The Best Pilot Watches for Every Budget in 2020
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If keeping time is an important part of your EDC, you’re gonna need a solid watch to do it. And of all the watch options out there, few rely on precision timing as much as pilots do. Fliegers, or pilot watches, are popular EDC options because of their legibility, durability, and accuracy. In this guide, we’ll explain where the flieger comes from, some standout features to look for, and 10 of our favorites for any budget.
A Brief History of the Flieger
The “flieger” (German for “flyer”) style of watches originated in Germany during World War II. The prevalence of air combat demanded a timepiece that was legible, accurate, durable, and anti-magnetic. The flieger watch was commissioned by the German military by 5 original watchmakers that still produce them to this day. The traditional pilot watches measured in at a huge 55mm to accommodate the pocket watch movements that were readily available at the time. Movement technology and manufacturing have come a long way in the past 75 years, allowing these watches to become smaller and therefore better for everyday wear.
Standout Features of a Flieger Watch
- Clean, Legible Dial: Flieger watches are easy to read at a glance thanks to their large, clean dials. Most have minimal (or zero) branding. Large, sword-shaped minute and hour hands, and a legible second hand ensure that the time can be easily tracked. Most examples feature white text on a black dial for increased legibility.
- Large Crown: The cockpit of WWII planes lacked temperature control. When you see photos of WWII pilots, they’re seen wearing leather jackets lined with shearling fur, heavy gloves, and hats. The large, onion-shaped crown seen on these watches allow the operator to make adjustments even when wearing thick gloves.
- Triangle 12 o’clock Marker: The triangular marker seen at the 12 position helps the wearer orient the watch when flying. It draws your eye towards the top of the watch, making it easy to quickly read the time. In a pinch, it can also be used as a basic solar compass.
Now that you've got the basics of pilot watches down, check out our favorite flieger recommendations for watch newbies and seasoned collectors alike:
Best Affordable Pilot Watches
Parnis Flieger
PurchaseKey Features
Seconds Dial
Mineral Crystal
Manual Winding
Vintage Aesthetic
Specifications
Movement
Tianjin Seagull
Case Diameter
44 mm
Strap Width
22 mm
Water Resistant Depth
30 m
The Parnis Flieger is one of the few true fliegers on a budget. The design is a spot-on representation of a classic pilot watch: a large, clear dial, sword-shaped hands, and big legible Arabic indices (watch speak for numbers, as opposed to Roman numerals or tick marks). This manual-winding watch has a large, easy-to-operate crown and a unique seconds sub-dial at the 9 o'clock position. As far as affordable pilot watches go, this may be your best bet.
Orient Flight
PurchaseKey Features
Good Value
WWII Aesthetic
Hardened Mineral Crystal
Large Screw-down Crown
Specifications
Movement
Orient Cal. 48743
Case Diameter
42 mm
Strap Width
20 mm
Water Resistant Depth
100 m
Orient has earned a reputation for producing quality watches at an affordable price point. And their entry into the pilot watch category, the Flight, is no exception. It has all the vintage looks of a flieger with a few modernized updates. The navy blue dial is a slight step away from the traditional pilot watch, but you still get the triangular “12” marker, legible sword-shaped hands, and stainless steel construction.
Seiko Flightmaster
PurchaseKey Features
Rotating Slide-Rule
60-minute Chronograph
Date Display
Scratch-resistant Hardlex Crystal
Specifications
Movement
Seiko Cal. 7T92
Case Diameter
41 mm
Strap Width
21 mm
Water Resistant Depth
100 m
Some pilot watches, like the Seiko Flightmaster, don't follow the traditionally pared down dial design of a classic flieger model. Instead, the Flightmaster trades some legibility for more information, like calculating speed, flight time, and other metrics thanks to its integrated slide rule system. Although it's busy, you'll appreciate the chronograph function and interesting aesthetic.
Citizen Nighthawk
PurchaseKey Features
Slide Rule
Dual Time
Eco-Drive
Anti-reflective Mineral Crystal
Specifications
Movement
Japanese Quartz
Case Diameter
42 mm
Strap Width
22 mm
Water Resistant Depth
200 m
Another popular pilot watch amongst the EDC crowd is the Citizen Nighthawk. This Eco-Drive powered watch is charged via an internal solar cell so it always stays ticking. Similar to the Seiko Flightmaster, the Nighthawk has a slide rule bezel for calcuations. The stainless steel construction, impressive water resistance, and aggressive black, white, and red accents make for a watch worthy of the rest of your EDC.
Maratac Mid Pilot
PurchaseKey Features
Clean Face
Seconds Dial
Domed Sapphire Crystal
4 o’clock Crown Placement
Specifications
Movement
Miyota 8245
Case Diameter
39 mm
Strap Width
20 mm
Water Resistant Depth
100 m
The Maratac Mid Pilot is one of the best mid-priced fliegers out there. This beefy watch's sterile dial is free of a date function, and branding — made only to tell the time. At the 6 o'clock position, a seconds sub-dial breaks up an otherwise clean face. For under $500, you get a super durable stainless steel case, a domed sapphire crystal, superluminova treatment on the indices and hands, and a reliable Miyota movement made by Citizen.
Steinhart Nav B-Uhr Flieger
PurchaseKey Features
Prominent Crown
Minutes Scale
Legible
Domed Sapphire Crystal
Specifications
Movement
ETA 2824-2 Automatic
Case Diameter
44 mm
Strap Width
22 mm
Water Resistant Depth
30 m
The Steinhart Nav B-Uhr is a slight variance on the classic flieger. In addition to the the standard 1-12 hour markers, there's a smaller minute scale around the middle of the dial. The “B-Uhr” is short for “Beobachtungs-uhren” which translates directly to “observation watch.” The addition of a minutes scale makes it easier to tell how much time has elapsed at a glance. Steinhart's B-Uhr features a clear caseback that lets you take a closer look at the handsomely decorated movement inside.
Laco Type B
PurchaseKey Features
German WWII Pilot Aesthetic
Legible
Scratch-resistant Sapphire Crystal
Leather Strap Buckle w/ Rivets
Specifications
Movement
Miyota 821A Automatic
Case Diameter
42 mm
Strap Width
20 mm
Water Resistant Depth
50 m
Laco is one of the five original makers of the flieger style watch, and they're still doing it today. The Laco Type B features a modernized automatic Mioyta movement which is ideal for daily wear. They've also updated the crystal from mineral glass to sapphire for extra scratch resistance. The Laco Type B has a modest 42mm case that wears comfortably on the wrist.
Sinn 556A
PurchaseKey Features
Sinn NaBo clock-inspired Design
Clean Aesthetic
Clear Sapphire Crystal Back
Chronometer Level Movement
Specifications
Movement
Automatic Mechanical
Case Diameter
38.5 mm
Case Lug Width
20 mm
Water Resistant Depth
200 m
Sinn's 556A is a more modern take on the classic flieger. The 556A's aesthetic is as clean as it gets. A large, clear dial with arabic numerals at 12,3,6, and 9 positions is easy to read, even with your arm fully extended. The bead-blasted stainless steel case measures in at a conservative 38.5mm, which will complement any size wrist. Sinn is known for their impressive construction, as each watch is precision made in Germany from premium materials.
Archimede Pilot 42
PurchaseKey Features
Large Onion-shaped Crown
Legible
Vintage Aesthetic
Clear Mineral Crystal Back
Specifications
Movement
Eta 2824-2 Automatic
Case Diameter
42 mm
Strap Width
20 mm
Water Resistant Depth
50 m
The Pilot 42 from Archimede stays true to its WWII roots. The sterile dial features blued hands that give just a little bit of contrast to its black and white face. To get their blue color, each hand is held over a flame to oxidize the steel to a deep blue. The large, onion-shaped crown is easy to turn, making it a breeze to set the time. The Archimede Pilot 42 is a vintage homage that deserves a spot in your collection.
Damasko DA 36 Black
PurchaseKey Features
Ice-hardened Stainless Steel
Low & High Pressure Resistant
Magnetic Field Protection
38 hours power reserve
Specifications
Movement
ETA 2836-2 Elabore
Case Diameter
40 mm
Case Lug Width
20 mm
Water Resistant Depth
100 m
Damasko's DA 36 in black is one of the most technically advanced watches on the list. Although it leans toward the modern side, this timepiece's vintage heritage is easily seen. Instead of a standard stainless steel case, the Damasko is made from hardened stainless and then coated in black “Damest” DLC coating for extra scratch resistance. Inside, there's a reliable ETA movement surrounded by an anti-shock and anti-magnetic cage. If you appreciate the small details, head over to their site and read more about the DA 36.
Do you wear a pilot watch in your EDC? Tell us about your flieger in the comments below.
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