Schaffhausen, 21 February 2019 – IWC Schaffhausen and Bradley Cooper are proud to announce a unique charity project. When attending the upcoming Academy Awards® ceremony, the actor and IWC brand ambassador will wear a Big Pilot’s Watch Single Piece with a one-of-a-kind engraving. This watch will then be auctioned by Sotheby’s and IWC will donate its full proceeds to the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation. With the funds, the foundation will support the association Arrimage, a charitable organization that focuses on teaching visually impaired children how to read drawings using their sense of touch.
Bradley Cooper became a brand ambassador for IWC in 2018. Among other projects, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer has produced a worldwide advertising campaign with the renowned actor. Cooper co-wrote, directed, produced and stars in “A Star is Born”. The film has received eight Oscar® nominations: “Best Actor in a Leading Role,” “Best Picture,” “Best Adapted Screenplay,” “Best Actress in a Leading Role,” “Best Actor in a Supporting Role,” “Best Original Song,” “Best Cinematography,” and “Best Sound Mixing.” The American actor previously earned Oscar® nominations for his critically acclaimed performances in “Silver Linings Playbook,” “American Hustle” and “American Sniper”.
A BIG PILOT’S WATCH SINGLE PIECE WITH A SPECIAL ENGRAVING
During the Academy Awards® ceremony on February 24 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Bradley Cooper will be wearing a Big Pilot’s Watch Single Piece (Ref. IW500923). The timepiece features a midnight blue dial and is housed in a case made of 18-carat 5N gold. It is powered by the IWC-manufactured 51111-caliber movement. In no time at all, the spring-mounted rotor and Pellaton pawl-winding system build up a power reserve of seven days. On the case back, there is a one-off engraving of the iconic quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s “The Little Prince”: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly“.
IWC’S PROCEEDS DONATED TO THE ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPÉRY YOUTH FOUNDATION
IWC will donate its proceeds from the auction to the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, helping it to support the association Arrimage in Nice, France. The association was established by Dr. Claude Garrandes, a blind French artist and teacher. One of its main projects focuses on teaching visually-impaired children how to read drawings in two-dimensional relief through the sense of touch. To do this, it uses the first-ever tactile art book of embossed illustrations of “The Little Prince” that it created. Thanks to teaching tools created by Arrimage, blind children are also given the opportunity to learn how to draw themselves.
“Supporting disabled children and adolescents is one of the cornerstones of our CSR effort. I am pleased that, together with our brand ambassador Bradley Cooper, and the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, we have the opportunity to support the association Arrimage.”
The auction is organized by Sotheby’s. Starting February 22, 11am EST/ 4pm GMT and until March 4, 11am EST/ 4pm GMT, bids for the Big Pilot’s Watch Single Piece(Ref. IW500923) can be placed online on:
www.sothebys.com/buy/35534ada-d5f9-4995-9009-0907378eda44
The starting bid is set at 16,000 Dollars. A personal note signed by Bradley Cooper will accompany the timepiece.
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 organizations dedicated to environmental protection.
