Pilot Wrist watches...
, though heaven knows I can spend money when I put my mind to it 
.
Joined: Jan 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 38
Likes: 62
From: The Smaller Antipode
Really? I use mine all the time; e.g. in Sainsbury's yesterday.............
Oh ! watches ........
I bought a Seiko analogue no frills watch in 1988............
I dallied with a Glycine 'mechanical automatic' for awhile, had to keep the wrist moving, as in ....... Oh, you know. The hour hand only went around the dial once every 24hrs, instead of twice, which meant that 12 Noon was at the bottom of the dial, not the top. Could keep it on GMT (UTC hadn't been invented in those days ) and move the outside bezel to local time - except those infuriating places that were 30 mins. adrift. Like Bombay.
In then end, 'cos one doesn't 'read' a watch, I had to abandon it for the same reason that I don't like a digital watch, you actually have to read the numbers instead of just glancing at it, with an analogue watch you just look at the 'picture' briefly. Still have it, but can't keep the wrist moving fast enough to keep it wound up these days, so it is "amongst my souvenirs" - somewhere !
Joined: Dec 2005
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 491
Likes: 4
From: West Sussex, England
FWIW I wear two watches, one on each wrist. I'd wear more if I could !
Apart from their initial purpose, they are, after all technically complex ornaments - and less expensive to buy & run than any a/c.
A second hand bargain Seiko Automatic cost £1 (and a £60 clean). It is not dead accurate but gives great pleasure. Casio, sooo frighteningly accurate is the real timepiece.
Even so flying a very light Rans S6, it is easier to monitor start up & leg times with a dashboard mounted, cheapo pocket watch.
mike hallam.
Apart from their initial purpose, they are, after all technically complex ornaments - and less expensive to buy & run than any a/c.
A second hand bargain Seiko Automatic cost £1 (and a £60 clean). It is not dead accurate but gives great pleasure. Casio, sooo frighteningly accurate is the real timepiece.
Even so flying a very light Rans S6, it is easier to monitor start up & leg times with a dashboard mounted, cheapo pocket watch.
mike hallam.
Last edited by mikehallam; 3rd January 2012 at 10:59.
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
From: UK
A device for all eventualities - something to solve ExSp33db1rd's souvenir problem.
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 375
Likes: 31
From: UK
I'm a total watch snob and will freely and widely admit that I judge people on what they have on their wrists
Whatever happened to Sewells of Liverpool? They made some simply stunning looking wrist watches, in my unfashionable and uniformed opinion.
jez
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: UK
I bought a Breitling Chrono Cockpit about 8 months ago but it started losing time so I sent it back to Breitling under warranty. They sent back photographs of the chrome horn positions saying they have been severely bashed alleging that to be the cause of the malfunction, consequently they will no longer honour my warranty. I'm a bit shocked really because I can honestly say that I have never bashed the watch - the scuffs if any, are all attributable normal wear and tear. My Jeweller told me that its not unusual for Breitling to reject warranty work, in fact they appear to be tightening up on warranty work massively. I wondered if anyone else here has had a similar poor experience as mine?
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: London
It's a pleasure thing....
Pilot watches remind you of flying and take perhaps a little bit of the passion into everyday life.
Im not a salesman, but these days a watch doesn't need to be functional. We have way too much technology around performing everyday functions; a watch is a status symbol of sorts, but frankly I like any aviation chronograph at any price so long as it's well engineered.
Torgoen is my latest with an E6B function. I also have a superb Red Arrows Chrono and a Bell & Ross which looks like it was fashioned from DC3 instrumentation.
Im not a salesman, but these days a watch doesn't need to be functional. We have way too much technology around performing everyday functions; a watch is a status symbol of sorts, but frankly I like any aviation chronograph at any price so long as it's well engineered.
Torgoen is my latest with an E6B function. I also have a superb Red Arrows Chrono and a Bell & Ross which looks like it was fashioned from DC3 instrumentation.
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: EGNT/LFMQ
Another vote for the Breitling Aerospace, on a dive strap so light and comfy. Been my everyday watch for the last 8 years. Had two batteries (around £50 and two weeks), but sadly the lower LCD has started to 'bleed' 
Must have that seen to soon.
However - a mate has a Suunto Core (non-pilot) with a magnetic compass and baro altimeter, which has me tempted...
Must have that seen to soon.
However - a mate has a Suunto Core (non-pilot) with a magnetic compass and baro altimeter, which has me tempted...
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: UK - EGLF is closest.
I have used, do use and will continue to use my cheap Casio that was around £12 or so IIRC from Argos. Has stopwatch, all sorts of beeping functions and even tells the time !
As an ex-instructor/examiner, what used to get my goat was students who would turn up for sorties or tests with wristwatch bling only approximating to UTC (or whatever) by a couple of minutes.
As an ex-instructor/examiner, what used to get my goat was students who would turn up for sorties or tests with wristwatch bling only approximating to UTC (or whatever) by a couple of minutes.
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 643
Likes: 0
From: Glasgow
Citizen C460
I've recently picked up one of these Citizen C460 for £80 from HSamuel.
Battery life if estimated at 2+ years (its not eco-drive), its easily read with a slide rule that isn't perfect but not too bad. Analogue is luminous, digital is back lit. I've never used a slide rule before starting PPL training, so this lets me practice all the time! It fits my wrist and the build quality is excellent.
Thought about altimeter / thermometer but couldn't work out when I'd use them. Linking to the timing radio signal sounded good but don't know when I'd need that accuracy. Saw some cheaper ones from other manufacturers but they either looked cheap or were very deep, looking silly on my wee wrist. I've no need for "bling" for the sake of my ego.
Have had it now about a month with no noticeable timing error. Works for me!
Battery life if estimated at 2+ years (its not eco-drive), its easily read with a slide rule that isn't perfect but not too bad. Analogue is luminous, digital is back lit. I've never used a slide rule before starting PPL training, so this lets me practice all the time! It fits my wrist and the build quality is excellent.
Thought about altimeter / thermometer but couldn't work out when I'd use them. Linking to the timing radio signal sounded good but don't know when I'd need that accuracy. Saw some cheaper ones from other manufacturers but they either looked cheap or were very deep, looking silly on my wee wrist. I've no need for "bling" for the sake of my ego.
Have had it now about a month with no noticeable timing error. Works for me!
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 0
From: Earth
Thereis a lot of bolleaux within the pilot watch world. Most pilots wear a £12 Casio digital. In comparison to them, I was very extravagant and spent £80 on mine. I've had it for ages and it's the most reliable and accurate watch I have owned.
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: Pembrokeshire UK
Curious how ostentation of his watch seems in inverse proportion to an aviator's experience. 
Have just retired my 1960 RAF Coastal Command issue Jaeger mechanical watch. No one left alive with the skill to repair it.
The similar looking Seiko automatic that I bought for £150 suits me fine.
Have just retired my 1960 RAF Coastal Command issue Jaeger mechanical watch. No one left alive with the skill to repair it.
The similar looking Seiko automatic that I bought for £150 suits me fine.