Established in 2009, the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation (FASEJ) works to preserve the humanist values of the famous French pilot and author. IWC begun a collaboration with the heirs of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in 2006 and became a partner to FASEJ on its inception in 2009.
To celebrate their successful partnership, IWC and FASEJ are organising a “10 years, 10 days” event in Paris, including an exhibition at the IWC boutique on Rue de la Paix from 10th–20th June, as well as an exclusive cocktail reception. The special exhibition features a carefully curated selection of historic artefacts and original photographs, and also honours the foundation’s vital work in various countries around the world over the last decade.
A particular highlight of the exhibition will be a Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Edition “Le Petit Prince” (Ref. IW392202) in 18-carat 5N gold. Featuring a spectacular midnight blue dial, this special edition is limited to 250 pieces worldwide. The auction lot itself is the piece 10 out of 250 with a beige luminescent index at 10 o’clock in celebration of the foundation’s 10th anniversary. Watch lovers around the world will be able to place bids on the unique timepiece honouring Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s most famous literary work, “The Little Prince”, from 8th–17th July.
The perpetual calendar, designed in the early 1980s by Kurt Klaus, contains more than 80 individual parts. Its mechanical program automatically recognises the differing lengths of the months and the watch even adds a leap day to the end of February every four years. Its smart mechanism will require no manual adjustment until 2100. The date, day, month, moon phase and year displays are perfectly synchronised and can be reset by simply turning the crown. The IWC-manufactured 89630 calibre combines this iconic complication with a chronograph function. The calendar's moon phase display has been integrated with the chronograph totaliser at 12 o’clock.
The timepiece will be offered within Sotheby’s Watches Online sale, open for bidding exclusively online from 8th–17th July. A "The Little Prince - Tactile Art Book, Claude Garrandes edition" with drawings in relief and texts in English, French and Braille and signed by François d’Agay, President of the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation and Dr Claude Garrandes will accompany the timepiece. For further information and to bid in the sale visit www.sothebys.com/watchesjuly
ABOUT THE ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY YOUTH FOUNDATION
The Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation (www.fasej.org), operating under the umbrella of the Fondation de France, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. It was created by the family of the famed French writer and pilot, and his admirers from across the literary, scientific and aerospace spheres. The foundation honours Saint-Exupéry’s memory and continues his work, by passing on his universal humanist values and broadcasting his messages of peace and solidarity, the challenge to better oneself, and his pioneering approach to the environment, to the youngest members of the community, both in France and internationally.
FASEJ is faithful to the spirit of the author and aviator when he encouraged us to build a society based on respect for our fellow humans, on cultural diversity, on solidarity, on universal fraternity, on commitment, and on personal responsibility. Its philanthropic actions in the fields of education and culture, and its aim to combat illiteracy, are undertaken to improve the daily lives of young people, helping them gain skills for a more successful future.
By launching the first international writing competition to be kicked off in space by the astronaut Thomas Pesquet; by helping to build schools and libraries in developing countries; by developing relief reproductions of the illustrations in The Little Prince for blind and visually impaired children with Professor Claude Garrandès; and by enabling ill and handicapped children to take to the skies, the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation is working to achieve its only goal: to keep the memory of The Little Prince alive and to share the literary works of its author, in order to give young people the skills of reflection, altruism, commitment, and an enlightened civic conscience.
With 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 organisations dedicated to environmental protection.
