Category: Fortis

Hands-on – Fortis Official Cosmonauts Amadee-18 Chronograph – Destination Mars?

Nothing gives a watch credentials like a stint in outer space. Fortis, founded in 1912, has long been associated with rugged pilot’s watches and became part of the official equipment of Russian cosmonauts in 1994. Launched into space on a MIR space station mission, the Official Cosmonauts Chronograph bears the logo of the Russian space authorities (Roscomos) on the caseback and continues to accumulate mission patches from ongoing International Space Station adventures. Last year, Fortis participated in a simulation of the first human landing on Mars that took place in the desert of Oman and provided chronographs for the entire team.

6 years ago

Hands-on – Fortis B-42 Official Cosmonauts Chronograph

Fortis was founded in 1912 by Walter Vogt. Vogt’s idea was to design watches of outstanding qualities that would deserve the name Fortis or strong in Latin. Since then, the brand is known for its rugged, functional watches and for its long-lasting connection with aviation and space exploration. In particular, Fortis watches became part of the standard equipment for Cosmonauts, cooperating with Roscosmos, the Russian Space Agency (Editor’s note, the word Cosmonaut itself is used by the Russian Space Agency whereas, for NASA, one would use Astronaut). The first Fortis Cosmonaut watch flew into space in 1994 as Russia was operating the MIR space station. A second version – again for Roscosmos, specifically as the ISS followed MIR – was designed some 10 years later. Since then, several versions have been produced including the steel B-42 we are reviewing here.

6 years ago

Hands-on – Fortis Aeromaster Mission Timer Chronograph – Cosmonaut-Approved

Founded in 1912 by Walter Vogt in Grenchen, Fortis is known for manufacturing rugged, functional watches with a predilection for pilot watches… and Cosmonaut watches, as Fortis has been cooperating with Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, and other organizations for years. Today, we take a look at one of the brand’s latest creations, the Fortis Aeromaster Mission Timer Chronograph – and if it’s good for Russian Space missions, it should be reliable enough on Earth.

7 years ago

Substance matters – Fortis Rolf Sachs 2.4ml Limited Edition

A blank canvas is soulless before the first stroke of a brush. A block of marble is only lifeless rock, until that first strike of the hammer and chisel. Everyday things like for instance air, are meaningless on their own. Obviously we need air to survive, but it is still… air! Until we decide to perceive or display it otherwise, at which point it can become art. Art heavily relies on this principle, and so does watchmaking. And it is even possible to combine art and watchmaking in one. We go hands-on with a perfect example of these blending worlds; the Fortis Rolf Sachs 2.4ml L.E.

8 years ago

Substance matters – Fortis Rolf Sachs 2.4ml Limited Edition

A blank canvas is soulless before the first stroke of a brush. A block of marble is only lifeless rock, until that first strike of the hammer and chisel. Everyday things like for instance air, are meaningless on their own. Obviously we need air to survive, but it is still… air! Until we decide to perceive or display it otherwise, at which point it can become art. Art heavily relies on this principle, and so does watchmaking. And it is even possible to combine art and watchmaking in one. We go hands-on with a perfect example of these blending worlds; the Fortis Rolf Sachs 2.4ml L.E.

8 years ago

Value Proposition – Review of the Fortis Cockpit One (a nice tool and a lot of watch for your money)

When you’re on the hunt for your perfect watch, or even just a compulsory purchase, there is a lot out there to lust after. For example, when it comes to dive watches we’ve seen that there are a lot more than just Submariners, Seamasters or Panerais to choose from, which is great especially if you are shopping with somewhat of a limited budget. Case in point, this newly introduced Fortis Cockpit One, an automatic Swiss watch with some very nice features, in the 1000-1500 Euro/USD/CHF price bracket. Today we’re taking a long, hard look at what you get for that money in one of our familiar extensive reviews!

8 years ago

Fortis Dornier GMT -Hands On Review

Fortis Dornier GMT Fortis is at it again. You might remember that since a few years now we follow this Grenchen brand’s activity on Fratello Watches. Just this year we have already looked at two of their new releases. Michael had a Classic Cosmonaut Chronograph to play with, while I took the Aeromaster Steel Chronograph for a […]

8 years ago