An Introduction to Aviation / Pilot’s Watches

About the Author: Zach S. is an expedition and product/lifestyle photographer from Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and a graduate of The United States Military Academy Preparatory School. When he’s not doing photography, he’s writing and working towards his goal of becoming a Marine Aviator.
Ever since there have been pilots, there have been pilot’s watches. From the dash mounted pocket watches of the First World War, to the digital flight chronometers of today, it’s been absolutely vital to have a way to accurately tell the time while in the air.
Even if you never plan on sitting in a cockpit or circumnavigating the globe, you can still appreciate the value and aesthetics of a pilot’s watch, as they give off an air of technicality and bold style that (to me) places them above the common “desk-divers” the rest of your office wears.
So what makes a pilot’s watch a pilot’s watch? While there’s no universal standard, the features commonly found on a pilot’s watch are:

• Luminous, sword-style hands
• Clearly marked hour and minute markings (typically also luminous)
• Distinctly marked 12 o’clock mark (to orient the watch in the dark)
• Large and visible

Those are the basic, classic features of a pilot’s watch, but some specialty models can also feature:

• Chronograph functionality
• GMT or world-timer functionality
• E6B circular slide rule
• Atomic time-keeping ability

So you’ve got options in terms of what the watch can do. You also have options in terms of price. You can pay as little as sixty dollars, and upwards of thousands upon thousands. Below are five of the most popular and best bang for the buck pilot watches you can get, in increasing price points.

Seiko 5 SNK805 Automatic – $58.75

The Seiko 5 powered SNK805 is a complete classic. At just 37mm in diameter, it’s not really a true pilot’s watch, yet it meets most of the other criteria. And for the price you really can’t beat it. It features a dial modeled on the classic B-UHR style watches used by the Luftwaffe navigators in the Second World War. Impressive at this price point, the SNK805 features a reliable Japanese automatic movement, so there’s no need to ever change a battery. It also features both the day and the date, which is a very practical thing to have, and the watch allows you to use a quick-set feature so you don’t have to spin the crown a million times to set the date or day. It also has an exhibition caseback. If you’ve never owned a mechanical or automatic watch, this is a great watch to get your feet wet!

Orient Flight Automatic – $129 to $217*

Larger than the Seiko at 42mm in diameter, the Orient Flight is a sexy, modern interpretation of the classic pilot’s watch. Available in multiple dial colors, including the cobalt blue shown above. Like the Seiko, this watch features an automatic, in-house movement, and the amazing legibility of the classic B-UHR layout, which prioritizes minutes over hours. The extra cash over the Seiko nets you a larger size, greater legibility, and higher water resistance for increased durability. There are a few 3rd party sellers on Amazon selling earlier models of this watch at a discounted price. The latest and greatest model (which is really no different than the earlier ones) runs $206.50 – $217 direct through Orient. *But to get this price, you need to use the ever present 30% off codes. DAPPERED30 should work, but don’t feel obligated if you find something better out there.visualizzare più imitazioni rolex e replica rolex