Watches

[bobbysamd]

One of my favorite topics.

No, it's not important to have one of those "fancy" pilot watches. I happen to have a couple of pilot watches, though, because I love watches. A lot depends on how much utility you want from the watch. You certainly want a timepiece that is easy to read in all light conditions and gives you information that you want. You want one that's rugged and accurate. Some people want a watch that makes a statement. A lot also depends on how much you want to spend.

I wore a Tag-Heuer pilot watch with an E-6B scale for several years. The E-6B was useful on the ground, but hard to use while flying because the scale is small.

If you want to spend a little more for a watch, consider Limes at www.limes-watches.com . I have a Limes. They really offer a lot of value for the money. The Chase-Durer models, www.chasedurer.com , also offer a lot of value for the money and make a bold statement about being a pilot, if that's the statement you want to make. I have a Chase-Durer that I wear nearly every day.

In any event, do plenty of shopping before you buy. There's a pretty hefty markup on watches. Also, if you plan to spend the money, buy from a reputable dealer. I (or my wife) bought my Limes from the website. It needed work and they took care of it cheerfully and with no problems.

Good luck with your selection.

 

[TRBojet]

Here's another vote for the Citizen Eco-Drive. It's solar-powered; no need for batteries! I would just look for one that you like the look of and has a second time zone for GMT. I don't like to add or subtract either. Plus that **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** time change really screws me up. I wouldn't bother with all that E6-B mumbo jumbo, either. Try www.higuchi-inc.com. It's a Japanese website (but can be displayed in English) that has a lot of nice looking Citizens. At least their my style of watch.

Tom

 

[reido737]

Try Breitling.com if you want a real pilots watch!

 

[bobbysamd]

Breitling

I fully agree, although some Breitlings share the same basic movement as a Chase-Durer and other, less-expensive watches. It's a terrific watch, but you pay a lot for the name.

Once again, shop, shop, shop, and don't be afraid to negotiate. One other point: Don't go watch-shopping in the Carribean. You won't find any real deals. Bottom-line prices are comparable to the mainland.

Anyone can PM me if they have questions about watches. I am no expert, by any means, but I have loved watches since I was a child and have a bit of knowledge.

 

[alimaui]

I absolutely love my watch. It is nice for just about any occasion. It is an anne klein. It is silver and bracelet style, and to date I have never gotten a comment about it being a "pilot watch" . I sincerely doubt that I ever will.

I had a friend though, who wanted a $200 "pilot watch" It was one of those with an E6B. Personally I have enough fun trying to read the E6B on the miniature version. I could not even imagine trying to read it when it is as small as a watch. I think he eventually decided that that kind of money was alot to drop on a watch....

Ali

 

[ILLINI]

I've always thought it would be pretty cool to have one of those nice big "aviation" watches like a Breitling but could never afford it. Yeah I know, only dork pilots wear those things. Anyway, I have a friend that works in fine jewlery and can get me a Citizen Skyhawk Titanium Chrongraph for cost, and we all know how much watches are marked up! I was wondering what some of you thought of this particular watch. It uses Citizen's Eco-Drive technology so you never have to replace a battery. Are you happy with yours? Did you wish you spent your money on something else?

I'm currenly wearing a Fossil watch which I love, but it's really hard to pass up a deal like the one i'm being offered!

 

[414Flyer]

Re: $50 Timex

A shiny chrome watch it not going to make you better pilot. As long as you know what time it is, who cares if you have a computer attached to your wrist or a simple $50 Timex.

Oh nonsense. We all know that ones pilot ability is directly proportional to the size of ones watch

 

[bobbysamd]

Expensive watches on the cheap

I agree, the size and cost of a watch indeed makes you a better pilot.

Don't forget, you can always purchase pre-owned. You can make a real killing if you shop. I bought my Chase-Durer pre-owned. Maybe the previous owner wore it a couple of times. I was told he didn't like such a heavy watch. In any event, I got a virtually brand-new watch for $300 off list. It runs perfectly.

Just be sure you buy from a reputable dealer and not from some guy selling "Rolexes" out of a briefcase. There are a ton of counterfeits out there.

 

[a36pilot]

breitling

i'm a flight instructor and wear a breitling b-1 model. it is little expensive but i believe it is worth it.
i love swiss watch.

www.breitling.com

 

[CCDiscoB]

Timex is good for beginners. But once you're in the bigs, you need a watch. A real watch. Call it dorky, whatever. I got news for you, some of the sunglasses you "cool dudes" are still wearing aren't cutting it either. I saw a nice pair of vintage 1980's Cats Eyes the other day. That dude was styling.

You can sit and wonder if your Captain is cheap, or look at his Timex and remove all doubt.

 

[Capn Lucky]

Breitlings do nothing for you in the airplane except possibly irritate a captain. I generally wear a cheap watch with a large face at work and save the expensive stuff for later. The one advantage that a breitling has is an inner scale that converts from minutes to tenths of hours. I'm sure you can find the same in a less expensive model.

Steve

 

[bobbysamd]

Breitling

Way to go, A36 Pilot!

Just a little watch knowledge. Many of the mechanical chronographs use a Valjoux 7750 movement. Some Breitlings use the 7750 as a base movement. This is a more-or-less generic chrono movement. Some manufacturers use them straight out of the box or tweak them with alloy mainsprings that are less resistant to weather changes and are therefore more accurate. It's a pretty good movement. Some of the less-expensive mechanical chronographs, such as Limes, use this movement. If so, you might be able to save some money and not pay a lot for a name.

Many companies take this movement and modify it, which is fine.

I cannot emphasize enough that you should do plenty of shopping and negotiating before putting down your money for a watch.

Happy shopping.

PS-The Breitling website to which A36 Pilot refers, www.breitling.com , has some neat Connie pix.

 

[bigsky]

I have the Breitling B-1 also. A really great design and the back of the watch is shaped like big turbo fans. My only complaint was the 350 dollars It cost to get a new battery and to have it re-water proofed by breitling.
I dont worry about it too much in a larger airplane but Thought it would be nice to have the elt/emmergency watch-especially if you are doing alot of flying in remote areas out by yourself.

 

[bobbysamd]

Luminox Stealth watch review

I'm reviving this thread because every so often people discuss pilot watches. I believe I have found a strong contender for the perfect pilot watch. Not only is this watch distinctive and different, but it is extremely practical and a great value for the price.

I recently purchased a Luminox Stealth 3402 watch. Here are pictures. I found this link at random because I wanted to provide pictures of the front and back of the watch.

Military people might recognize this watch from military issue. Actually, Luminox watches are a derivative of military-issue watches, such as the one pictured here.

Professional watch reviewers make a big deal about the box in which a watch is packed. They seem to equate a watch's quality with its box. That's ridiculous. Just the same, I may as well be no different than a professional reviewer. The Luminox Stealth watch is packed in a box covered with a black material with an embossed, extruded "Luminox" logo in stainless steel on top. Cool box, actually.

The Luminox Stealth watch is stainless steel with a special black plating to look like an F-117. It is about 45 mm wide. It is somewhat heavier than many watches, but is not uncomfortable at all. Very good quality for the price. In fact, I have a small wrist and I can barely tell I am wearing the watch. I have the stainless steel bracelet, which is well-made with a double-lock clasp. It fastens in place with a good, distinctive "click." The bracelet has a link to fold out to wear the watch over a jacket or outerwear.

The watch has a quartz movement. Accuracy is a given with quartz watches. I've had my Stealth a little over a month and it has gained three seconds. Now, many watch purists scoff at quartz movements and prefer traditional mechanical movements. That's fine. I also have mechanical watches and love them all, but I'm talking about a watch that, I think, pilots will find extremely useful and practical.

The major aspect of this watch for pilots is its readibility. The hands and numbers are white on a black background. Very easy to read. Very (cool) military-looking. The most outstanding aspect of the watch, and what really sold me, is its luminescence. In other words, the hands and hour markers really do glow in the dark - at all times! It is absolutely amazing. I won't say the watch lights up the room at night - that would be absurd - but you can certainly see the face at night from a distance. I always wished that I had a watch that really glowed brightly in the dark when I was flying. The Luminox Stealth fills the bill in that regard big time.

The outside bezel can be turned to read time in a second time zone. Determine how many hours ahead or behind you want to read the time and set it over the "12." Then, read the time in the desired second zone directly with the hour hand.

I recommend the Luminox Stealth highly if you want a "pilot" watch that is extremely readable under all light conditions, accurate, and different. Luminox is very available online and prices vary greatly. Do plenty of shopping. This watch should cost no more than $275, including shipping, if you shop wisely.

 

[supsup]

watches

I'm not a big watch guy myself. My wife bought me a breitling for our 1st anniversary a couple of years ago. She must have felt guilty because of the astronomical difference between her wedding ring and my $150 wedding band. Being the cheap, conservative person i am it took me about two weeks to even take it out of the box. Breitling sends out a cool catalog and a box of chocolates every x-mas. I would have never bought it for myself. Whenever i wear it it seems to make me fly better, YEAH RIGHT.

supsup