Which 'Pilot' watch
 

Apart from quartz watches, with digital displays, are there any good watches that can be used for VFR flying? I find the displays on traditional watches, with a stopwatch, too small to be of any use. I have a Seiko Sportura SNAF34P1. Looks nice but the stopwatch functionality is too small.

A series of throwaway $5 el cheapo digitals has done me proud over the years .. typically gain/lose a few seconds a month.

This has been asked a few times before ...

I use a £20 watch from a supermarket. Requirements for me were

- numbers 1-12
- tick marks for minutes/seconds
- second hand

There are stop watches in the panel (in various places depending on the aircraft), I don't need one on my wrist as well. Plus I find the ones on the panel are easier to incorporate into a scan than the one on my wrist.

Anything with a clear display and three hands.

A stopwatch is nice to have, but not particularly essential at PPL level.

I like a velcro strap, then it can go around the middle of the control column, but that's just me, and certainly not essential. I have an "Animal" leather and velcro strap from an outdoors shop - it gets replaced about every 3-4 years.


I do use a reasonably posh Seiko Military that I'm very fond of, but I didn't pay for it, it's 18 years old and I wouldn't necessarily pay for an identical replacement if it died. There are plenty of perfectly good watches out there which would do everything mine does, for around a tenner.

G

Postscript, my Seiko is a lot cheaper than it used to be - £99 on Amazon, and I am fond of it, so I probably would. However, the one on my wrist is still good as new (okay, one new glass, and probably 4 batteries and 5 straps in 18 years) so I shouldn't need to. This one. - or near as dammit anyhow.

Everyone loves a Rolex....
 

What people will do for one or even two of 'em:

Stolen Rolex watches recovered inside women?s vaginas at Las Vegas hotel: police - NY Daily News

That's the answer. The easier to read the better (so less distracting/confusing dial markings).

Which 'Pilot' watch
 

I think a Rolex is a must... Wouldn't live without mine never mind fly without it! No no I joke. Have a watch for a year now €55 it cost me!

Buy Timex Men's Gold Plated Black Strap Watch at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Men's watches.


Under £25. Perfect for the job.


If you are of the feminine gender I'd still suggest the Men's watch as its bigger and easier to read in the cockpit.


(PS I am being serious with this post btw)

I found an easy to read watch invaluable for my nav exercises in my PPL. For me, the digital watches are quick to glance at and its handy if you want to set a couple of alarms for the odd mid-flight task.

I went for this:
Casio Men's Digital Twin Sensor Compass Watch

Big numbers, super easy to read if you're bouncing about a bit and under a little pressure doing a diversion exercise or something, and has an excellent backlight. Its got a reasonably good built in compass and thermometer too, pretty useless but it appealed to the nerd in me!

depends what you want to spend.

if you have the budget and wrist size this from tutima is hard to beat for a mechanical chronograph.
also keeps ticking at 7G if you ever go aeros!

Tutima | Military Commando II Chronograph | Titanium | Watch database watchtime.com

Pilot's watches (like all watches today) are jewelry and nothing else. Any half decent GPS and any half decent phone display the time, at satellite accuracy, and what pilot doesn't have both, or at least one of them?

That watch looks a deal more complicated than my aircraft!

I cannot think of anything that you actually "need" a pilot's watch for - apart from impressing the impressionable.

But then my vanity is served by having a Russian panel mount chronograph. It tells the time too, and irradiates the passenger!

The very best watch money can buy is . Keeps good time, easy to read, functional, water-proof enough, cheap, lights up when you need it. Brilliant and it doesn't say a wally of a pilot is wearing it.

PM

These looked nice and easy to read GX7 Pilots Chronograph :

And not too dear.

A watch, how very gucci....... I just take the times of the GPS.

My post from a previous thread: http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...ml#post7023456

I still like that one I got for £80. Just looked it up and if you want to get it now you can pay $550 AUD (£310GBP). I think I got a bargain! Not many watches increase in value over time!

Just makes you look like an SAS wannabee instead.

G :E

Dkatwa, you started by asking 'apart from quartz watches'. Although there appears to be plenty of enthusiasm for accurate time keeping in the answers offered there doesn't seem to be much enthusiasm for mechanical watches. Not knocking that at all; some pilots like fast cars, some like to booze hard, some have an enthusiasm for mechanical watches.

Have a look at Damasko or Sinn. Swiss movements in German built watches. Big clear displays, b*****d hard reliability and priced at a fraction of a Bertling or an IWC.

for posing use this is my watch of choice

Posing

For everyday flying you cant beat one of these.


Fats

My favourite.... THE Train watch
 

The Swiss Train Watch by Mondaine

Because the second hand touches the minute markers, reading the precise time is quick & easy.


Watches