The Wind Up: IWC’s Princely Take on the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph

Hello and welcome to this week’s instalment of The Wind Up. For newcomers, my name’s Rob, and it’s a pleasure to be with you. I’m responsible for all things watches in Man of Many’s neck of the woods, and here, it’s my privilege to provide a rundown of all the horological encounters, events, and releases that have caught my eye over the past seven days.

Recently, I spent some time with the Le Petit Prince incarnation of IWC’s Pilot’s Watch Chronograph. Is it worth the extra cash to have the little fellow printed on the watch’s display caseback? The answer surprised me. This past week also included all the drama of the 26th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG – the Oscars of watchmaking), which saw Rexhep Rexhepi win big. In a more accessible development, I’ve been sorely tempted to pick up one of Studio Underd0g’s new 04SERIES. If you haven’t seen them, read on, because they are really quite something. Particularly the Arabian Sky colourway. At the time of writing, I have less than two days to decide whether or not to pull the trigger.

Of course, there’s been plenty of other watch news as well. And so, as always, there’s no time like the present and not a second to waste, so let’s crack on with the latest edition of Man of Many’s The Wind Up.

On The Wrist: IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Le Petit Prince

I recently had the good fortune to spend some quality time with IWC’s Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Le Petit Prince. It’s a special edition that was launched at Watches and Wonders 2026, and while I expected to come away saying, “Yes, it’s a good watch, but stick with the standard Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41,” I instead had a somewhat different take.

I’ve long admired IWC’s Pilot’s watches. Although they tend to run quite large, so they’re not watches I’ve spent much time with. This 41-mm stainless-steel piece sits at the lower end of the brand’s chronograph size spectrum, but it’s about as much as my 6.7-inch wrist can manage. That said, I can just about manage it, and I grew quite fond of it during our time together.

While the 41-mm diameter is one thing, at 14.5 mm thick, it’s not exactly slim either. The sizing isn’t uncommon for a watch with this kind of functionality, but ideally, I’d love to see IWC shave a millimetre here or there. Still, it’s not a dealbreaker.

The watch makes use of the real estate with some lovely execution. The dial’s realised in a deep-blue sunburst, which catches the light handsomely, while crisp white numerals and indices keep things easy to read. Atop this pool of blue, the gold-plated hands are a particularly tasteful addition not found on the traditional Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41. They provide a warmth that elevates the whole affair. Plus, they’re filled with Super-LumiNova, further aiding legibility.

Flip the watch over, and there’s a blue-tinted sapphire caseback that depicts the Little Prince himself, surrounded by a planet, two stars and the words “Le Petit Prince”. To be completely honest, it’s a detail that doesn’t add much for me. I’m sure it works if you have nostalgia for The Little Prince from your childhood, but I’d rather have an unobstructed view of the IWC-manufactured 69385 calibre.

It’s a clean and classic-looking chronograph movement rather than anything particularly ornate, but I’d still appreciate a good look at it. Oh well. While we’re on the subject, the movement boasts a 46-hour power reserve, which isn’t a huge amount, but it’s enough to provide something of a buffer in your watch rotation.

Finally, the watch is finished with a comfortable blue rubber strap that can be easily swapped thanks to IWC’s EasX-CHANGE system. Normally I’d opt for a bracelet or a leather strap, but I liked this rubber option. It felt comfortable and sturdy (two adjectives that are not always compatible), and it upped the watch’s sporty look.

Overall, I’m surprised to say that I think the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Le Petit Prince is a step up from IWC’s standard 41-mm Pilot’s Watch Chronograph (itself no slouch). In particular, the use of gold plating across the hands delivers a more premium feel, and at just $100 more than the standard model (admittedly also exchanging a calfskin strap for a rubber one), this would be my choice, which I did not expect.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Le Petit Prince Key Specs:

• Reference: IW388120
• Case: Stainless steel
• Diameter: 41 mm
• Thickness: 14.5 mm
• Water resistance: 100 metres
• Dial: Blue sunburst with white numerals and indices, and gold-plated hands filled with Super-LumiNova
• Crystal: Convex sapphire with antireflective coating on both sides
• Caseback: Tinted sapphire crystal with an engraved depiction of the Little Prince, a planet and two stars
• Strap: Blue rubber with the EasX-CHANGE system
• Movement: IWC-manufactured Calibre 69385
• Power reserve: 46 hours
• Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
• Functions: Chronograph (hours, minutes, seconds), day and date display, small hacking seconds
• Price: AU$12,600

Studio Underd0g’s Weekend Warrior

I didn’t have buying another watch on my to-do list for the tail end of 2026, and yet here I am sorely tempted to pick up one of Studio Underd0g’s latest creations.

The 04SERIES features a bespoke automatic movement, a weekend indicator, a retrograde pointer date, and a moonphase indicator. Studio Underd0g describes it as “A jack of all trades, and master of fun.” Cute. Of course, none of these functions are essential, nor will they make much of a difference in your day-to-day life, but that’s never really the point with watches, is it?

Do I need my watch’s dial to tell me when the weekends fall throughout each month? No. Am I glad there’s a ring of chamfered windows around the edge of the dial that mark out every weekend lined up with the dates? Yes, I am.

The watch comes in two sizes (37 mm and 38.5 mm), with the latter simply appearing to have a slightly thicker bezel, and it’s also available in four different colours. They all look great and are as bold in their palette as you would expect from Studio Underd0g. However, for my money, the winner is undoubtedly the Arabian Sky variant. With its gold dial, turquoise detailing, and dark green strap, it’s just an absolute stunner.

In Other Watch News…

Rexhep Rexhepi Wins Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix at GPHG

This week saw Rexhep Rexhepi’s Chronograph Flyback win the prestigious Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix at the 26th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG).

The platinum chronograph features a hand-finished, manually wound movement, a grand feu enamel dial and a CHF 150,000 price tag. The 38.8-mm platinum case measures just 9.7 mm thick, framing a storm-blue grand feu enamel dial with three smoked sapphire subdials that offer a glimpse of the mechanics positioned just beneath the surface. The dial takes inspiration from vintage pocket-watch chronographs, while the exposed registers reveal parts of the movement without turning the entire face into a skeletonised display.

As if all that wasn’t ambitious enough, this is Rexhep Rexhepi’s first flyback chronograph, and it’s powered by an entirely new manually wound calibre. For those unfamiliar, a flyback chronograph sets itself apart from a conventional chronograph in that it can be reset and restarted with a single pusher press.

Anyway, congratulations to Mr Rexhepi. One can only wonder how he’s going to follow up this enormous achievement.

TAG Heuer Launches Aquaracer Professional 300 Sundowner II

Following a sold-out 2024 collaboration, TAG Heuer and Australian watch publication/retailer Time+Tide have reunited for the Aquaracer Professional 300 Sundowner II.

Limited to 500 pieces worldwide, this titanium take on TAG’s dive watch features a 42-mm case, COSC-certified automatic movement, 80-hour power reserve, and 300 metres of water resistance. Given the low production numbers and the Australian appetite for all things TAG Heuer, you can expect this one to sell out quickly.

If you’d like to get one of your own, they’re available now from AUD $7,700 for the rubber-strap version and AUD $8,650 for the titanium bracelet.

Vacheron Constantin Fiftysix Collection

This past week, Vacheron Constantin refreshed its Fiftysix collection with a slick pair of retro references sporting two-tone grey tuxedo dials, updated case finishes, and new leather straps.

The Fiftysix Self-Winding and Complete Calendar feature contrasting light and dark sections upon their sector dials, making them look particularly slick when positioned side by side. Both watches retain their 40 mm stainless-steel cases, although the maison has updated the finishing with vertically brushed case sides and lugs, polished bevels, and a polished bezel. The mix of textures adds a touch of flamboyance to the more formal grey tuxedo dials.

Both models are available in Australia, starting at AUD$22,300 for the Self-Winding and AUD$52,500 for the Complete Calendar.