IWC Schaffhausen auctions exclusive watch to raise funds for children's hospital

Geneva, 27 November 2014 – A rare model from Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen was among the exclusive timepieces sold at the Important Watches auction held by Sotheby’s Geneva. The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “The Last Flight” in platinum went under the hammer for CHF 40,000. The entire proceeds will benefit the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, which will use them to provide financial support to a children’s hospital in Brazil.

The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “The Last Flight” in platinum (Ref. IW388005) is a special limited-edition watch produced by IWC Schaffhausen to commemorate Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s last flight 70 years ago. The magnificent timepiece with its brown ceramic case made from silicon nitride, brown dial and calfskin strap in the same colour is exquisitely finished with platinum push-buttons and a platinum crown and case back. The exquisite silky-matte finish of the case is complemented by the elaborate sunpattern finish on the dial. With the auction of this fine watch, available in an edition of just 17 pieces, IWC Schaffhausen strengthens its long-term commitment to Saint-Exupéry’s heirs and is donating the entire sum to the charitable Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation. The sale, which took place as part of the Important Watches auction held by Sotheby’s Geneva on 11 November 2014, raised CHF 40,000, all of which will go to the children’s hospital Pequeno Príncipe in Curitiba, Brazil. “This auction is a part of our company’s social responsibility and a reinforcement of the humanist values championed by the famous French pilot and writer,” commented Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen. “In the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation we support an organization that has a huge international network and does an incredible amount for disadvantaged children with its local projects.” The children’s hospital in Brazil that will benefit from the donation is a respected centre specializing in highly complex heart operations, organ and bone transplants and cancer treatment. Thanks to IWC’s contribution, the hospital’s recreational area will soon have a library to offer its young patients.

READING MATERIAL AT THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Olivier d’Agay, great-nephew of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Director Saint-Exupéry – d’Agay Estate, was delighted by the result of the auction. “The successful bidder can rest assured that we will put his contribution to the best possible use. Our aim is to provide books, computers and e-books that will motivate severely tested children to discover reading and culture and encourage them to make constructive use of their free time. It’s a way for us to support cultural and educational programmes in the hospital, and benefits not only the children receiving treatment but also their siblings and other family members.” In the course of its long-standing partnership with the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, IWC Schaffhausen has joined forces with Sotheby’s on several occasions to auction watches for good causes. Last year, for example, the proceeds from the auction of a Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Le Petit Prince” were put to work in Cambodia, where two school buildings with their own library now offer an education to 1,200 children.

IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN
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 climate and environmental protection.