The history of pilot watches is an interesting one as, like many watch styles, they were designed for a very specific purpose. It is the oversized features and additional complications that make pilot watches easy to identify and so attractive to many collectors. Many collectors would say that no true collection is complete without a pilot watch as this style of timepiece has become such an iconic element of the watch industry. If you are searching for your perfect pilot watch, keep reading for our top 10 pilot watch recommendations 2021.
A Brief History of Pilot Watches
Similarly to other watch styles, the pilot watch was born out of wartime. The aircraft that the pilots flew during the war required two hands to be driven. This meant that the on-trend pocket watches of the time were incredibly impractical for pilots as they could not spare to use a hand to check their watch. Louis Cartier designed the first pilot watch for his friend Alberto Santos-Dumont. Santos-Dumont regularly attended airshows, giving him plenty of opportunity to show off his new timepieces to fellow pilots. A reliable watch paired with a compass allowed pilots to calculate time, speed and distance to make for a much safer and well planned flight.
The iconic design of the pilots watch was not created for purely aesthetic reasons. Every element has a specific purpose. The watches often have dark dials with large white indices to ensure that they would be easy to read in a poorly lit cabin. Large, oversized crowns ensure that the pilot would be able to operate their timepiece even whilst wearing large gloves. Pilot watches tend to be larger than other watches making them more visible. Even the straps of traditional pilot watches had to be adapted. They were often made longer to ensure that it would fit over a thick jacket.
Top 10 Pilot Watch Recommendations 2021
Laco Automatic | Venedig Erbstruck | Pilot Watches | Leather 861943
Laco are famed for their pilot watch designs. Each model is created in line with traditional pilot watches for a truly authentic appearance. This model exhibits a deliberately aged dial with C3 Superluminova detailing. The steel hands are thermically blued and the bold Arabic numerals are black. The stainless steel case that framed the dial is entirely unique as it has been aged individually. The ageing process makes the watch look like an authentic vintage timepiece. The crown of this watch is modelled off of the original Beobachtungsuhr watch. This model is powered by an automatic Laco 24 ETA 2824.2 movement. This vintage-style watch is finished with a closed-loop pilot’s brown calf leather strap. The strap is adorned with rivets.
Sinn 104 St Sa I W Classic Pilot Watch Stainless Steel H Link Bracelet 104.012-BM1040104S
Despite not having the signature dark dial of the traditional pilot watch, this Sinn model exhibits a great number of pilot watch traits. This watch has a captive pilot’s bezel which surrounds the white dial. The dial is adorned with black hands and indices with a weekday and date aperture. The dial is protected by anti-reflective sapphire crystal to ensure that it can be read even under bright lights. Despite being designed for flight, this watch is also suitable for water based activities. It is water and pressure resistant up to 20 bar. This watch is powered by an automatic, self-winding movement of the calibre SW220-1. A stainless steel case houses the movement. The watch is secured on the wrist using a stainless steel two link bracelet.
ORIS Big Crown ProPilot Worldtimer Men’s Watch 01 690 7735 4063-07 5 22 05FC
ORIS are very well known for its ProPilot models. They are highly functional watches that are inspired by pioneering aviators. The watch has the appearance of a traditional pilot watch. It exhibits a dark dial with large white indices. The dial features two sub dials and a date aperture. One of the sub dials can be used to display an additional time zone, making this watch the perfect companion for international travel. A stainless steel case houses the Oris 690, base ETA 2836-2 movement. The movement can be observed through the exhibition case back. This watch is finished with a brown leather strap that is decorated with a white topstitch.
BALL Watch Company Roadmaster Pilot GMT Limited Edition Black Dial DG3038A-S2C-BK
This watch is relatively unique as it is a certified chronometer, meaning that the movement that powers it is one of the most accurate and precise on the market. The black dial is framed by a blue and red bezel, giving the watch a bright and eye-catching appearance. This model is a limited edition, with only 100 pieces available worldwide. A titanium case and bracelet ensure that the watch is lightweight, yet incredibly durable. This model is water resistant up to 300 metres (30 bar) and powered by an automatic movement. BALL have ensured that the dial of the watch can be read in the dark by adorning it with micro gas tube technology for a long-lasting luminescence.
BOSS Men’s | Pilot Edition | Chrono | Black Dial | Brown Leather 1513851
This model would make the perfect addition for newer collectors as it is a relatively affordable pilot watch. This watch features the stereotypical dark dial that is expected from a pilot watch, accompanied by a classic brown leather strap with a cream top stitching. This model exhibits three sub dials and a date aperture to ensure that it has plenty of utility for the man on the go. The silver indices and hands are easy to read against the dark backdrop. A black plated stainless steel case houses a quartz movement and measures 44mm in diameter. This watch is water resistant up to 50 metres (5 bar).
Alpina Men’s Smartimer Pilot Chrono | Brown Leather Strap | Blue Dial AL-372N4S6
This Alpina watch features all of the core elements of a pilot watch. The dark blue dial exhibits white Arabic indices and hands with a large date aperture. The dial features three sub dials, giving it plenty of functionality. The stainless steel case exhibits a large crown with two large pushers to ensure that the watch is easy to operate, even with gloved hands. This watch is powered by an AL-372 high-precision quartz chronograph movement. The watch is water resistant up to 100 metres (10 bar), meaning that it can be worn for some water-based activities. The watch is secured on the wrist using a brown leather strap with white contrast stitching.
Hamilton Khaki Pilot Auto Stainless Steel H64715135
The dark dial and white and silver baton and Arabic indices of this model make the dial easy to read in dark conditions, such as an aircraft cabin. The dial is oversized, measuring 46mm in diameter. This makes the watch easy to read at a glance. A weekday and date aperture features at 3 o’clock on the dial. A stainless steel case frames the dial and houses a calibre H-30 movement. This movement provides the watch with a power reserve of up to 80 hours. The black and silver colour scheme of this watch is furthered by the stainless steel bracelet. This bracelet is secured using a folding clasp.
Limit Men’s Brown Leather Strap Black Dial 5492.01
This very budget friendly pilot watch from Limit would be the perfect addition for young, or new, watch collectors. It features all of the core features that are desired in a pilot watch for a very low price. The black dial exhibits white Arabic indices with silver hour, minute and second hands. A weekday and date aperture is positioned at 3 o’clock. A black ion-plated case frames the dial and houses a quartz movement. The case measures 42mm in diameter and 12mm in depth. This watch is finished with a brown leather strap that fastens using a pin buckle.
Luminox Bear Grylls Survival Air | GMT | Black Dial | Stainless Steel Mesh | Bracelet XB.3762
The watches from the Bear Grylls and Luminox collaboration collection are built to be incredibly resilient and robust. Although this model does not look like a traditional pilot watch, its features ensure that it is a modern day iteration. It is perhaps the most unusual addition to our top 10 pilot watch recommendations 2021 due to its futuristic appearance.
The dial of the watch features ‘always visible’ technology to ensure that the dial can be read in the dark. This technology gives the dial a constant glow for up to 25 years. The dial features an orange GMT hand, providing the wearer with the capability of being able to track a second time zone. The black bezel is printed with the names of international cities to make use of this function easier. This bezel is made from black Carbonox, meaning that it is very robust. This watch is finished with a stainless steel Milanese bracelet, giving it a stylish and contemporary look.
Junghans Men’s Meister Pilot Black Leather Strap 027/3590.00
This watch exhibits a classic black and silver colour scheme, making the traditional pilot watch style easy to wear in the modern day. The watch exhibits a black dial with luminescent Arabic indices and two sub dials. A calibre J880.4 movement is housed in the stainless steel case. This movement provides the watch with a power reserve of up to 38 hours. The case back is screw fastened to aid with the water resistance rating of 10 bar. A stainless steel bi-directional bezel surrounds the dial. This watch is secured on the wrist using a black riveted cowhide leather strap that fastens with a stainless steel buckle.
What are your thoughts on our top 10 pilot watch recommendations 2021? Would you consider adding any of them to your collection? Let us know in the comments below!
