The time is really important thing for each pilot. Every flight procedure is strictly dictated to the second. So, the pilot should be equipped with the watch that will be precise and sturdy. I decided to create my TOP5 list of the best reliable luxury pilot watches.

 

IWC – PILOT’S WATCH CHRONOGRAPH EDITION “THE LAST FLIGHT”

The Last Flight is a designation of the last Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s flight in his career. After taking off from a military base in Corsica, his Lockheed P-38 Lightning disappeared without trace.
IWC Schaffhausen commemorates his Last Flight with special edition watch. The watch features self-winding mechanical chronograph movement (Calibre 89361) with 68h power reserve. It brings to life : stopwatch function with hours, minutes and seconds, chronograph (minutes and hours linked in a counter at 12 o’clock and seconds counter with date window at 6 o’clock). It has also flyback function. Whole movement is hidden in a brown silicon nitride ceramic 46mm diameter case. We can find sapphire glass with antireflective coating on both sides.
The water resistance in this watch is 6 bars. On the back we can see a special “The Last Flight” engraving.

 

 

 

ZENITH – PILOT MONTRE D’AERONEF TYPE 20 GMT

Zenith has written down in history as one of the first companies producing time instruments (clocks board) for pilots in the early twentieth century. Zenith Pilot Montre d’Aeronef Type 20 GMT Red Baron is a tribute to the one of the most legendary figures of the history of aviation – fighter ace, Albrecht von Richtofen, known as the “Red Baron”.

The new watch is issued in a limited edition of 500 pieces. Comparing the Type 20 GMT watch design is stylized for Zenith pilots watches from the ’30s. Huge 48 millimeter case made ​​of titanium, which has a characteristic crown, makes easier to use it for pilots during flights even in gloves. The watch is powered by a Elite Dual Time 693 Calibre with 50 hours of power reserve. The matt-black dial and white Arabic numerals improves convenience and clarity of a time reading. Indexes are coated with Super-LumiNova that provides legible use in the dark.

The case is coated with the DLC – “Diamond-like carbon”. GMT indicators around the dial and the main hand, are in light-red colour, like the legendary Richtofen’s aircraft – Fokker triplane Dr.1. The strap is made of calf leather. At the case back there is an engravement of the Fokker triplane Dr.1 plane with inscription “Montre d’Aeronef Type 20 – Zenith Flying Instruments.”

 

 

 

BREITLING – CHRONOLINER

Chronoliner model is inspired by model from 1950s and 60s, it keeps on the tradition in an adapted fresh way.
Despite, the airplanes are getting more and more advanced in terms of technologies used, there are things unchanged. Namely, the representative uniforms of the pilots and chronograph watches on their wrists. The watch is very important, not even a gadget, but we can say that it is a tool used during the long journeys across the world. That watch has to be legible in reading and durable so pilots can rely on them.

The most distinctive feature about this Chronoliner watch is the broad scratch-resistant unidirectional ceramic bezel, which is also one of the most hardest synthetic materials. 24-hour GMT scale has been made of white ceramic, so it is clear in view, because of the pure contrast. This watch has a pretty massive stainless steel case with a diameter of 46mm. It houses the Breitling 24 self-winding mechanical movement. This mechanism is approved with the minimum 42 hours of power reserve when fully wound. It moves with the frequency of 28,800 vib/h.

Breitling Chronoliner has a chronograph complications presented in a white contrasting sub-dials. 30-minute indicator found its place at 12 o’clock, small seconds are situated at 9 o’clock and 12-hour indicator is at 6 o’clock. A date window is in aperture, near the Breitling logo at 3 o’clock. The mentioned before 24-hour GMT is easily indicated by red-tipped hand. A whole dial provides the highest legibility worthy the finest flight instruments, everything is because the luminescent indexes and hands on the black mat dial. The front of the watch is covered by cambered sapphire crystal with bothsides glareproofed. The thing complementing a design is beautiful Ocean Classic strap, which I like at the most.

 

 

 

BELL & ROSS – BR-X1

Highly sophisticated chronograph watch with the sporty design. Inspired by the airplanes dashboard. It brings aviation watches to the next level with its modern design and high-tech conception of the movement. Such approach provides the incredible resistance, functionality and lightness. Under 45mm case made of titanium we can find B&S “special” mechanical skeleton chronograph movement. Except basic hours, minutes and seconds hands we get chronograph functions – 60-second and 30-minute counters. Date window is at 6 o’clock. Around the square shape case we can see a ceramic frames with rubber inserts. Indexes and hands in this watch are coated in Superluminova. The dial is covered by sapphire glass with anti-glare coating.

 

 

 

LONGINES – HERITAGE AVIGATION TYPE A7

In the 30s of the twentieth century US Air Corps commissioned the design of the watch, which would be worn primarily by pilots. Requirements related to the project of the watch were very extensive.The watch had to be designed so that the pilot could freely use it during their flights. US Air Corps provided a very detailed list of specifications of the watch. Longines must therefore rotate the watch face so as to eliminate the need for twisting of the watch to check time, so that the watch dial has been rotated 45 degrees. The watch needed to have a diameter of up to 51 millimeters. The crown appears over an 12 hour. The timer was to have a chronograph, but without the extra buttons. Longines Watches Avigation-7 were used by pilots to about 1943 year. The contemporary model of a watch is additionally equipped with a tachometer scale and timestamp. At the heart of the watch movement is Longines788 ETA A08.L11with power reserve of 54 hours.Strap ismade ​​of alligator skin and the dial features sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating extra.The big quality of this watch is its incredible clarity of the view.