PILOT AND AVIATION WATCHES

One of the more popular and distinct watch types out there, pilot and aviation watches have a rich history with a broad selection of options. Below we feature both classically-styled pilot watches and their most modern counterparts. Come along as we share featured content on one of the most storied watch categories on the market while discovering just how far pilot watches have come over the years. 

Scroll down to browse our curated collection of pilot watches. 

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PILOT WATCHES

Fortis Watch Black / Bracelet Flieger F-39 Automatic
Fortis Watch Petrol / Bracelet Flieger F-39 Automatic
Fortis Watch Petrol / Aviator Strap Flieger F-39 Automatic
Fortis Watch Black / Aviator Strap Flieger F-39 Automatic
Fortis Watch Liberty Blue / Aviator Strap Flieger F-39 Automatic
Fortis Watch Liberty Blue / Bracelet Flieger F-39 Automatic
Fortis Watch Black / Bracelet Flieger F-39 Automatic
Fortis Watch Petrol / Bracelet Flieger F-39 Automatic
Fortis Watch Petrol / Aviator Strap Flieger F-39 Automatic
Fortis Watch Black / Aviator Strap Flieger F-39 Automatic
Fortis Watch Liberty Blue / Aviator Strap Flieger F-39 Automatic
Fortis Watch Liberty Blue / Bracelet Flieger F-39 Automatic

Flieger F-39 Automatic

$2,100.00
Hamilton Watch Camouflage Khaki Aviation X-Wind Auto Chrono
Hamilton Watch Camouflage Khaki Aviation X-Wind Auto Chrono

Khaki Aviation X-Wind Auto Chrono

$2,295.00
Hamilton Watch Bronze Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer 43mm
Hamilton Watch Silver Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer 43mm
Hamilton Watch Bronze Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer 43mm
Hamilton Watch Silver Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer 43mm

Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer 43mm

$1,295.00
Fortis Watch White Dust / Block Bracelet Stratoliner
Fortis Watch White Dust / Aviator Strap Stratoliner
Fortis Watch Cool Gray / Block Bracelet Stratoliner
Fortis Watch Cool Gray / Aviator Strap Stratoliner
Fortis Watch Cosmic Gray / Block Bracelet Stratoliner
Fortis Watch Cosmic Gray / Aviator Strap Stratoliner
Fortis Watch Blue Japan / Block Bracelet Stratoliner
Fortis Watch Blue Japan / Aviator Strap Stratoliner
Fortis Watch White Dust / Block Bracelet Stratoliner
Fortis Watch White Dust / Aviator Strap Stratoliner
Fortis Watch Cool Gray / Block Bracelet Stratoliner
Fortis Watch Cool Gray / Aviator Strap Stratoliner
Fortis Watch Cosmic Gray / Block Bracelet Stratoliner
Fortis Watch Cosmic Gray / Aviator Strap Stratoliner
Fortis Watch Blue Japan / Block Bracelet Stratoliner
Fortis Watch Blue Japan / Aviator Strap Stratoliner

Stratoliner

$4,800.00
Oris Watch Default / Green Okavango Air Rescue Limited Edition
Oris Watch Default / Green Okavango Air Rescue Limited Edition

Okavango Air Rescue Limited Edition

$2,600.00
Laco Watch Ulm Ulm and Würzburg 39
Laco Watch Würzburg Ulm and Würzburg 39
Laco Watch Ulm Ulm and Würzburg 39
Laco Watch Würzburg Ulm and Würzburg 39

Ulm and Würzburg 39

$1,560.00
Hamilton Watch Black / Leather Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer Chrono Quartz
Hamilton Watch Black / Leather Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer Chrono Quartz

Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer Chrono Quartz

$725.00
Laco Watch Default / Black Paderborn
Laco Watch Default / Black Paderborn

Paderborn

$1,190.00

GOOD TO KNOW: TYPE A & TYPE B DIALS

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TYPE A

The Type A pilot dial features a dial layout with a standard minute track surrounding the outer edge of the dial. There are large, oversized hands which overlap the minute/seconds around the dial as well as the hour numerals. A triangle at twelve ensures that even in the worst conditions, the watch can be easily set.

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TYPE B

The Type B dial layout has a perimeter that displays large minutes, in five minute increments. At the center of the dial, you'll see a smaller hour track going from 1-12. The hour hand has been shortened to reflect this while the thickest part of the minute hand has been moved to ensure only a small part of the hour track is covered.

PILOT WATCHES UNDER $1000

GOOD TO KNOW: CLASSIC VS MODERN

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CLASSIC

The classicaly styled pilot watch has a very simple layout, as we saw with the Type A and Type B. Legibility is the primary goal, thus a monochrome color scheme tends to be the choice for brands looking to create a classically styled pilot watch. And if the brand really wants to stay true to the original design aesthetic, the dial will not include a brand logo (these were considered as an extra and possible distraction).

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MODERN

The modern pilot watch still has the goal of legibility yet also strives to excel with multi-functionailty. These watches may have slide rule bezels for when quick calculations are needed. They can also include multiple timezones as the modern day pilot hops from city to city. Finally, these watches also experiment with different materials in an aim to increase overall comfort as well as durability.

MODERN PILOT WATCHES

GOOD TO KNOW: GMT'S & CHRONOGRAPHS

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GMT

A GMT watch, sometimes referred to as a dual time watch, provides the wearer with an instant view of the time in two locations. This functionality is pivotal for pilots who travel in and out of multiple timezones. Originally, these watches would display a home time and GMT time, which is a time standard that all pilots could reference when trying to stay synced between multiple locations.

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CHRONOGRAPH

A chronograph measures elapsed time and can do this in minute and sometime hour increments. This ability to measure elapsed time allowed pilots to complete essential tasks such as navigation by completeing speed and distance calculations, fuel consumption calculations and more.

GMT AND CHRONOGRAPH PILOT WATCHES

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT

16 GREAT PILOT WATCHES UNDER $1K

We break down 16 of the best aviation-style watches you can buy today. Weather your looking for something feature-rich or classically-styled, we've got you covered.

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