Ubik
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The topic of early pilots watches is vast
so many of the great houses in the early part of the Twentieth Century were focused on these.
JLC and IWC made perhaps some of the most iconic military ones. I have a weakness for the Zeniths as well - and the odd Breitling. LOL.
While Longines is perhaps one of the most exciting innovators of them all, Minerva, Omega, Breguet, Universal...
To collect the best pilots watches from each of the manufacturers would be a great theme.
What about Pilot Watches?
Fascination with Pilot watches has been around since the early 1930s or even earlier. There were watches made and produced by IWC called Special Watch for Pilots and succeeded by cult series such as the Big Pilot and Mark series, in particular the famous ...
Thanks a lot Keith for your excellent post.
I would like to come back to the Oris. For me, this watch is one of the best pilot watches around: I love its hands, its bezel, its crown of course, it has a vintage look and feel which makes it very attractive... and it has a very affordable price which ...
it has been my most affordable love in my endeavour into..
..the horological world. Unfortunately ORIS recently replaced it with Sapphire crystal and no longer in Plexi. This message has been edited by KCKL on 2011-05-22 03:14:22
i mistakenly stated. They still made available..
the Pointer Date with plexiglass similar to my pictured watch. It was back in 2009, they produced them in sapphire glass. I just checked their website, its available in two variety of glass. My apologies, forvesta
An endless thema, my friend.
Chrono or time only, busy dial or super clean, big or small, there were many " schools " on Pilot watches. Captivating watches, with only one issue, though... It is an endless thema of collection. The beginning of another story, Keith? Best, Nicolas.
new story into pilot / military watches will be interesting..
..unfortunately there are no new offerings from current brands, captivating enough unless the feared vintage and secondary markets. GO Senator Navigator is one good looking modern interpretation, and Mark XVI is nowhere near its predecessors...
Stowa made some nice alternatives recently.
Very close to the original design. If you want to dream, the Vintage ones are unbeatable. Best, Keith. Nicolas.
I like pilot watches a lot.
I prefer the more traditional, clean dials. I think Nicolas mentioned, Stowa. I love their reissued fliegers. It's nice that the company, like IWC, has a historical connection to the original flieger watches. Thanks for the write-up! Cheers, Daos
same here, the more i look at some of your postings, well..
..mainly all clean dial military or pilot inspired watches have been wiped out from the market by Nicolas (just kidding), so most of his postings, in particular those nice Haute LeCoultre, i mean JLC, I get more intrigued. Its more of the emotional notion...
Beautiful Duo
Thanks for the write up. i also have Deep Love for Pilot Watches.but Bigger in Case Diameters than yours.. Cheers Tony
Tony, this is a feast to the eye.. Excellent collection of Pilot watches..
..2 IWC Big Pilots with one commemorating Antoine St Exupery ... nice collection. Many thanks.
Thank You
:0)) i would really like to Add Several Steinhart Nav-B to the Collection. he's probably the only one who can fulfil my Needs: 1. the Case Size is Perfect for ME (no one else has a 47mm ). 2. there's no Problem to Customize a Watch to your Specs !! ( but ...
Well the Weems and Lindbergh are 47mm
That's a sweet size if you can carry it off - and you always do so well Tony.
you know how Much i LOVE the
Weems and Lingbergh. in my Book they're the Ultimate Pilot Watches.and Perfect Case Size as well. . the Only Problem is that they don't come Cheap.!! i actually found one a few Days ago on Sale by a Very Reputable Dealer in ITALY,. he's asking 30,000 Euro...
I've seen the re-issues going very reasonably.
I could see one on your nice bespoke strap. HAGWE.
Last evening dinner a friend wore his IWC too.. and another..
...eager to place his Ferrari on top.. The same Ferrari owner also has the Rolex GMT Master II, in fact if he wore his last evening, i could have taken pics of 2 GMT Master II (another belonging to a lawyer friend who attended the dinner but not wearing h...
Very nice pilot watches
Like yourself I am partial to pilots watches across all the brands. As we see with the ones you own they are often beautiful and unfussy. Here's an advert for one of the the most elusive of IWC pilot's watches, the first one I believe you mentioned, produ...
very nice vintage ad. IWC reissued this watch during their Jubilee Edition..
..revealing at that time Berillium is used for balance wheel and hairspring to counter magnetism. Thats interesting. Thanks for the ad. This message has been edited by KCKL on 2011-05-24 07:50:49
And here i am thinking the 1930s lacking R&D and technology in watch production..
..how ignorant i was..
Yes, this one and its Omega sister, from the end 30ies
Are among my favourite Pilot Watches... Without forgetting a certain " Big Longines" if you know what I mean... Best, Nicolas.
The topic of early pilots watches is vast
so many of the great houses in the early part of the Twentieth Century were focused on these. JLC and IWC made perhaps some of the most iconic military ones. I have a weakness for the Zeniths as well - and the odd Breitling. LOL. While Longines is perhaps...
A great thema, but a very wide one, sadly...
It is a bit like if you wanted to collect all the Memovoxes... The endless thing, you see? Agree with you on their inrterest and appeal, too. Hmmm, these big Longines... Best, Nicolas.
Ahhh, Longines made or used to produce cool military watches but..
..i find it hard to accept the onion crowns.. But i can accept military Omegas with signs such as below on the dial which i dont know what it symbolizes maybe an "airplane"....
Arrow... British Army, Keith. And as for the Longines Crown...
This is the only onion I like. Best, Nicolas.
If pilots don't need Chronograph function,
If pilots don't need Chronograph function, I really wonder why all these watches were released for few Air Forces, based on requirements defined by pilot... Or maybe you are right. And these chronographs were only produced for movie stars Best,...
Ouch, Marv... What a family picture!
No wonder who is the star, now! Any favourite among all these beauties, or is it too tough to choose among them? Best, my friend. Nicolas. This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-05-24 10:23:04
Difficult question, Nicolas
But if you look at my avatar, there could be a clue! Best my friend!...
The one on the left? :))))
Superb, and logical at the same time... I wondered if you also owned one of these somptuous Mathey Tissot... Best, Nicolas;
Beats me Marv.. that's just my opinion on pilots not having to need..
..a chronograph function.. maybe for co-pilots to use instead nice collection of Chronos u have there, Marv.. the Heuer military on the left is eye-catching.
great collection of vintage military chronographs, all in stunning condition
Great colletion marv and great condition watches too. Btw are you also looking for daytonas used by south american air forces??? best regards georges
pilots watch you seek...how about some WW2 vintages?
vintage pilots. will tell you the stories behind the two another day. pam 341 plonked in for size reference. Best, Horo...
I wouldn't say that the Egiziano Panerai is ...
1/ A WW 2 watch, as it was born much after ( Mid 50ies ). 2/ A Pilot watch, as it was used by the Divers. But, after re reading your answer, it seems that you put the Panerai among them for a size reference, only. Best, Nicolas. This message has been edit...
and i just placed same pic in wristscan!!
its 6am here, and i have to be up by 9am, lets call it quits!! best, Horo
Bit –verb, simple past tense and a past participle of bite
also,.... –verb (used with object) 7. to put a bit in the mouth of (a horse). 8. to curb or restrain with, or as with, a bit. 9. to grind a bit on (a key). best, Horo
Horo, that is a very nice Laco B-Uhr 55mm? the other i guess is IWC Mark X?
That PAM is huge!! Thx for the great military pieces...