IWC IW388006 "The Last Flight" Chronograph Guide

The IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph Edition "The Last Flight" IW388006 is a 46 mm case combining brown silicon-nitride ceramic with 18-carat red-gold pushers, crown and case back, worn on a brown calfskin strap, and built on IWC's automatic calibre 89361 chronograph movement. It belongs to IWC's long-running series of pilot's watches named for the French aviator and author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, whose disappearance on a reconnaissance flight in 1944 gives the "Last Flight" naming its meaning. This guide covers the specifications, where the IW388006 sits among IWC's other Saint-Exupéry editions, how the ceramic and gold case wears, price context and what to check before buying. Bizak & Co. sources the IW388006 to order; the chronographs collection lists the configurations we can seek.

Last reviewed on September 27, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.

IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph "The Last Flight" IW388006 specifications

Reference details cross-checked against general Swiss chronograph manufacturing standards published by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry.

Who was Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and why does IWC use his name?

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was a French aviator and the author of "The Little Prince," who flew reconnaissance missions for the Free French Air Force during the Second World War and disappeared over the Mediterranean on a flight in 1944; his disappearance is the "last flight" the IW388006's edition name references. IWC has produced pilot's watches under the Saint-Exupéry name for decades, generally in brown or earth tones evoking worn leather flight gear rather than the brand's brighter steel sports pilot's watches. The IW388006 is one of the more expensive and more heavily gem-and-precious-metal-finished pieces in that long series, pairing the ceramic case with red-gold accents rather than keeping to steel or titanium.

IW388006 vs other Saint-Exupéry editions: where it sits

The Saint-Exupéry name spans IWC's range from the accessible steel Mark XVIII to complicated Big Pilot's references; the IW388006 sits in the upper middle of that range, priced above the Double Chronograph but below the Big Pilot's Perpetual Calendar, reflecting the ceramic case and gold trim rather than any added complication over a standard chronograph.

What does silicon-nitride ceramic add over steel or titanium?

Silicon-nitride ceramic is harder and more scratch-resistant than steel or titanium, and it can be produced in colours, including the brown used here, that are difficult to achieve in metal cases. The trade-off is that ceramic is more brittle under a sharp impact than metal: a scratch is unlikely, but a hard knock against a hard edge can chip the material rather than dent it, and a chip cannot be polished out the way a metal scuff can. Buyers used to steel pilot's watches should treat the case with a little more care around edges and door frames than they would a steel case, in exchange for a surface that resists everyday scratching far better.

How does the IW388006 wear at 46 mm?

At 46 mm this is one of the larger cases IWC has fitted into a Pilot's Watch Chronograph line, closer to the Big Pilot's Watch scale than to the 41 or 43 mm chronographs in the standard range. The ceramic case is lighter than an equivalent steel case would be at the same size, which offsets some of the visual bulk, and the brown calfskin strap keeps the overall look closer to a vintage flight jacket than to a tool watch. Wrists under about 17 cm will likely find the 46 mm case reads large; IWC's smaller 41 mm Saint-Exupéry chronographs are the better fit for a smaller wrist looking for the same design language. The soft-iron inner case IWC uses across its Pilot's Watch range to shield the movement from magnetic fields is present here as well, which is a practical carryover from the line's flight-instrument origins rather than a feature specific to this edition.

Why IWC pairs brown ceramic with red gold

The brown-and-gold palette across IWC's Saint-Exupéry editions is deliberately evocative of worn leather flight jackets, aviator goggles and the era of long-distance postal aviation Saint-Exupéry himself flew, rather than the brighter steel-and-blue palette IWC uses on its more contemporary pilot's watches. Pairing a hard ceramic case in that brown tone with warm red-gold accents on the pushers, crown and case back was, at the time IW388006 was catalogued, one of the more expensive material combinations IWC offered in the line, which is reflected in its position above the steel Saint-Exupéry chronographs in the comparison table above. Buyers choosing between the ceramic-and-gold IW388006 and a steel Saint-Exupéry piece are largely choosing between that warmer, dressier material statement and a more conventional tool-watch presentation at a lower price point.

Price, availability and condition

Bizak & Co. sources watches to order; this catalogue entry is not confirmation that a specific example is on hand for immediate delivery. On 27 September 2026 our sourced catalogue listed the IW388006 at US$18,309 brand new, against US$9,499 for the steel Double Chronograph Saint-Exupéry edition and US$20,699 for the Big Pilot's Perpetual Calendar Saint-Exupéry edition, all sourced to order and subject to change. Before purchase we confirm the actual watch, recent photographs, condition, included accessories, price, warranty coverage and expected timing; compare any dated quote against shipping, applicable tax and financing cost. As a discontinued edition from IWC's earlier catalogues, IW388006 examples that reach the market are generally pre-owned or old stock rather than new production, so condition and completeness of the original box and papers matter more here than for a currently catalogued reference. Discontinued limited-run pilot's chronographs of this kind occasionally surface through specialist auction houses such as Phillips, where results are a useful reference point for provenance and demand even though Bizak's own sourced figure above is the more current, dated observation for planning a budget.

Is the IW388006 a good investment?

Buy it for the ceramic and gold case and the Saint-Exupéry story, not as a speculative flip. IWC's limited-run Saint-Exupéry editions have a dedicated following among pilot's watch collectors, but the market for a discontinued ceramic-cased chronograph is thinner and slower than for a current-production steel sports chronograph, and a full-set example with the original box, papers and any edition documentation will always be easier to place than a watch-only piece. Ask for a written cash-buy assessment before committing if resale matters to you. Because IWC periodically retires and replaces its Saint-Exupéry editions with new dial colours and case combinations, a discontinued piece like the IW388006 tends to appeal most to buyers specifically collecting the series across its material variations, rather than to buyers looking for the single most liquid IWC reference on the secondary market.

Buying a used IW388006: what to check

• Edition documentation. Ask for the original box, warranty card and any certificate specific to the edition; discontinued limited runs are not reissued by IWC.
• Ceramic case condition. Inspect closely for chips at the lugs, crown guard and case back edges under strong light; ceramic chips rather than scratches.
• Gold pushers and crown. Check the red-gold pushers and crown for wear against the ceramic surrounding them, and confirm the chronograph pushers operate cleanly.
• Strap condition. The brown calfskin strap ages and cracks; a replacement strap is not a defect but should be priced into any offer if it needs replacing.
• Movement service history. Ask for the last service date and confirm the chronograph function starts, stops and resets to zero correctly.
• Price against the band. A full-set example offered well under the catalogue range above is the single most reliable warning sign.

Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch.

Quick answers

How much is an IWC IW388006 "The Last Flight"?

Bizak's sourced catalogue listed the IW388006 at US$18,309 brand new on 27 September 2026, against US$9,499 for the steel Saint-Exupéry Double Chronograph and US$20,699 for the Big Pilot's Perpetual Calendar Saint-Exupéry edition, all sourced to order.

Why is it called "The Last Flight"?

It references Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the French aviator and author after whom IWC names this series of pilot's watches, who disappeared on a reconnaissance flight in 1944.

What is the case made of?

Brown silicon-nitride ceramic, a harder and more scratch-resistant material than steel or titanium, with 18-carat red-gold pushers, crown and case back.

What movement does the IW388006 use?

The automatic calibre 89361, an IWC chronograph movement with 68 hours of power reserve.

Is the IW388006 still in current production?

No. It is a discontinued edition from IWC's earlier catalogues, so examples on the market are generally pre-owned or old stock rather than new production.

Request an IW388006 sourcing quote

Tell us your preferred condition, whether the original box and edition documentation are required, plus your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs, papers and final price before you commit. Catalogue entries: IW388006 "The Last Flight", IW371808 Double Chronograph Saint-Exupéry; browse the chronographs collection or sell or trade your IWC.

Related reading: Rolex GMT-Master II Batman guide · Richard Mille price guide · Chronographs collection · Sell or trade your watch.