Best Pilot & Aviation Watches
Accuracy; precision; prompt. These are words you want to hear when a pilot describes their day-to-day lives. They are a cornerstone of the transportation industry and is responsible for many lives above 10,000 feet.
With that in mind, they need tools that share the same traits. Everything they need to use have to be reliable and dependable: from the gauges they use in the cockpit, to the watches they wear on their wrist.
These watches need to handle constant movement from one gate to another, have pilot-friendly features like multiple time zones, or a tachymeter for speed.
Nonetheless, we at Gracious Watch would love for you to take a look at what we have to offer and for you to peruse. Let us know if we hit it on target, or we missed the mark!
Top 7 Pilot & Aviation Watches
Best Pilot Watches Reviewed & Ranked
1. IWC Pilots Mark XVII IW326504
IWC Pilots Mark XVII IW326504 Review | Customer Reviews | Check Prices
The IWC IW326504 exemplifies what a classically designed pilot’s watch should look like.
Readability is the focus of this watch, with a dial that shows only the essentials. Against its black background are displayed silver tone hour marks printed boldly in Arabic numerals, arranged vertically to resemble the markings in an altimeter.
The wide date aperture situated at the 3 o’clock position is reminiscent of instrumentation that you can see in a cockpit. Housing the dial is a bezel and case that are made of stainless steel, the material that is also used to fabricate the link bracelet.
The watch’s timekeeping function is powered by Swiss automatic movement.
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2. Breitling Transocean Chronograph MB0510U6/BC80
Breitling Transocean Review | Customer Reviews | Check Prices
This watch certainly lives up the Breitling name, which is famous for crafting pilot timepieces of the highest quality.
Even with a complex dial, the façade presents an elegant appearance, with black satin-brushed steel bracelet and case, topped with a black dial. The analog display exhibits luminous hands and indices, clearly visible under the glare-proof sapphire crystal window.
The dial also features 3 sub-dials that serve as timers for the chronograph. A rectangular opening found between the 4 and 5 o’clock positions shows the date.
With its world time function, the watch is capable of simultaneously displaying the times in 24 cities around the world, specified by the different locations that are etched on the boundary of the dial.
The movement utilized by the watch is Swiss automatic.
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3. Omega Speedmaster Skywalker X-33 31890457901001
Omega Speedmaster Skywalker Review | Customer Reviews | Check Prices
This Omega timepiece is designed for those who want to blaze new trails, whether in the heights of space or in the depths of the ocean.
The case and bracelet are made of brushed titanium, a material that is known to be extra strong and light. The black dial displays the time in dual mode, analog and digital.
The hands and hour indices are luminous while minute indicators line the rim of the dial. The LCD shows the digits in grey and is equipped with an electroluminescent backlight for easy time telling in the dark.
Other useful features provided by the Skywalker X-33 include perpetual calendar, chronograph, three-time zone display, alarm and countdown timer.
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4. Torgoen T22102
Torgoen T22102 Review | Customer Reviews | Check Prices
The construction and design of the Torgoen T22102 exudes power and strength.
This round 45-mm wide watch has a stainless steel case attached to a brown calfskin leather strap that has been made more visually appealing with the addition of a stitching detail on its sides.
The color of the stitches matches the accents on the brown dial, which displays luminous hands and indices, and silver tone markings. The three sub-dials are for the watch’s chronograph function, registering elapsed time within 60 seconds and 30 minutes, as well as 1/10 second.
At the 4 o’clock position, a rectangular opening indicates the date of the month. The bezel that encircles the dial has a tooth-edged rim, adding to the masculine feel of the timepiece.
This watch is powered by a Swiss quartz movement and is water resistant up to 100 meters.
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5. Hamilton Takeoff Auto Chrono H76786733
Hamilton Takeoff Auto Chrono Review | Customer Reviews | Check Prices
The design of the Hamilton H76786733 is casual and contemporary.
Its aviation instrument theme is most noticeable in the black dial, which displays the Arabic numeral hour markers like an altimeter. In addition, the yellow, white and silver tone markings and accents, as well as the arrowhead design of the hands bring to mind the devices seen on a cockpit.
Also found on the dial are two chronograph sub-dials that function as timers; and luminous hour and minute hands. The date is shown via an opening at the 3 o’clock position. Enclosing the watch face is a sapphire crystal that has been coated with anti-reflective material.
Two pushers and a screw down crown are uniquely situated at the top of the dial instead of the more common location on the sides.
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6. Alpina 710B4S6
Alpina 710B4S6 Review | Customer Reviews | Check Prices
This pilot watch from Alpina’s Startimer Series presents a very traditional look, made more interesting with the addition of a few modern details.
The stainless steel case, which has a black calfskin leather band, houses a black dial containing luminous hands and time markers. A sub-dial positioned on the bottom half of the watch face indicates the date.
Providing a pop of bright color to the black and white theme of the dial is the red counterweight of the second hand, shaped in the triangular logo of Alpina. On the right of the dial is a prominent screw down steel crown.
The Alpina 710B4S6 makes use of Swiss automatic movement to keep track of time and has a water resistance limit of 100 meters.
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7. Vulcain Cricket X-TREME
Vulcain Cricket X-TREME Review | Customer Reviews | Check Prices
This unconventional-looking timepiece is a must-have for every collector.
The stainless steel case is attached to a black rubber strap that features a tire pattern on its surface. The watch face is uniquely designed.
In addition to the hands and indices that mark the time, a decompression table can be found on the dial, a feature that you can put to good use when you want to know the decompression times for various depths.
The Vulcain 101924.160RF, which utilizes a mechanical hand wind movement, is extremely water resistant; able to withstand water pressure up to 300 meters.
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