There’s no shortage of pilot’s watches on the market. These aviation-inspired tools with large crowns, legible dials and robust cases promise to be just as reliable in a cockpit as on land. But when there’s so many, how do you know where to start?
PILOT’S WATCH PERFORMANCE CHRONOGRAPH 41 AMG (REF. IW388304) - Credit IWC
One luxury brand many aviators and watch collectors fall to is IWC Schaffhausen. In 1936, they engineered their first pilot’s watch for military personnel named the “Special Pilot’s Watch”. It featured shatterproof glass, an anti-magnetic movement and a design capable of withstanding temperatures between -40 °C and +40 °C. Shortly after, the British Royal Air Force commissioned IWC to develop the Navigator’s Wristwatch Mark 11, another high-contrast, anti-magnetic tool watch.
BIG PILOT’S WATCH IWC RACING WORKS, REF. IW501019 - Credit IWC
Today, the majority of IWC Pilot’s watch collection is inspired by these two historic designs, retaining the same robust, legible and precise personality but with more modern materials and movements at the core. The collection is extensive, with varying complications, sizes and colours to choose from. But, with prices starting from £4,300, these pilot’s watches aren’t easily obtainable for us all. So instead, check out these five affordable alternatives to the IWC Pilot’s watch for scratching that pilot’s watch itch.
Alpina Startimer Pilot
Alpina Startimer Pilot - Credit Alpina
A modern and effortlessly wearable Swiss made pilot’s watch that doesn’t get enough attention in our eyes is the Alpina Startimer Pilot Automatic. This robust instrument ticks all the boxes of a high quality pilot’s watch, offering a 41mm wide stainless steel case, large and easily manipulated crown, sapphire crystal glass and a clean, legible dial with Super-Lumi-Nova markings. It’s a slightly more modern take on a pilot’s watch compared to the IWC Pilot’s but it’s handsome nonetheless. Price: £1,093
Laco Pilot Watch Original
Laco Pilot Watch Original Kempten on Original Vintage Highley Genuine Leather Watch Strap - Credit WatchGecko
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German watchmaker Laco has always been an easy recommendation for someone looking for an affordable, high-quality pilot’s watch. Also inspired by 1940’s military aviation timepieces, there is a close resemblance between the Laco Pilot and the IWC Pilot. They arrive with 39mm, 42mm or 45mm wide steel cases with onion-style crowns, sapphire crystal glass and quintessential pilot’s dials. There are a few configurations to choose from, but those with the large Arabic numerals, sword-shaped hands and large inverted triangle marker offer the best legibility in my opinion. Price: Starts from €980
Seiko 5 Flieger
Seiko 5 Sports ‘Flieger’ SRPH29K1 - Credit Seiko
One of the most affordable mechanical pilot’s watches out there is the Seiko 5 Flieger, and it’s a perfect example of a smart but easy-to-wear timepiece with some aviation influence. Measuring to just 36mm wide, it’s an unusually compact design with a solid stainless steel case, curved Hardlex crystal and a 100 metre water resistance. Its most distinguishing trait is the dial which presents a traditional “Flieger” layout inclusive of pipette-shaped hands, inverted triangle at 12 o’clock, a large 60 minute track on the outer circumference and a smaller 12 hour scale on the inner flange. Price: Starts from £260
Tutima Flieger
Tutima Flieger - Credit Tutima
Another German watchmaker with an aptitude for taking the aesthetics of 1940’s military pilot’s watches and turning them into contemporary wristwear for the modern day is Tutima. The Tutima Flieger collection is a wonderful blend of vintage and modern, offering gradient dials, brightly polished 41mm wide steel cases and Horween leather straps. They are powered by the self-winding ETA Valjoux 2836 movement improved by a Tutima-made oscillating rotor. Price: £1,385.
Mühle Glashütte Terrasport II
Mühle Glashütte Terrasport II - Credit Mühle Glashütte
Our final affordable alternative to the IWC Pilot’s watch comes from Mühle Glashütte. This is a brand typically associated with diving and sports watches, but their Terrasport II is a rugged aviation-inspired design with plenty of bang for its buck. It’s a large watch, measuring to 44mm wide, allowing for a broad, legible dial with an inverted triangle marker and two dots, sword-shaped hands and Arabic numerals. It has a screw in crown, a water resistance of 100 metres, sapphire crystal glass and a tiny, almost unnoticeable date window at 3 o’clock. It is powered by the SW 200-1 calibre with a 38-hour power reserve. Price: €1,450.
