chronograph, the heart of the watch is the Calibre 69380. This movement, like the Calibre 69385, belongs to IWC’s 69 calibre family, which was developed as part of the brand’s modern in-house chronograph movement program. Being engineered for robustness, reliability, and durability, the movement also emphasizes practical everyday performance, rather than the aesthetic design we see on the dial. It features the same performance specs as the Calibre 69385, boasting a 4Hz frequency and a 46-hour power reserve.

The Calibre 69380 was also used in IWC’s previous ceramic Pilot’s Chronograph timepieces, most notably, the TOP GUN, Mojave Desert, Oceana editions, and more recently, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 George Russell. The calibre is part of what makes these ceramic models more than just material showcases, because the movement itself is built to deliver the same tool watch credibility expected from the Pilot’s Watch line.

Initial Thoughts

IWC’s new Le Petit Prince timepieces across the range feel like a fitting way for the brand to celebrate 20 years of its collaboration with the heirs of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. For the Pilots Chronograph range, IWC has updated it with subtle tweaks, and the new ceramic 41mm in white is surely a welcome edition in this case size.

The deep blue sunray dial, a signature design of Le Petit Prince editions, feels just as charming and distinctive today as it did when the partnership between the two first began. What’s more important is that IWC hasn’t simply opted for a colour change for this collaboration, but rather expanded the offering with different case sizes and materials, allowing the Le Petit Prince editions to have a broader range within the Pilots Chronograph collection.

My personal favourite out of the three editions has to be the ceramic model. While its new case size certainly helps to accommodate smaller wrists like mine, it’s more the beautiful colour contrast between the white ceramic case and the deep blue Le Petit Prince dial. The matte white ceramic gives the watch an even more contemporary and striking presence on the wrist, making it stand out nicely on the wrist.

For me, it is the model that best balances modern materials, everyday wearability, and the emotional charm of the Le Petit Prince design. The collection as a whole, however, ties Saint Exupéry’s world of aviation, exploration, and imagination back to the core identity of the Pilot’s Watch collection, and that’s why these new timepieces work so well!

Reference: IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Le Petite Prince 43mm (IWIC378011) / 41mm (IWIC388120)

Specifications:

Australian Retail Price: AUD $12,700 (43mm Ref. IW378011), AUD $12,200 (41mm Ref. IW388120)

Availability: Available through IWC Schaffhausen boutiques and authorised retailers. For more information, please head to IWC.com.au

Reference: IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Le Petite Prince 41mm White Ceramic ((IWIC389410)

Specifications:

Australian Retail Price: AUD $19,000

Availability: Available through IWC Schaffhausen boutiques and authorised retailers. For more information, please head to IWC.com.au