IWC “Le Petit Prince” Unique Piece Funds School in Cambodia

Back in November, IWC Schaffhausen made headlines when it auctioned off the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince” for charity. This week the luxury watchmaker saw that project come to fruition with the opening of two new school buildings in Roluos, Cambodia funded by the sale of that unique platinum timepiece.

When the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince” went under the Gavel at a Sotheby’s auction late last year, it brought in CHF173,000 (approximately US$189,000). Those funds went directly to the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, a charity IWC has worked closely with since 2006.

The foundation, which was created by “Le Petit Prince” author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s heirs, helps disadvantaged young people around the world by financing local education initiatives.

The two new buildings at the Hun Sen Roluos Primary School will help combat illiteracy in a country where almost two-thirds of the population is unable to read. One of the school buildings was renovated and the second was newly built. The project also included the funding of a new mobile library, which will visit more remote villages.

The buildings were inaugurated by UNESCO representatives, local government officials, French delegates and representatives of the media. Georges Kern, CEO of IWC, commented on the project, “We take our social responsibility very seriously and believe that every human being is entitled to an education. We are especially grateful for this opportunity to contribute to the education of the youngest generation with the school and mobile library.”

The watch that made all this possible is the platinum Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince”. The midnight blue dial of this unique piece features hours and minutes, as well as the date, day and month, and a depiction of the Little Prince with his signature shock of blonde hair and fluttering scarf standing on his tiny planet as part of the moon phase display at 12 o’clock. The Little Prince is also engraved on an 18K gold medallion set in the rotor, visible via the sapphire crystal caseback.

Photos courtesy IWC.