Horological Meandering

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 ...  

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 ... 

..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

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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

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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.

..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...

Very close to the original design. If you want to dream, the Vintage ones are unbeatable. Best, Keith. Nicolas.

thx for sharing J

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

..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... 

Thanks for the write up. i also have Deep Love for Pilot Watches.but Bigger in Case Diameters than yours.. Cheers Tony

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Cheers...  

..2 IWC Big Pilots with one commemorating Antoine St Exupery ... nice collection. Many thanks.

Shows why these watches are timeless.

: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 ... 

That's a sweet size if you can carry it off - and you always do so well Tony.

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 could see one on your nice bespoke strap. HAGWE.

...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...  

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...  

..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

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..how ignorant i was..

Are among my favourite Pilot Watches... Without forgetting a certain " Big Longines" if you know what I mean... Best, Nicolas.

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... 

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.

..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"....  

This is the only onion I like. Best, Nicolas.

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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,...  

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

But if you look at my avatar, there could be a clue! Best my friend!...  

Superb, and logical at the same time... I wondered if you also owned one of these somptuous Mathey Tissot... Best, Nicolas;

I go weak at the knees for this one. Beautiful.

Thanks for posting

..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 colletion marv and great condition watches too. Btw are you also looking for daytonas used by south american air forces??? best regards georges

vintage pilots. will tell you the stories behind the two another day. pam 341 plonked in for size reference. Best, Horo...  

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... 

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its 6am here, and i have to be up by 9am, lets call it quits!! best, Horo

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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

That PAM is huge!! Thx for the great military pieces...