IWC’s first pilot for 2021 has flown out of the hanger, and it’s a new take on one of the most interesting — and complex — offerings in the current pilot’s collection; the IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner “Le Petit Prince” special edition.

The Timezoner features a unique complication in the world of watches, one that IWC debuted on a chronograph model back in 2016. In 2018 it was realised in a less complicated chronograph-free version in the Spitfire family. And now it’s in blue. But before we talk about the colour change, let’s quickly recap how this world timer actually works.

Essentially the Timezoner is a dual time watch, with the second timezone displayed in 24-hour time via the aperture at the top of the dial. What makes the Timezoner more special than your run-of-the-mill GMT is how you change the time. Simply push in on the bezel to unlock it, and then rotate it to your preferred timezone and that time display will change in sync. An elegant solution that avoids the necessity of fiddling with crowns and the like. This unique system was pioneered by Vogard, and perfected by IWC, who mounted the bezel on a spring rather than use a lever, as the original design did.

The “Le Petit Prince” edition — unsurprisingly — brings blue to the table. The watch’s broad ceramic bezel, marked with cities of the world, is now in glossy blue ceramic, and the dial is the characteristic LPP starburst hue. It’s also worth noting that the Arabic hour markers are applied and are in the slightly more stylised typeface used on this collection, which creates a dynamic mix of utilitarian design and stylistic flair, helping it stand out on the wrist. Not that this 46mm watch really needed assistance in that area.

The IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Edition “Le Petit Prince” is a limited edition of 1500 pieces.

Read more about the Timezoner and how it works, here.