IWC Schaffhausen and Bradley Cooper are proud to announce a unique charity project. While attending the Academy Awards ceremony last night, the actor and IWC brand ambassador wore a Big Pilot's Watch Single Piece with a one-of-a-kind engraving. This watch will then be auctioned by Sotheby's 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 organization that focuses on teaching visually impaired children how to read drawings using their sense of touch.
Bradley Cooper became a brand ambassador for IWC in 2018. Cooper co-wrote, directed, produced and stars in "A Star is Born". The film has received eight Oscar nominations: "Best Actor in a Leading Role," "Best Picture," "Best Adapted Screenplay," "Best Actress in a Leading Role," "Best Actor in a Supporting Role," "Best Original Song," "Best Cinematography," and "Best Sound Mixing." The American actor previously earned Oscar nominations for his critically acclaimed performances in "Silver Linings Playbook," "American Hustle" and "American Sniper".
During the Academy Awards ceremony wore a Big Pilot's Watch Single Piece (Ref. IW500923). The timepiece features a midnight blue dial and is housed in a case made of 18kt rose gold. It is powered by the IWC-manufactured caliber 51111. On the caseback, there is a one-off engraving of the iconic quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's "The Little Prince": "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly".
IWC will donate its proceeds from the auction to the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, helping it to support the association Arrimage in Nice, France. The association was established by Dr. Claude Garrandes, a blind French artist and teacher. One of its main projects focuses on teaching visually-impaired children how to read drawings in two-dimensional relief through the sense of touch. To do this, it uses the first-ever tactile art book of embossed illustrations of "The Little Prince" that it created. Thanks to teaching tools created by Arrimage, blind children are also given the opportunity to learn how to draw themselves.
Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen said: "Supporting disabled children and adolescents is one of the cornerstones of our CSR effort. I am pleased that, together with our brand ambassador Bradley Cooper, and the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, we have the opportunity to support the association Arrimage."
Thanks.