Pilot Watches · Page 21

Introducing the Airain Type 20 Vert Militaire

Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date Hands-on Review

Pros: The blue glacier pattern dial Interchangeable strap – takes seconds to change between a steel bracelet and a rubber strap Bang for buck Divers watch with all the right features  Cons: 41 hours of power reserve is too short in today’s standardBetween the bracelet and the rubber strap, the rubber strap wears much nicer on the wrist Some may not appreciate the details on the dial Overall Rating: 8.25/10 Value for money: 8.5/10 Wearability: 8.5/10 Design: 8.0/10 Build quality: 8.0/10 Every watch manufacturer has a timepiece that’s iconic to the brand. The Royal Oaks, Submariners, Daytonas, El Primeros, Navitimers, and Speedmasters are all watches that are well known for their respective brands. Can the new 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date be one of those watches for Montblanc?  This new 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date certainly has an element of uniqueness to it. What makes this watch stand out is the new “frozen” dial. When the designers at Montblanc wanted to create a new divers watch, they went for the extreme. While most other watch manufacturers would go to the world’s tropical waters for their diver’s watch inspiration, Montblanc went straight to the glacial lakes of the Mont-Blanc Massif.  The designers ascended the Chamonix Valley to the Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice), where they were fascinated by the texture of the glacial ice. The interlocking network of crystals that have been frozen in time for millennia inspired the design of this new 1858 timepiece....

Breitling Introduces the Superocean Diver Inspired by the “Slow Motion”

Breitling’s recent releases have stuck to a familiar and effective formula – watches rooted in the brand’s heritage but updated to distinguish them as modern and original, exemplified by the redesigned Chronomat and Navitimer. Now the brand has taken the covers off the Superocean Automatic, a dive watch inspired by the SuperOcean Slow Motion chronograph of the 1960s. While it borrows the original’s two-tone dial and massive, oblong markers, the new Superocean is a clean, time-only watch with no complications and of course a modern construction that includes a ceramic bezel insert as well as quick-adjustment clasp. The SuperOcean Slow Motion ref. 2005 Initial thoughts I’ve always liked past versions of Superocean with bright-coloured dials because they were quite different from other dive watches without being overly fancy. By the same token, I like the latest version as the redesigned dial makes it stand out even more, once again without trying to do too much. No date is great In fact, the Superocean is arguably all about design. Being ETA powered, it is less competitive against offerings from similarly-priced offerings from likes of Tudor (which relies on more sophisticated Kenissi movements), so the Superocean has to excel in terms of look and feel. And it manages to do so with the combination of an extra-wide chapter ring around a “mini” dial, a bold and handsome design that is unlike most of its peers. Aside from the overall design, the dial also appe...

INTRODUCING: The new IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Racing Green

Having released the first Big Pilot’s Watch 43 just over a year ago, IWC has already filled out the collection with many references. The BP43 brought a more wearable case size and a classic type A flieger dial, for an overall cleaner look as opposed to its big brother. The new Big Pilot’s Watch 43 … ContinuedThe post INTRODUCING: The new IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Racing Green appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

EDITOR’S PICK: How I revived my late father’s Breitling Navitimer

EDITOR’S NOTE: Blame it on a certain Patek Philippe ad if you will, but the idea of the watch as a family heirloom passed down from father to son retains a special emotive power. Today, in many parts of the world, it’s Father’s Day and that’s a good enough reason for us to revisit D.C’s … ContinuedThe post EDITOR’S PICK: How I revived my late father’s Breitling Navitimer appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

INTRODUCING: The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition “AMG ONE OWNERS”

If you’ve ever been catching some public transport and spotted someone wearing a six-figure luxury watch, you know the feeling of seeing something extraordinary in an ordinary context. The Mercedes-AMG ONE is possibly the most extreme example of this concept - a hypercar using Formula 1 technology to achieve over 1000 horsepower in a street-legal … ContinuedThe post INTRODUCING: The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition “AMG ONE OWNERS” appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

You Are There: Breitling Launches The Limited Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute And Collectors Strut Their Stuff

Just when GaryG thinks he knows a little bit about watches, a portal opens to a whole new facet of our hobby he hadn’t previously appreciated. So it was when he recently joined collectors and journalists from around the world for Breitling’s launch of the Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute, a tribute piece marking the sixtieth anniversary of astronaut Scott Carpenter’s orbital trip.

Review: new Bell & Ross BR 03-92 RadioCompass

Bell & Ross releases an extension to their flight instrument range with the BR 03-92 RadioCompass modelled after the radio navigation tool.

VIDEO: These IWC and Top Gun pieces can be your wingmen anytime

IWC’s longstanding fascination with aviation is well established, with the releases from this year’s Watches and Wonders continuing this high-flying heritage. Of the five new additions to the Pilot’s collection, our focus today falls on the Top Gun co-branded pieces – the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43 Top Gun and IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top … ContinuedThe post VIDEO: These IWC and Top Gun pieces can be your wingmen anytime appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Introducing The New Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute

Breitling Introduces Navitimer Cosmonaute B02 Limited Edition

One of the watches synonymous with the pioneer era of spaceflight is the Breitling Cosmonaute, which was worn by Scott Carpenter on the 1962 Mercury-Atlas 7 mission, making him the second American to orbit the Earth and the Cosmonaute the first Swiss-made wristwatch to make it into space. The Cosmonaute has been part of the Breitling catalogue in various forms in the decades since, but now for the 60th anniversary of Carpenter’s journey to space on board the Aurora 7 spacecraft, Breitling has unveiled a remake, the Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute Limited Edition. The 362-piece edition is faithful to the original in terms of design, but upgraded with the in-house Caliber B02 and a bit of luxe in the form of a platinum bezel. A page from the 1964 Breitling catalogue showing the Navitimer-Cosmonaute ref. 809, the same model worn by Carpenter in space Initial thoughts I’ve always liked the distinctive aesthetic of the Navitimer – it is actually an aviation instrument – and the Cosmonaute is essentially a more complex version of the same thing, making it even more of an instrument. Granted all of that functionality has very limited use in the modern world, but it is still an appealing watch that possesses significant history. That in turn makes the Cosmonaute remake an appealing watch, especially since Breitling did a good job reproducing the original. The diameter remains the same but the modern-day version is necessarily thicker due to the in-house B02 movemen...

Breitling celebrates first Swiss wristwatch in space with new Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute

To celebrate the Anniversary of the 1st Swiss wristwatch in space worn, Breitling reissues the Navitimer Cosmonaute inspired by the watch worn 60 years ago.

VIDEO: The IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team”

Launched at the inaugural Miami F1 Grand Prix, the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team” is the next step in the partnership between the Schaffhausen manufacture and the team, dating back to 2013 when IWC first became a team sponsor. It’s the first-ever official watch for the team – … ContinuedThe post VIDEO: The IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team” appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Breitling celebrates the Navitimer 70th Anniversary with a Pop-up in Singapore – showcasing old and new Navitimers.

Breitling celebrate the Navitimer 70th Anniversary at the pop-up Breitling lounge in Ion Sky, from now till May 16. Event details and registration within.

Introducing: This Weekend, Look Out For A New Team-Issued Watch At The Inaugural Miami Grand Prix

Will the IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 Edition 'Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team' watch give drivers Hamilton and Russell a competitive edge?

HANDS-ON: The new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula OneTM Team”

When the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 collection was unveiled last year, watch buyers rejoiced in its more compact sizing and increased versatility – introducing a bracelet for the first time and the all new Eas-XCHANGE® quick-release strap system. While pilot’s watches are what IWC is particularly known for, the Schaffhausen manufacture has been … ContinuedThe post HANDS-ON: The new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula OneTM Team” appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

IWC Introduces the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph in Mint Green and Titanium

Facelifted in 2021 with a slimmed-down case that went from 43 mm to 41 mm, the IWC Pilot’s chronograph is a longstanding bestseller that’s now more wearable. The watchmaker has now created an online-only edition of the watch for its F1 partner, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team Edition”. Conceived to celebrate the inaugural Miami Grand Prix, the new chronograph is the first official team watch, meaning it will be worn by all team members ranging from mechanics to strategists. It’s naturally dressed in the team’s signature colour, the green of its title sponsor, Petronas. Initial thoughts The overall design for the new chronograph appears almost identical similar to the standard model, except for the colour. But a few additions reveal themselves up close, including the sandblasted titanium case, which set it apart from IWC’s current offerings. The case material is notable – no other Pilot’s chronograph has a sandblasted titanium case – and sensible choice for a “instrument” watch. It makes the F1 team edition lighter than its counterparts in the Pilot’s Watch line, which the matte, grained surface suits the functional spirit of the watch. And the metal also makes sense given the Formula One context since titanium is widely used in automotive engineering due to its corrosion resistance and high strength-to-density ratio. But it is the mint green that makes the watch truly unique. The green livery will be ap...

Review: the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team”

Hands-on review of the new IWC Pilot's Chronograph 41 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Edition with a black dial and the team's signature colour.

Introducing the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team”

Bell & Ross BR 03-94 Multimeter: Concentrically Colorful

Rarely has the term sports watch been as appropriate as when applied to the BR 03-94 Multimeter from Bell & Ross. This nifty chronograph displays five different scales on the dial to measure various things. In that sense, it is a modern-day version of the vintage chronographs with “snail scales” that did the same, though not in such an elaborate way.

HANDS-ON: The Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver Automatic

Nivada Grenchen are one of those brands that make you wish you’d heard of them years before you first saw them due to their knack of delivering some of the most perfect executions of vintage reissues that can be found in the Swiss watch industry today. The Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver Automatic takes … ContinuedThe post HANDS-ON: The Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver Automatic appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Up Close: IWC Pilot’s Chronograph Top Gun in Green and White Ceramic

Launched in 2007, Top Gun is IWC’s line up of all-ceramic pilot’s watches. But since its inauguration over a decade ago, the Top Gun has largely relied on a singular colour of ceramic – black in either a matte or glossy finish. IWC did offer a few models with coloured ceramic cases, but they were limited editions, until now. At Watches & Wonders 2022 IWC revealed ceramic cases in white or green with a pair of Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition – both regular production models. Instantly evoking stormtroopers from Star Wars, the “Lake Tahoe” edition has a case of white ceramic, while the “Woodland” edition is in forest-green ceramic. Both are 43.5 mm in diameter and contain the in-house cal. 69380. The two new models double the range of ceramic colours offered by IWC. They join the Pilot’s Watch “Mojave” editions launched in 2019 that had an unusual sand-coloured ceramic case, and last year’s “Laureus Sport for Good” in blue ceramic. “Woodland” Initial thoughts Long the brand’s bestselling line, the Pilot’s Watch has been a focus of IWC in recent few years. The brand has made safe bets with iterating on popular models that have received upgrades such as in-house movements, new dial colours, or more compact cases in new materials. In comparison the latest pair of chronographs are more adventurous. Intrinsically interesting because of their colours, the white and green ceramic cases are relatively uncommon for chronographs in this ...

Breitling Introduces the New Navitimer B01 in 41, 43, and 46 mm

Distinctive for its slide-rule bezel, the Navitimer is synonymous with Breitling. Having been in near continuous production since its introduction 70 years ago, the Navitimer has been offered in a bewildering array of iterations, but the 2022 Navitimer B01 returns to the roots of the model with a vintage-inspired design, but livened up with bright, metallic dials. Initial thoughts If you already like the Navitimer, the 2022 version is an appealing proposition. It’s essentially the traditional Navitimer design with Breitling’s in-house chronograph movement that has an excellent construction. The model is consistently priced given the in-house movement, while the design has enough vintage elements to give it a classic Navitimer feel. The dial colours, however, are modern, so this avoids being a vintage remake (which Breitling has done enough of). Of the three sizes, the 41 mm is identical to the vintage original, so it’s probably the perfect size. The 43 mm is probably still acceptable on most wrists, but the 46 mm will be enormous. If there is to something to criticise it is probably the wide range of models – two case metals, three case sizes, and a dozen or so dial types, though not every dial is available in every size. The number of choices feel too ambitious and confusing for a launch of a new model. Throwback design The new Navitimer is the first redesign of the model since current chief executive Georges Kern took the helm of Breitling in 2017. Unsurprisingly...

Introducing the BR 03-94 Multimeter

Bell & Ross turns the ubiquitous chronograph into a mechanical fitness tracker in the BR 03-94 Multimeter.