T he actor and director wore an IWC Big Pilot’s Watch with a one-of-a-kind engraving for the ceremony, which is being auctioned in an exclusive online sale (open for bidding until 4 March). A personal letter from Cooper to the new owner will also accompany the special item.
Bidding for the watch opened at $16,000 and IWC will donate its full proceeds to the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation. With the funds, the foundation will support the association Arrimage, a charitable organisation that focuses on teaching visually impaired children how to read drawings using their sense of touch.
The actor, who has been a brand ambassador for IWC since 2018, was a triple nominee at this year's awards, after co-writing, directing, producing and starring in “A Star is Born”, which won an award for Best Original Song for Shallow. Cooper performed a stunning rendition of the song on the night, with his co-star Lady Gaga.
The IWC watch Cooper wore at the Oscar® ceremony is a Big Pilot’s Watch with a special engraving on the case back. The engraving is of an iconic quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry‘s The Little Prince: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly“.
The timepiece features a midnight blue dial and is housed in a case made of 18-carat 5N gold. It's powered by the IWC-manufactured 51111-calibre movement. Within no time at all, the spring-mounted rotor and Pellaton pawl-winding system build up a power reserve of seven days.
Speaking ahead of the auction, Mikael Wallhagen, Head of the Watch Division for Sotheby’s in Geneva, said: “IWC Schaffhausen’s master watch-makers have produced a complex and beautifully crafted symbol of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s pioneering spirit. After witnessing dreams come true on the stage of the Oscars® this Sunday, it will be a privilege for us to offer this one-of-a-kind watch in our upcoming sale and to support the important work of the foundation, helping future generations to aim high and pursue their own dreams.”
