Best Aviation watch/timepiece
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Join Date: May 2011
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Best Aviation watch/timepiece
I have an old seiko thats getting a bit dowdy, and I'd like to find out what other pilot loved timepieces/ wristwatches are out there.
My specs
1. Simple to see night and day with or without ambient light,and not too complex
2. Dual time- local and UTC- the utc preferably in digital format
3.Alarm, date, and not to much tiny notated slide rule stuff
4. High quality and traditional looking (personal preference), durable.
5. Price not outrageous
The current candidates are
Seiko mens Sportura/Coutura
Citizen Promaster Air -Wingman
Traser Aviation watch
The suunto look too funky
My specs
1. Simple to see night and day with or without ambient light,and not too complex
2. Dual time- local and UTC- the utc preferably in digital format
3.Alarm, date, and not to much tiny notated slide rule stuff
4. High quality and traditional looking (personal preference), durable.
5. Price not outrageous
The current candidates are
Seiko mens Sportura/Coutura
Citizen Promaster Air -Wingman
Traser Aviation watch
The suunto look too funky
One of these.
Had one for two years, rubber bit on band broke, so I just ordered another watch! Top watch, big characters, timezones, the works. Only downside, no sweep second-hand. I haven't missed it though.
Had one for two years, rubber bit on band broke, so I just ordered another watch! Top watch, big characters, timezones, the works. Only downside, no sweep second-hand. I haven't missed it though.
Join Date: Apr 2007
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This is from a diving perspective rather than flying, but both pursuits demand good watches (and pilots' watches are rarely forced to endure salt water at depth, and if it does watch performance is probably the least of your worries 
)...
In my experience Loyal are well worth looking at and have models that meet your requirements.
http://www.loyalwatches.com.au/default.asp
They don't do specific Aviator watches, but I bought one of their dive watches at a very reasonable cost and have flogged it diving, working, partying, bushwalking et al and it's never missed a beat. They're very unpretentious (and may not have the flying gadgets you seek) but they're tough and look nice.
Suunto are The Name in diving for the dudes who penetrate the Lusitania and do advertising endorsements in the $10 magazines, but they charge accordingly...Good instruments with justifiable swank factor, but pricey; they're kind of like the Breitling for the SCUBA Brigade.
)...In my experience Loyal are well worth looking at and have models that meet your requirements.
http://www.loyalwatches.com.au/default.asp
They don't do specific Aviator watches, but I bought one of their dive watches at a very reasonable cost and have flogged it diving, working, partying, bushwalking et al and it's never missed a beat. They're very unpretentious (and may not have the flying gadgets you seek) but they're tough and look nice.
Suunto are The Name in diving for the dudes who penetrate the Lusitania and do advertising endorsements in the $10 magazines, but they charge accordingly...Good instruments with justifiable swank factor, but pricey; they're kind of like the Breitling for the SCUBA Brigade.
Last edited by Worrals in the wilds; 24th Aug 2011 at 14:28.
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I have a Casio G-shock that has proven great.
Dual time, Analogue and digital.
I have the digital in local and the Analogue set in in GMT.
Luminous, so great at night in low light.
Always use the analogue for flying as it makes time calcs easier as you can see wtf you are doing.
Jas
PS..only critic is that it is a bit bulky
Dual time, Analogue and digital.
I have the digital in local and the Analogue set in in GMT.
Luminous, so great at night in low light.
Always use the analogue for flying as it makes time calcs easier as you can see wtf you are doing.
Jas
PS..only critic is that it is a bit bulky
Silly Old Git
Very nice
https://shop.laco.de/de/Laco1925/miy...automatik.html
( $AUD 273)
and....
https://shop.laco.de/en/Pilot-Watch.html
https://shop.laco.de/de/Laco1925/miy...automatik.html
( $AUD 273)
and....
https://shop.laco.de/en/Pilot-Watch.html
I had a Nike watch that was marketed at track runners that was absolutely perfect for me.
The main reason was that the dual time was displayed simultaneously, top half of the screen I had UTC, bottom half local. It was simple to get to the countdown timer alarm and stopwatch. and if you touched it at night it illuminated enough to read it easily but not so bright it was annoying.
The most functional flying watch I've ever owned.
I lost it and have never found another. I bought it in Singapore. Actually, I think I might traul the net looking for another one. Only $100 USD too.
Framer
The main reason was that the dual time was displayed simultaneously, top half of the screen I had UTC, bottom half local. It was simple to get to the countdown timer alarm and stopwatch. and if you touched it at night it illuminated enough to read it easily but not so bright it was annoying.
The most functional flying watch I've ever owned.
I lost it and have never found another. I bought it in Singapore. Actually, I think I might traul the net looking for another one. Only $100 USD too.
Framer
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I never found the perfect watch; most 'aviator' watches are a marketers idea of what a pilot would want (a tachymeter- haha; that will impress the ladies!).
Here's my wish list:
Analogue hands (easy to change time zones)
Large digital display of UTC date and time
Rotating 12 Hour bezel (so I can set departure time, if the last ten minutes/2 segments were shaded it would be handy )
Light
Usual alarm stopwatch etc
Lastly that elusive aesthetic that says 'I am a grown up professional'. Don't laugh.
Presently use a Citizen Promaster Aqualand that at least does the top two, and maybe the last. Robust but an ugly brute, and too bulky so it catches on the edge of my nav bag when I dive in there fumbling for stuff.
.
Here's my wish list:
Analogue hands (easy to change time zones)
Large digital display of UTC date and time
Rotating 12 Hour bezel (so I can set departure time, if the last ten minutes/2 segments were shaded it would be handy )
Light
Usual alarm stopwatch etc
Lastly that elusive aesthetic that says 'I am a grown up professional'. Don't laugh.
Presently use a Citizen Promaster Aqualand that at least does the top two, and maybe the last. Robust but an ugly brute, and too bulky so it catches on the edge of my nav bag when I dive in there fumbling for stuff.
.
Last edited by HPSOV L; 25th Aug 2011 at 02:43.
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I vote for Citizen Promaster Wingman VI, I dont think its made anymore but the new equivalent would be even better as it has Ecodrive, never need batteries again.
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My citizen eco drive iscoming up for 6 years old and actually loses time, albeit quite slowly, which i find really frustrating! maybe 5 min over saw 3-6 weeks. Told the man that changes watch batteries and he said it's a capacitator or something and would cost $$150 for another one!!!!!! I kinda think its something with my watch itself and doubt spending the $$ will fix it. Any ideas?
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Anything that tells you the time normally is OK.
Don't believe all the Bullsh*t you see in advertising.
Save your expensive watch for your time and wear a cheapie to work.
Don't believe all the Bullsh*t you see in advertising.
Save your expensive watch for your time and wear a cheapie to work.
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Never use one, the digital job in the panel of any serious aircraft is much more effective.
If I had to buy one, I reckon one of these...
Cool Sport/Fashion LED Watch w/ Touch Ring - ylw/hex LED Watch Stop
...or one of these...
PHOSPHOR E INK - Digital Hour BKML LED Watch Stop
If I had to buy one, I reckon one of these...
Cool Sport/Fashion LED Watch w/ Touch Ring - ylw/hex LED Watch Stop
...or one of these...
PHOSPHOR E INK - Digital Hour BKML LED Watch Stop
