IWC brings the Le Petite Prince to the stars with new Portofino Day & Night 34 Le Petite Prince
Andrew O'Connor- IWC releases new Portofino Day & Night 34 model with long-time collaborator Le Petit Prince.
- Featuring the iconic blue dial often used with the IWC Le Petit Prince watches, gold hands and indices, diamond markers, and a day-night indicator bring a sense of whimsy.
- Released as part of Watches and Wonders 2026 – pricing is TBC.
In the recent past, IWC had a consistent flow of Le Petite Prince collaboration models, especially within the Pilot collection. If you wanted a blue dial Pilot’s watch, it was likely going to be a Le Petite Prince model, which was a great tie-in between IWC and the famous novel. These collaborative models never fully went away, but with the arrival of the Mark XX Pilot, IWC released the updated models with blue dials without the Le Petit Prince collaboration. 2026 brings in a slew of new Le Petite Prince models from IWC, including a new Portofino Day & Night model that I think is a fun tie-in with the astronomical and more whimsical aspects of the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry novel.
The new IWC Portofino Day & Night 34 Le Petit Prince takes on the platform of the Portofino Day & Night 34 model released in 2022. Measuring 34mm in diameter, 8.9mm thick, with 16mm lugs and quick-release spring bars, it is most certainly a diminutive model. Front and centre is a sunray blue dial, with gold-plated hands and indices. There are baton indices for the hour markers with a Roman numeral twelve at the top of the dial. At six o’clock is the day-night indication disk clad in a brushed blue finish, with the sun, moon, and stars printed in gold. Adding to the sparkle of the dial are diamond indices on the outer minute track, accenting each of the hour markers. The overall effect elicits feelings of the interactions of the Astronomer and the Prince in the story. Covering all of the sparkle is a convex sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating on both sides.
Inside is the automatic IWC calibre 35180. Operating at 28,800 bph with 24 jewels, a 50-hour power reserve, hacking and hand-winding in addition to the day-night indication, the 35180 is modified from a SW300-1 base. The movement remains hidden behind a solid case back, but any loss in excitement of being able to view the movement is replaced with an engraving of the Le Petit Prince cover artwork. The watch is secured to the wrist with a hand-dyed blue calfskin strap with quick-release spring bars and a butterfly deployant clasp.
Concluding thoughts
Despite the broader watch market saying otherwise, I’ve never been one to automatically gravitate towards blue-dialled watches. However, when there was a distinct lack of new Le Petit Prince models, I was a little sad, as I thought it was a fun and whimsical collaboration for IWC. I’m glad to see them back and expanded beyond the Pilot’s line. This model is clearly intended for a more feminine clientele, but I can see this worn by anyone with a penchant for small watches. As mentioned earlier, the Pilot’s models clearly tie in with the narrator, but I get the feeling that this is the model built for the little prince himself.
IWC Portofino Day & Night 34 Le Petit Prince pricing and availability
The IWC Portofino Day & Night 34 Le Petit Prince is available now for purchase. Price: TBC
| Brand | IWC |
| Model | Portofino Day & Night 34 Le Petit Prince |
| Reference | IW459806 |
| Case Dimensions | 34mm (D) x 8.9mm (T) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 50 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Convex sapphire crystal, dual anti-reflective coating |
| Dial | Sunburst blue, diamond indices |
| Strap | Hand-dyed calfskin leather strap, steel butterfly folding buckle |
| Movement | IWC Calibre 35180, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 50 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, moonphase |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | TBC |