What's your Favorite Pilot Watch?
Happy turkey day (US) fellow crunchers!
I've been on a pilot watch kick lately, so I tried to cover 4 eras of aviation related watches I'm interested in. What did I miss? What's your fav pilots watch?
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Captain Crunch
Co-founder of WatchCrunch; Inventor of the Zero Pass strap.
United States
Member since
Last active: 5 hrs ago
16.51 cm
Happy Thanksgiving! I think you hit on the big ones. More often than not, I’d take a GMT. That said, I do love a fleiger, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want this Navi.
Santos is the OG! ✈️😎
Really love my Vaer A12, Dirty Dozen. To me, this is the epitome of iconic pilot watches.
Just started to wear my bremont after wearing other watches , designed for U2 pilots
Great video (as usual) Max. Maybe a 'modern era' next time? Some great stuff from the likes of Bell & Ross (boo, hiss I hear you all cry).
My Glycine 48 until I can afford a Laco B, maybe.
Happy Thanksgiving! I think you hit on the big ones. More often than not, I’d take a GMT. That said, I do love a fleiger, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want this Navi.
That's hot 🥵
Really love my Vaer A12, Dirty Dozen. To me, this is the epitome of iconic pilot watches.
Dirty 🤤
Just started to wear my bremont after wearing other watches , designed for U2 pilots
Is that titanium?
Great video (as usual) Max. Maybe a 'modern era' next time? Some great stuff from the likes of Bell & Ross (boo, hiss I hear you all cry).
Beautiful dial 😍
The Longines Spirit
Glycine Airman No.1:
And an actual "Flieger" - a WW2 Luftwaffe-issued Doxa in steel:
I’m partial to the Yema Flygraf
The Navada Grenchen Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver is my second fav. It’s a bit of a “crossover” and not a purist, though.
Santos Large ADLC. It has lume.
(2nd picture is not my photo)
Ok you must tell me where you got the bracelet. I’ve been looking for one for my Snoopy and I know the SRPJ81 bracelet should fit but I haven’t been able to source one. Nice find!!
You can order that OEM bracelet from Seiko customer service at 1-800-722-4452. I don't know the part number, but they can look it up given the SRPJ81 reference. I was quoted a price of more than $100.
I prefer the 5-link (or 7-link) engineer's style bracelet over the 3-link oyster style since, to me, it seems more appropriate for a pilot's watch. The 18mm bracelet I have costs $15 from Ali Express, and the (hollow) curved end links are a perfect match. There are a few points worth noting:
There are no half-links and no micro-adjustments, so fit may be an issue. The removable links are 8mm, so that's the level of adjustment you get. Having said that, I was able to get a perfect fit on my 15cm wrist.
There is no taper. I'd rather have a taper, but 18mm is small enough that it seems to work fine without one.
The finish is all polished. That's an easy fix with a bucket of sand and a plastic funnel, but it does require 10-15 minutes of effort.
Otherwise, the quality is quite good. All the links (save the end links) are solid (not folded) and the clasp is fully milled (not stamped).
Updated to add:
From my notes (but please confirm):
Seiko part number for OEM 3-link oyster-style bracelet: M10B227J0
There's also a Seiko OEM jubilee-style bracelet that should fit: M0N4111J0
I know that mine isn't the most expensive pilot's watch but I like this. Armogan "Spirit of St Louis" by Armogan Instruments. The black dial with white indices and domed crystal make it easy to read. The crystal makes it difficult to take pictures though. LOL
You can order that OEM bracelet from Seiko customer service at 1-800-722-4452. I don't know the part number, but they can look it up given the SRPJ81 reference. I was quoted a price of more than $100.
I prefer the 5-link (or 7-link) engineer's style bracelet over the 3-link oyster style since, to me, it seems more appropriate for a pilot's watch. The 18mm bracelet I have costs $15 from Ali Express, and the (hollow) curved end links are a perfect match. There are a few points worth noting:
There are no half-links and no micro-adjustments, so fit may be an issue. The removable links are 8mm, so that's the level of adjustment you get. Having said that, I was able to get a perfect fit on my 15cm wrist.
There is no taper. I'd rather have a taper, but 18mm is small enough that it seems to work fine without one.
The finish is all polished. That's an easy fix with a bucket of sand and a plastic funnel, but it does require 10-15 minutes of effort.
Otherwise, the quality is quite good. All the links (save the end links) are solid (not folded) and the clasp is fully milled (not stamped).
Updated to add:
From my notes (but please confirm):
Seiko part number for OEM 3-link oyster-style bracelet: M10B227J0
There's also a Seiko OEM jubilee-style bracelet that should fit: M0N4111J0
You certainly did your research!! At $15 I think it’ll be worth the risk to chance the fit. Thanks!
Something different. Hamilton X patrol.
Oh man both Zenith and IWC make banger pilot watches. Im very torn. I should just get them both
Bulova Lunar Pilot is my 1st choice.
Great video (as usual) Max. Maybe a 'modern era' next time? Some great stuff from the likes of Bell & Ross (boo, hiss I hear you all cry).
I’m with you, Bell & Ross makes some cool watches 😂
I have several personal favourites.
Got to be the AirKing
I agree with another poster that you have to include a GMT in the equation but if you were a pilot flying light aircraft it wold probably have to be a flieger… just for legibility
Am a HUGE aviation buff, yet I don't have a "true" Pilot watch (yet) unfortunately ...
Have a couple that come close:
Homage to the historic "Speedmaster"
and Seiko's Flieger B "inspired" SNK803
Shoulda picked this up when it was on sale on Amazon several months ago for around $140 CDN (now almost $400) 😕
Citizen CA7040-85E SS
How do you like your Pagani? Are the edges of the case sharp?
My most recent acquisition is the IWC Mark XX. Have long lusted after the IWC pilot watches, be that Big Pilot, Mark series or Spitfire. When the time came to finally add a pilot to the collection, the Mark series won the race. Simple, legible, comfortable, versatile, and historical.
My most recent acquisition is the IWC Mark XX. Have long lusted after the IWC pilot watches, be that Big Pilot, Mark series or Spitfire. When the time came to finally add a pilot to the collection, the Mark series won the race. Simple, legible, comfortable, versatile, and historical.
The mark XX is a winner 🏆
How do you like your Pagani? Are the edges of the case sharp?
A little, but not too bad ... end of the lugs mostly ...
I have no extensive opinion on pilot watches because I only own one, and it's one of my favorite watches. The pilot in the name as far as I know is just a nickname to this Orient