Those are some pretty sweet watches, DM71!
I suppose this could be added as it's an Air King.
Peace,
Preston
Last edited by Preston; Dec 3, 2014 at 01:32 PM.
The thread is a "Pilot watch pictures" thread. However, it's clear by a lot of the pictures posted that some can't differentiate between a field watch, diver, and pilot watch. There's a general military thread where some of these pics would be more suitable.
I'm currently without a flieger at the moment, but I'm in the market for one again. Love the idea of a "pilots only" thread like this. It helps with inspiration to get me out of diver mode.
Last edited by appa papa; Dec 4, 2014 at 01:13 PM.
I totally hear what you're saying. There's certainly a lot of overlap between pilots and military watches.
Personally, I feel that some watches (e..g, Seagull 1963) would qualify as a pilot watch, but isn't necessarily a military watch. Some Breitlings are great pilot watches with good aesthetics, and are fine in the confines of a cockpit. But they would be pretty poor on the field.
I look at pilot watches as fliegers, watches with aviation history, or watches with functions to support aviation (e.g., slide rule or compass). Can a pilot use a diver? Sure, as a pilot, I have certainly used my divers while flying. Does that make a diver a pilot watch? I'd have to say no.
On the other hand, a good diver that can take a beating (e.g., a Seiko Monster) is a great military watch as well, because it can take the beating on the field. It can survive shocks, mud and grime, and generally unpleasant conditions.
A few watches (e.g., the Casio Pathfinder I posted) are all of the above. It has tools for both pilots and for the field, and can take one helluva beating in land, water, or ice.
But I also have watches that are just regular, average watches that I love when flying -- the Seiko 5 with black dial and red hands is one of them. The red hands stand out, and it is such a clean, legible, and simple design. Is it a true pilot watch? Well, only in that I wear it when I fly.
Only own one currently. But I plan on building a full on 55mm flieger homage before long.
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