This quality is super important because pilots, especially those in military units, are exposed to all sorts of different environments. They are by no means fixed features in aviator watches. Note: These are just some elements that are more commonly present in flight-inspired timepieces. It’s eye-catching with a stark black dial and Arabic numerals that are crossed by sharp sword hands.
Using Swiss movement, the B-Uhr was big with a 58mm case, augmented by a double-rivet leather strap. Lange & Söhne to churn out watches for its bomber crews. Today, the square case of Cartier Santos makes it one of the most recognizable aviator watches in the world.ĭuring World War 2 the German military worked with watchmakers such as A. Louis, in turn, added a strap to one of his Cartier watches, and history was made. Alberto complained that his pocket watch was too clumsy for flights. We trace the aviator watch to Paris, at the start of the 20th century, when French watchmaker Louis Cartier came across Alberto Santos-Dumont, a Brazilian-born aviation enthusiast. With that being said, read on to find out just which timepieces made it to our specially-curated list of top aviator watches. With such a readymade and defined market, it is no wonder why aviation models continue to be staple pieces for a lot of watch companies. Moreover, accurate and reliable timepieces are absolutely necessary for pilots and other professionals in said field. This is because a lot of watch manufacturers have some sort of history or involvement with the aviation world. Those familiar with the watch market know that there are many well-established brands in the watchmaking industry that offer their own interpretations of timepieces which are either dedicated to or inspired by aviation.