We often get questions on the reasons behind certain details found on pilot’s watches, which is why we thought it would be relevant to bring you a (non-exhaustive) list of the distinguishing features that make a watch a pilot’s watch. A vintage (and probably field-tested) IWC Mark XI, the inspiration for most IWC pilot’s watches. Last but not least, accuracy and precision were paramount… And taking into account the stringent conditions of utilisation, ideally, these should feature protection against shocks, magnetic fields and sudden drops in pressure (with a crystal secured against any displacement). Operating the watches was also made as simple as possible, to avoid errors. Also, for the sake of readability, the dials were as contrasted and luminous as possible (matte black dials with large numerals and markers, all painted in radioactive material). Pilot watches should be large enough to be read when flying. The specifications of the B-Uhr say it all. Original, vintage IWC B-Uhr Calibre 52 T.S.C. A very long, double-riveted leather strap, long enough to go over the leather flight jacket, held the B-Uhr in place.” For more information, read our series on the history of pilot watches Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV and Part V. To correct for time discrepancies, the movements were capable of stopping the central seconds hand by pulling the crown, or hacking, and the oversized diamond or onion crown could be operated with gloves on the hand. Inside, the movement was surrounded by an iron core, making the B-Uhr anti-magnetic – a must for aviation. The size accommodated large hand-wound movements typically used in pocket watches, but the B-Uhr was always to be a watch for the wrist. Reddick reported that “ These watches ( editor’s note: The German Beobachtungsuhren or B-Urh) were big, 55mm big. In his five-part series on the history of pilot’s watches, our contributor Max E. These specifications gave birth to legendary models: the Type 20 and 21 chronographs, the Mark series, the B-Uhren, and more. The French Aéronavale, the British Ministry of Defense, the German Luftwaffe or the Italian Aeronautica Militare often used a number of different manufacturers to produce watches according to precise specifications. Military forces were not necessarily brand loyal. The above example is one of a series of 500 watches specially commissioned for the pilots of the French Fleet Air Arm in 1958 and delivered in January 1960. An example of Breguet Type 20 military chronograph wristwatch no. Its technical specifications were basic, far from those of military watches of the mid-20 th century, which have shaped the design and features of many of modern pilot’s watches. The first pilot’s watch is often considered to be the wristwatch created by Louis Cartier for dandy aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont to time his flights. Positioned more as statement pieces today than the vital tool watches originally used in the air, pilot’s watches, like dive watches, were born from necessity. Pilot’s watches are extremely popular, appreciated for their utilitarian aesthetics and sharp legibility. However, there are some key elements that single these watches out from the crowd. Each and every brand has its own vision of what a pilot’s watch should be, depending on the needs of the wearer. If there is an official standard defining the features for a watch suitable for diving (ISO 6425), no such definition or standard exists (at least one that would be used throughout the industry) for another popular watch category: the pilot’s watch.
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