Pilot Wrist watches...
Why would you need one timepiece that does it all?
for one, I would prefer to spend this money on air hours
G
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You don't look too much of a pillock when things go wrong.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Brilliant thread drift here. Someone training for his PPL asks a simple question about which wristwatch to buy for flying and before you can say "Timex", the regulars get "wound up" and start arguing about cultural differences, history, you name it. Even human rights gets a mention. 
If you want three opinions, ask a couple of pilots
If you want three opinions, ask a couple of pilots
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Which Watch?
Down to the individual, of course. In my case I opted for an analogue watch with a black face and white luminous hands. Easy to read under all conditions. And a rotating bezel. I find it very convenient to just move the bezel to line up with the minute hand and then just read off the actual time at the next check point. It is a resin cased example and is still working fine some 10 years later. Battery life is about 3 years. Now there is probably a solar powered version available. Accuracy is about 5 seconds a month - good enough!
I would certainly endorse all the 'don't buy a fancy pilot watch' comments and become a poser...
RF
I would certainly endorse all the 'don't buy a fancy pilot watch' comments and become a poser...
RF
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If you want three opinions, ask a couple of pilots
Put 4 pilots on a desert island, and a year later you will have 4 pilot forums, each of which has 20 members under various nicknames, four pilot associations, and 4 splinter groups
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If you want three opinions, ask a couple of pilots
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I opted for:
- a Traser with bi-directional bezel (a feature that was, to my surprise, fairly rare) and fabric strap, which I clip on the side of my kneeboard for navigation. Like Ringway Flyer, At every nav point, I rotate the bezel to be in front of the minutes hand. I can then see what was the time of my last nav point (which I write down later when I am serenely on my new track), and the time in minutes since that time (on the bezel). I have used a P6600 so far and I ordered an Extreme Sport Pro,which I think will take me a split second less to read.
- a Timex dual-tech sport watch on my wrist for extra time zones.
Waow factor wise... I'm fairly smug of the Traser and I would have enjoyed being offered it.
- a Traser with bi-directional bezel (a feature that was, to my surprise, fairly rare) and fabric strap, which I clip on the side of my kneeboard for navigation. Like Ringway Flyer, At every nav point, I rotate the bezel to be in front of the minutes hand. I can then see what was the time of my last nav point (which I write down later when I am serenely on my new track), and the time in minutes since that time (on the bezel). I have used a P6600 so far and I ordered an Extreme Sport Pro,which I think will take me a split second less to read.
- a Timex dual-tech sport watch on my wrist for extra time zones.
Waow factor wise... I'm fairly smug of the Traser and I would have enjoyed being offered it.
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The reason why most bezels only go in one direction is for diving.
ie they will only increase you bottom time if disturbed.
Its really not worth explaining it all but if you see a watch only going one way its a diving watch in drag
ie they will only increase you bottom time if disturbed.
Its really not worth explaining it all but if you see a watch only going one way its a diving watch in drag
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A British manufacturer of good quality mechanical watches at fair prices is Christopher Ward. I'd have no problem suggesting one although I wear whatever I have on that day which could be one of a number of watches dating from 1940 to 1975.
I have now seen a Christopher Ward watch in the flesh, they certainly do look the part and it appears that you are buying a quality product at a very fair price. ie one which reflects manufacturing cost with a reasonable markup,.
The mainstream Swiss watchmakers IMHO set ridiculous prices
to: -
A) Fund massive marketing campaigns.
B) Maintain exclusivity.
Anyway back on topic...... Does anyone here use a Christopher Ward for flying??
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pilots watch
a Citezen navihawk world time Blue angels for show and an Argos £10.00 kitchen timer Buy Salter 4 Way Electronic Timer at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Baking equipment.
modified with bit of velcro on the back, for attachment to the yoke, work for me
modified with bit of velcro on the back, for attachment to the yoke, work for me
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Christopher Ward
My watch is a Christopher Ward, think the model is Pilot Mark II. It's an automatic ie needs no battery and I've had it about nine months.
I bought it not specifically to fly with but because a watch expert friend recommended them as great quality timepieces for the price with a Swiss movement that is also used in much higher-priced models. I'm delighted with it. I'm told it will last a lifetime if the working parts are oiled every four years and it's not dropped from a great height!
The only flying consideration I had when buying it was that the dial is clear of clutter and easily read in the air. The design is based on the old WWII watches and the IWC Big Pilot Watches so it fits the bill as a pilot's watch without shouting about my passion for aviation.
As it's my only watch I do wear it for flying - which for me is strictly VFR in old aeroplanes. I also carry a cheap kitchen timer strapped to my kneeboard as a back-up stopwatch.
Lunchmaster
I bought it not specifically to fly with but because a watch expert friend recommended them as great quality timepieces for the price with a Swiss movement that is also used in much higher-priced models. I'm delighted with it. I'm told it will last a lifetime if the working parts are oiled every four years and it's not dropped from a great height!
The only flying consideration I had when buying it was that the dial is clear of clutter and easily read in the air. The design is based on the old WWII watches and the IWC Big Pilot Watches so it fits the bill as a pilot's watch without shouting about my passion for aviation.
As it's my only watch I do wear it for flying - which for me is strictly VFR in old aeroplanes. I also carry a cheap kitchen timer strapped to my kneeboard as a back-up stopwatch.
Lunchmaster
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Hi all, new here and just came across this thread. As someone with more than a passing interest in watches, here are another couple of recommendations for your consideration
and
or if you fancy something mechanical, try Steinhart, available directly from the manufacturer and excellent VFM.
This is the 44mm Flieger on steel bracelet, (bracelet available separately by request), on an 8" wrist. The reason I mention wrist size, is that if you have small wrists a large watch may not fit properly, be very comfortable, and may not look good at at all.
Or you may wish to try one of their diver models, like the Ocean 1 below.
This one is a bit more than your budget though
and
or if you fancy something mechanical, try Steinhart, available directly from the manufacturer and excellent VFM.
This is the 44mm Flieger on steel bracelet, (bracelet available separately by request), on an 8" wrist. The reason I mention wrist size, is that if you have small wrists a large watch may not fit properly, be very comfortable, and may not look good at at all.
Or you may wish to try one of their diver models, like the Ocean 1 below.
This one is a bit more than your budget though
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I personally love my Citizen Eco-Drive Skyhawk AT Titanium (Men's Citizen Skyhawk AT Titanium Alarm Chronograph Eco-Drive Watch (JY0010-50E) - £398.00 - WATCH SHOP.com™) but it's way OTT for practical use. Though I do use the slide-rule pretty much daily for simple maths - much to the amazement of my pupils.
I loved the Argos kitchen timer, though, I think I might buy one!
Tim
I loved the Argos kitchen timer, though, I think I might buy one!
Tim
Just in passing, my junk email of the day shows a rather nice Seiko military derivative on sale at Transair for £108 - looks to be basically the ex-RAF one that is on my wrist with a bit of vintage styling and a more conventional leather strap.
G
G
I bought my Breitling Aerospace Titanium F56062 through a senior Breitling executive for a good price in 1995 and it served me well. It is identical to the one below and doesn't have the silly 'repetition minutes' logo or the ugly italic numerals of later models:
Then a year or so ago it developed a taste for battery replacement (£50-£70....) before it stopped working completely a month ago....
So, whilst in London I took it in for the posh watch shop to assess....
I had the diagnosis yesterday. £352.23 for a new movement (inlcuding £70 credited against the last battery change), £38.56 to exchange the hands as the new movement has a different spindle diameter, £130 for labour and £10 P&P....plus £106.16 VAT totalling £636.95...
I declined the opitional replacement of a slightly scratched crystal and slightly worn titanium nitride gold riders....that would have been an extra £165.75 + VAT.
And it'll take about 10 weeks to be repaired.....
Then a year or so ago it developed a taste for battery replacement (£50-£70....) before it stopped working completely a month ago....
So, whilst in London I took it in for the posh watch shop to assess....
I had the diagnosis yesterday. £352.23 for a new movement (inlcuding £70 credited against the last battery change), £38.56 to exchange the hands as the new movement has a different spindle diameter, £130 for labour and £10 P&P....plus £106.16 VAT totalling £636.95...
I declined the opitional replacement of a slightly scratched crystal and slightly worn titanium nitride gold riders....that would have been an extra £165.75 + VAT.
And it'll take about 10 weeks to be repaired.....
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It may have been better to send it to the Breitling UK service centre directly. It would come back like new and I don't think it would have cost that much. The lead time for service is about right, and much better than Omega Bienne, or Rolex.
Join Date: Apr 1999
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I bought my Breitling Aerospace Titanium F56062 through a senior Breitling executive for a good price in 1995 and it served me well. It is identical to the one below and doesn't have the silly 'repetition minutes' logo or the ugly italic numerals of later models:
Then a year or so ago it developed a taste for battery replacement (£50-£70....) before it stopped working completely a month ago....
So, whilst in London I took it in for the posh watch shop to assess....
I had the diagnosis yesterday. £352.23 for a new movement (inlcuding £70 credited against the last battery change), £38.56 to exchange the hands as the new movement has a different spindle diameter, £130 for labour and £10 P&P....plus £106.16 VAT totalling £636.95...
I declined the opitional replacement of a slightly scratched crystal and slightly worn titanium nitride gold riders....that would have been an extra £165.75 + VAT.
And it'll take about 10 weeks to be repaired.....
Then a year or so ago it developed a taste for battery replacement (£50-£70....) before it stopped working completely a month ago....
So, whilst in London I took it in for the posh watch shop to assess....
I had the diagnosis yesterday. £352.23 for a new movement (inlcuding £70 credited against the last battery change), £38.56 to exchange the hands as the new movement has a different spindle diameter, £130 for labour and £10 P&P....plus £106.16 VAT totalling £636.95...
I declined the opitional replacement of a slightly scratched crystal and slightly worn titanium nitride gold riders....that would have been an extra £165.75 + VAT.
And it'll take about 10 weeks to be repaired.....
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All these "top end" watches have the same problem. About three years after I bought my wife a very nice Omega the battery needed changing. I was told by the main dealer that this did not simply mean being changed, but Omega would wish to replace the hands as well!! Why? I foolishly allowed the watch to be sent away and it came back 8 weeks later with a bill for £200+. The jeweller told me that it was lucky it was an Omega and not another brand (I can't remember which one) as the time for servicing was 52 weeks!
Interestingly, when I took my old (25+ years) Omega Seamaster to my local jeweller for a new battery it cost £5. Either the manufacturer's approach to these things has changed with newer models or the local jeweller is more straight than the main dealer.
Interestingly, when I took my old (25+ years) Omega Seamaster to my local jeweller for a new battery it cost £5. Either the manufacturer's approach to these things has changed with newer models or the local jeweller is more straight than the main dealer.