Pilot Watch

Exactly 100 years ago, in the year 1921, Louis Charles Breguet shared his ambitious vision to introduce airplanes that could reach an altitude of up to 13,500 meters and complete the distance from Paris to New York within six hours. Louis Breguet, great-great-grandson of Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747–1823), wanted to make air travel possible for as…

With the Oris Okavango Air Rescue Limited Edition, the Hölstein-based company is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Botswanian air ambulance organisation Okavango Air Rescue (O.A.R). They operate helicopters and aeroplanes as well as a clinic to provide medical care to the population. The watch is a variant of the Big Crown ProPilot but has…

Breguet is expanding its pilot's watch collection with the Breguet Type XXI 3815. It is a modern and sporty reinterpretation of the Type XXI 3817, presented back in 2016. Particularly striking features include the flashy numerals and hands, which are either orange or green. The watch appears in a titanium case, which allows a view…

The new Pilot's Watch Chronograph Edition "AMG" celebrates the long-standing partnership between IWC Schaffhausen and the Mercedes-AMG sports car brand. The watch comes with a titanium case and features a carbon dial, a material that AMG uses for its vehicles. In addition, an AMG logo adorns the sapphire crystal caseback. The latter reveals the calibre…

Green is known as the embodiment of hope. It is the colour of the first lush leaves and grass to shoot up in spring. It stands for better times and a prosperous harvest following the bleak winter months. Perhaps its symbolism provides an explanation as to why so many horology houses are choosing to introduce…

Over at Schaffhausen, one tends to focus on just one collection each year. Last year it was the Portugieser line, which underwent both a revision and extension. This year, however, another IWC favourite is in the limelight; pilot's watches. These models have always enjoyed a huge level of popularity at IWC – both with design-orientated…

Longines is presenting a variation of the Avigation BigEye launched in 2017. Unlike its predecessor, the new model is housed in a titanium case and presents itself with a petrol blue dial. The Longines Avigation BigEye is equipped with a silicon hairspring and a column-wheel chronograph. The brand vouches for the reliability of the new…

When Patek Philippe created a pilot's watch with the Reference 5524G back in 2015, the watch world was in for a surprise. For such a classic manufacture, such a striking watch seemed somewhat unusual. But the surprising new piece did not appear by chance. Patek Philippe had already developed hour-angle watches for the military back…

Earlier this year at LMVH in Dubai, Zenith put two modern new models in the spotlight that put the brand's aviation heritage into the spotlight. The Pilot Type 20 Rescue (Ref. 03.2434.679/20.I010) and Pilot Type 20 Rescue Chronograph (Ref. 03.2434.4069/20.I010) feature 45mm brushed stainless-steel cases and textured, sunray grey dials. They are presented on black…

First of all: the general image of the Swiss watch brand Blancpain could not be more different. The layman would probably never link Blancpain to sports watches, whereas for most connoisseurs, the ‘Fifty Fathoms’ is the epitome of the modern diving watch. At this point, some might frown doubtfully. Yet, it was all caused by…

From a Rockstar point of view, IWC’s ‘Big Pilot’ watch has at least two advantages. First: being on tour, you can easily turn it into a bedside table clock due to its size and strong luminous power. Second: if you’re looking at pictures from past gigs one day, it just takes one glimpse onto the…

If Christoph Grainger-Herr had to stereotype the average IWC customer, he might catch himself picking his own name. Not out of sheer vanity, but because the young CEO embodies and leads the brand with so much genuine dedication, and has been doing so for just over two years. The trained architect has been with the brand for over…