Category: Pilot Watches

Value Proposition – Review of the AVI-8 AV-4047, A Pilot Watch Inspired by The Hawker Harrier II

When you think of a pilot’s watch today, you’re likely thinking of a design style, not a purpose-built piece of aviation technology. In the past, a pilot’s watch had several unique features that aided both civilian and military flyers. The watch had to fit over the pilot’s jacket and be large enough to read at a glance, day or night. Some had larger crowns that could be manipulated while wearing gloves. Complications included things like chronographs and slide rules for tracking speed, fuel consumption, and navigation.

8 years ago

Up In The Air – Flying High With 5 Aviation Inspired Watches From Baselworld 2017

Legend has it that at the beginning of the 20th century, Louis Cartier designed a wristwatch for aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont because of the inconvenience of using a pocket watch while flying. The Santos was one of the earliest wristwatches and pilot watches. Born out of practicality, the watches intended for pilots have evolved – in fact, the original Santos had very little to do with a flight ‘tool’ watch.

8 years ago

Review – Orologi Calami CR42 Chronograph, A True Pilot’s Watch

While we see a huge number of small brands that operate off the beaten path, some stand out more than other. We can’t cover them all, and we are critical about which one we bring you, but every now and then we come across a project that is worth our (and guess yours) time. Today we investigate a brand dedicated to aviation founded on a lineage of three generations of pilots: Orologi Calami, and their CR42 Chronograph.

8 years ago

Nocturnal Camouflage – The New Bell & Ross BR03-92 Black Camo

After incursions in the world of sports cars (with the Aero-GT collection), in the Formula 1 field (with the BR-X1 RS16 or the brand new RS17 collection), after skull-inspired watches or even high-end watchmaking, Bell & Ross goes back to its beloved roots: military pieces. Stealth, dark, inspired by military-specifications, highly legible but still very much integrated in its environment, here is the new Bell & Ross BR03-92 Black Camo.

8 years ago

Hands-On – Sinn EZM 12, Designed for Air Rescue Service (Specs & Price)

Unusual, with unique features especially designed for Air Rescue Service, the Sinn EZM 12 has been one of our cool surprises fomr the 2017 edition of Baselworld. A proper tool watch in a class of its own – clearly what you can expect from a brand such as Sinn, the German utilitarian watch maker.

8 years ago

Baselworld 2017 – Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic, An Affordable Offer For a Bold Pilot Watch

While we are mainly focussing on the major watches introduced during this 2017 edition of Baselworld, with our usual focus on high-end watches, one watch in a much more accessible price range pleasantly surprised us: the Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic. Nothing too fancy, nothing to renew the concept of a pilot watch, yet, what we have here is a highly qualitative automatic offer, with a very competitive price… Alpina obliges. Here’s Alpina’s new take on its best seller, the Startimer Pilot, and it comes for less than Euro 900.

8 years ago

Baselworld 2017 – Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition (Back to the Roots of Aviation)

Oris’ reputation in terms of pilot watches is not to be debated anymore. Their Big Crown Pro Pilot collection is composed of reliable, well conceived and efficient watches for pilots. Still, most of them are modern iterations. But for Baselworld 2017, the brand will look back at its past, by reviving its first pilot’s wristwatch with a special limited edition piece made in homage to the original. Introducing the Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition.

8 years ago

Bremont Watch Lineup For 2017 Announced

British watch maker Bremont’s London-based “Basel-On-Thames” event has officially started, and they have announced a broad swath of new models and line extensions. From new divers and pilots’ watches to the return of the Norton, there is plenty to see.

8 years ago