Most people wearing pilot’s watches today don’t fly planes, and modern pilots don’t really need a pilot’s watch. But does that mean they no longer hold real-world relevance? Absolutely not!
Pilot’s watches are the most coveted and interesting watches on the market today. They can ‘go anywhere and do anything’ and are categorised under the sports watch category. These aviation-specific watches have evolved from focusing on cockpit legibility to becoming a fundamental aspect of sports watch history.
What makes this genre of watches so fun and interesting are:
- Legibility: These watches have clear, neat and easy-to-read dials featuring luminous hands and large numerals.
- Durability: The watches are built to withstand extreme conditions, including changes in temperature, pressure and other environmental impacts.
- Functionality: Watches are packed with useful features, such as dual time zones, chronographs, scales, complications, and slide-rule bezels, for enhanced functionality.
- Style: The watches’ stylish appearance makes them perfect for the cockpit and boardroom. The larger design gives them a nice presence on the wrist.
- Variety: Pilot’s watches are immensely popular amongst collectors and enthusiasts for their wide variety, each serving a palpable purpose. Old, modern, rare, quartz—there are various themes to choose from.
- Rich History: The watches have a tremendous history steeped in military aviation. From subtle beginnings to iconic status, the timepieces have journeyed through iconic moments, evolving alongside the changing needs of pilots and technological advancements.
- Great Investment: When it comes to investment, you can often expect the pilot watches to increase in value due to their perennial demand, securing good returns when you sell watches over time.
In this blog, we’re highlighting the best pilot’s watches of all time, which are not only historically important, but stand out with their influential designs.
The Finest Pilot’s Watches To Buy In 2024
1. Cartier Santos – The Pioneer Fly Watch
Introduced in 1904 as the first dedicated wristwatch for men, the Cartier Santos is the first official pilot watch. Louis Cartier designed this watch for his friend and aviation pioneer, Alberto Santos Dumont. Sure, you can say that the Santos doesn’t have many characteristics of a pilot’s watch and even appears dressy. Still, Cartier made it specifically for one of the earliest aviators to use during experimental flights. It is versatile and is available in a few different variations.
Features:
- Square case
- Square dial with Roman markers
- Exposed screws on the bracelet and bezel
2. Omega Speedmaster – The Watch With A Moon History
If the pilots qualify as astronauts, then the Omega Speedmaster is the most famous pilot’s watch of them all. While many conceive it as a racing chronograph, the Speedmaster is the first watch to land on the Moon. NASA also approves it for its space missions. Lovingly referred to as the ‘Moonwatch’, the Omega Speedmaster is one of the most collectable watches in the world. The assortment in this collection is vast, and you can find a watch nearly identical to those worn by astronauts.
Features:
- Stainless steel case
- External tachymeter bezel
- Dial with luminous display
- Manual-wind movement with chronograph functionality
3. Rolex GMT-Master – Ideal For Globetrotters
Rolex is responsible for creating some of the most important watches of all time, including the GMT-Master. However, the GMT-Master was introduced to cater to a different set of problems faced by pilots in the 1950s, which was travelling between time zones. Pilots needed a watch that could allow them to simultaneously track their home time as well as their current destination. The Rolex GMT-Master was released in 1954 and equipped with a GMT function. Since then, many have considered the GMT-Master to be the ultimate pilot’s watch and for good reasons.
Features:
- Rolex’s signature Oyster case
- Highly legible dial with Cyclops over the date function
- Most distinctive 24-hour bi-coloured bezel
- Large GMT hand to track the second time zone
4. Breitling Navitimer – Beyond The Ordinary
Breitling has had a long-standing relationship with the aviation industry. While most pilot’s watches focus on legibility for obvious reasons, the Breitling Navitimer is the complete opposite. Released in 1952, this timepiece shows how vastly varied the pilot’s watch category could be. The Navitimer has a crowded face with sub-dials and scale, showcasing a cockpit’s dazzling array of controls. The watch was made for the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association in the 1950s and comes in a wide range of sizes, colours and materials.
Features:
- Robust stainless steel case
- Dial with sub-dials and a tachymeter
- Innovative, Bi-directional slide-rule bezel
- Integrated column-wheel chronograph function
5. IWC Big Pilot – Heritage meets Innovation
IWC specialises in creating hyper-legible pilot watches, and the Big Pilot is their flagship timepiece. With an iconic big crown and enlarged case size, the watch boasts a commanding presence on the wrist. The bold dial is highly legible, so the wearer can easily read the time at high rates of speed in the air. Powered by IWC’s renowned movements, the Big Pilot offers unmatched accuracy and reliability, making it the trusted companion of pilots and watch fanatics. You have a lot of choices when it comes to IWC Big Pilot’s watches in terms of case materials.
Features:
- Big case size
- Oversized onion crown
- Highly legible dial
TO END WITH..
A pilot watch has multiple purposes. While time-telling is the key feature for some, others prefer a pilot’s watch to calculate travel distances, determine travel speeds, synchronise their local time to UTC, etc.
Whether you’re a watch enthusiast, a passionate collector, or simply someone who appreciates fine craftsmanship, the pilot’s watches listed above offer something truly special. Their appealing design, historical significance, and sense of possibility and adventure will make anyone fall in love with them.
If you’re looking to buy watches that symbolise exploration and adventure, the pieces listed above are the perfect companions for soaring through the skies and navigating the complexities of everyday life.