I would like to purchase a nice pilot's watch, but don't know what to look for

[muttley]

Does this Seiko qualify as a Flieger? It seems to fit the description, but I haven't heard it described as such, more as a 'military' style.
Anyone clarify this for me? It's definitely within the thread poster's budget.
Thanks.

[pixelfight]

This is kinda what I had in mind, has anyone heard of Zeno? Altough I know its more pricy, but the styling on these watches are what I am after. I love the numbering font on this piece. Also I would like the numbers and the hands of the dial to glow at night.

[andromeda673]

This is kinda what I had in mind, has anyone heard of Zeno? Altough I know its more pricy, but the styling on these watches are what I am after. I love the numbering font on this piece. Also I would like the numbers and the hands of the dial to glow at night.

Zeno are very nice, if you want a nice Flieger watch, Junkers, yes as in the old german WW2 plane maker, makes some nice Fliger style watches.

[Thwizzit]

So, what makes a watch a pilot/aviator/flieger?

[andromeda673]

So, what makes a watch a pilot/aviator/flieger?

From my understanding, and what I have learned, is usually a tachymeter of some sort on the inner and or outer bezel, sometimes chronograph, a larger dial and or larger leather strap/stainless steel bracelet. It's more of a specific look as well, I have seen some flight watches have multiple time zones.

Hope that helps.

[ulackfocus]

So, what makes a watch a pilot/aviator/flieger?

I usually say it's a clean, well lumed dial with large numbers. I would think a pilot wants to see the time at a glance. I must be wrong though, because there are some very busy chronograph dials out there called pilot's watches. Even though I've owned the Breitling for a year now, I never truly believed I owned a pilot's watch until I got the IWC Spitfire. Maybe the style I'm talking about is considered a "flieger" which is different than just the general term "pilot's watch". I guess I'm as uncertain as you!

[Pete J]

So, what makes a watch a pilot/aviator/flieger?

If I think about "pilot watch" , my mind always goes directly to the shape of IWC big pilot watch , including the strap version... ,

i have B&R 01 instruments which mimicks the clock instruments in the cockpit of older plane .. but im not really sure it can b called a pilot watch

a friend Pilot of mine even says that he hardly ever check his watch during any flight as the plane has a very sophisticated time-ing instruments a kind of "redundant" type , which i have no idea what he was talking about

happy watch hunting
Pete J

[andromeda673]

adee kaye makes some "pilot" watches that are pretty nice, otherwise Breitling is really a great aviator's watch.

[Thwizzit]

So, what makes a watch a pilot/aviator/flieger?

So, from the replies it appears that it's more of about the look than it is about the functionality? I would have guessed that a Pilots watch would have a compass on it. It sort of makes sense to me that it would be a useful feature for flying.

[andromeda673]

So, from the replies it appears that it's more of about the look than it is about the functionality? I would have guessed that a Pilots watch would have a compass on it. It sort of makes sense to me that it would be a useful feature for flying.

You have a really good idea there, but now it's more of a look, some do feature a slide rule function, mostly seiko. Now in todays technology driven industry, airplanes have such complicated and advanced aerospace eletrical equpiment, it's not reallt demed neccessary.

A big joke with pilot's between each other, now in todays world is "we have to fly this thing today".

So in the long and short of it, it;s about the look, same as with chronograph's and timing, not too many people actually use their chronograph functions. It's more of a look thing.