Take a company with true legitimacy in “Flieger” pilots watches, create a nice, well-proportioned time-and-date watch with just enough vintage and military inspiration, give it a robust yet easy-to-source automatic movement, add a touch of trendy style with a gradient green dial and sell it for a reasonable price… and you end up with the […]
Do we even need to introduce the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph anymore…? This watch certainly is amongst the most iconic pieces manufactured by the Schaffhausen-based brand and, in its modern version, sums up years of slow evolution of the Pilot’s Watch concept at IWC. Usually seen in black with a utilitarian look (under the ref. […]
On July 16th, 1969 started one of the most incredible journeys of mankind. Onboard the Apollo 11 spacecraft were 3 men – Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins. On July 21st, 1969, the Apollo Lunar Module landed on the Moon. A few hours later, 2 of these men will make history, as stepping onto the lunar surface. What was on the wrists of these astronauts? A black-dial sports chronograph made by Omega: the Speedmaster, a watch soon to be named the “Moonwatch” – see here how the Speedmaster has been selected by NASA, in the words of the guy who tested it, James Ragan. The legend was born and this watch became an icon.
Call it Type 20 and not Type XX. What you see here is a true revival of the original, military-issued pilot Chronograph made by Breguet in the 1950s. Once again this year Breguet participates in Only Watch with what could be the coolest watch of the entire auction lot. Meet the Breguet Type 20 Only […]
Earlier this year at Baselworld, Bell & Ross presented the BR 03-92 MA-1, a classic square-shaped BR 03 model with a khaki and orange colour scheme poached directly from the US Air Force MA-1 bomber jacket of 1958. With its contrasting matte khaki ceramic case and vivid orange accents, this time-and-date model drew crowds to […]
Oris expands its Big Crown Pointer Date collection with the incorporation of this model with an oxblood dial. An unusual colour that is rarely seen in watchmaking, we think it works extremely well in this context. The technical specifications, the styling of the 40mm steel model and even the price have not altered, but the […]
One of the flagship collections of the Gutenbach-based manufacturer Hanhart, the modern Primus, is a masculine pilot chronograph relying on a bold yet easy-going style. While much more contemporary than the “Pioneer” collection, it still retains many of the classic “Flieger” elements. The latest addition to the line comes with a sleek blue dial and […]
I can enjoy a bit of action… sometimes, but I’m clearly not an action addict. So when I got the chance to fly in a 72-year-old Fokker aeroplane while getting hands-on with a Dutch-made pilot’s watch, the truth is that I was excited and a bit anxious. The Van der Gang Vlieger (pilot in Dutch) […]
The story behind certain watches remains something of a mystery. For those, their very rareness exacerbates their appeal to collectors. We call them unicorns… We know they exist, we’ve seen some but scholarship is almost inexistent and no archives can help! The vintage Blancpain Air Command Chronograph is part of these watches, and this is one of the reasons to be excited today, as Blancpain is about to reissue this watch. Meet the Blancpain Air Command Chronograph Re-Edition.
Everyone knows the Breitling Navitimer. Like, literally everyone. That’s because it has one of the most recognisable dial/bezel configurations in the business. That doesn’t mean it’s the easiest to read but it definitely stands out in a crowd. Launched in 1952, this legendary watch – designed specifically for pilots – has seen many, many variations […]