All week long, we will be celebrating Aviation Week with a pilot and aviation-inspired take-over, featuring both classically traditional pilot watches and their most modern counterparts. We'll talk about one of the most storied watch categories on the market while discovering just how far they have come over the years. Come along as we share featured content that explores aviation timekeeping history while highlighting modern offerings for those looking to expand their collection.
Pilot-style watches represent one of the most popular segments within the industry. Introduced at the dawn of aviation in the early twentieth century, pilot’s watches are the original tool watches. They range from simple, time-only designs to complication-filled behemoths with altimeters and slide rules. From heritage-inspired reissues to cutting-edge technology, there’s a pilot watch to suit every style and budget. They inspire a sense of adventure into the unknown, their function-over-form nature, and often rugged good looks, making them ideal for daily wear. Without further ado, here are fifteen of our favorite pilot-style watches under $5,000.
Starting off with enthusiast-favorite Citizen, the Garrison is one of the more minimal offerings from the brand. The design takes inspiration from both aviation and pilot designs of the past while maintaining the modern edge Citizen has become known for. Available in both green and black dials, the 42mm Super Titanium ensures that it will be a fitting companion for any adventure. The robust Eco-Drive movement also features a day and date complication. Coming in right at $500, it’s an impressive value proposition as well.
While their name may not be immediately familiar, Bertucci has been producing rugged military-inspired watches for nearly two decades. The A-11T Field Chronograph pays tribute to the historic A-11 issued to US Army Air Corps personnel during the Second World War with a twist – a US-Made quartz chronograph movement. It is available on the choice of a black or sage nylon strap. Upsizing the original’s 32mm chrome-plated brass case to a modern 42mm titanium one, the A-11T Field Chronograph is a lot of watch for under $500.
Marathon needs no introduction in the world of tool watches. Manufacturing MIL-SPEC timepieces for the United States and Canadian militaries, the Canadian brand’s iconic Navigator is military-grade aviation watch for everyone. The 41mm high-impact fiber case comes in three different colors — black, desert tan, and sage green — and is available in two dial variations, one sterile and the other with the Marathon logo and a date. Tritium-gas tubes for lume ensure its legibility under any conditions. The Navigator features a 24-hour scale on its dial as well as a rotating 12-hour bezel for tracking flight time and time zone calculations. Swiss-made, it’s hard to argue with the value presented at its price point.
Casio’s G-Shock line of watches has become synonymous with purpose-built tools built to withstand anything. With the Rangeman GPRH1000, G-Shock has upped the ante on that reputation. Inside its lightweight bio-resin case is a Solar Quartz movement powering the features users have come to know and love from the brand. But the GPRH1000’s trick is the sheer variety of data tracking it is capable of, from biometrics to altitude, air pressure, temperature, and more. For active lifestyles, it’s an ideal all-in-one solution. It is available in both black and yellow. And with a price point right at $500, it’s the most feature-rich option on our list.
No list of pilot-style watches would be complete without a Flieger. Based on designs produced by Laco for German pilots during the Second World War, the Augsburg and Aachen represent the Type A and B dials produced by multiple manufacturers. Laco has downsized the originals’ 55mm case to more modern 39mm and 42mm variants, each powered by a reliable Miyota caliber. The Augsburg and Aachen are available in both black and blue dials, with a limited edition green colorway also available. For those with an eye for heritage details searching for an affordable vintage-inspired pilot’s watch, look no further than Laco’s Aachen and Augsburg.
Citizen’s Promaster line of tool watches is built on three core pillars — Air, Land, and Sea. The Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A-T is the brand’s latest pilot watch powered by their iconic Eco-Drive technology. Featuring atomic time clock synchronization, a 1/100 second chronograph, dual-time and UTC displays, two alarms, a 99-minute countdown timer, 200m of water resistance, and a power-reserve indicator, the Skyhawk A-T is ready for any challenge that it may face. Available in two black dials as well as blue and green versions, there’s a variant to suit any style.
Taking the winning formula of the original Navigator’s asymmetric 41mm resin case and transposing it into a stainless steel case, Marathon has cleverly upgraded their iconic pilot watch into an even more robust do-anything timepiece, all while maintaining the MIL-SPEC features of the original. The Navigator in stainless steel features a Marathon-branded dial and a date at 4:30. Featuring the same high-torque quartz movement as the original resin model, the new stainless steel variant now features a screw down crown and is water resistant to 100m — plenty for whatever aquatic pursuits await it. It features the same tritium-gas tubes rotating 12-hour bezel design of the original. It is available on a choice of ballistic or DefStan nylon straps. If you’re looking for a more premium version of the original Navigator, the new stainless version is sure to impress.
While the annals of space travel are dominated by one particular chronograph, it’s not the only one. Astronaut Dave Scott brought along a Bulova during Apollo 15 to evaluate it per the company’s request. When his primary watch gave out, he switched to the Bulova — the rest, as they say, was history. But the 45mm case of Bulova’s original 2016 reissue didn’t work for everyone. Bulova responded by introducing a new 43.5mm version, now accurately reproducing the size of the watch Commander Scott wore on the moon in 1971. Bulova’s High Precision Quartz (HPQ) movement provides a chronograph accurate to 1/20th second, perfect for timing that crucial mission-critical event. The Lunar Pilot 43.5 is available in a classic black dial as well as a stunning blue variant. Coming in at under $1,000, Bulova makes a compelling case for their moonwatch.
For those that may prefer a more analog experience, Citizen’s Promaster Altichron is a hardcore choice — featuring a metric altimeter that can measure between 1,000 and 32,000 ft, the Altichron is a serious tool for those with their hands on the control stick. The 47mm black DLC-coated titanium case is water resistant to 200m, ensuring its performance under any conditions. The Altichron’s Eco-Drive movement also features an electronic compass complication to further aid in navigation. If you’re looking for a companion to go high and low, it’s hard to beat the Promaster Altichron.
Oris, the independent Swiss manufacturer, is a firm enthusiast favorite for their unique philosophy and design. The Big Crown ProPilot Big Date is no exception. A modern take on the classic time-only pilot style, the 41mm ProPilot Big Date is available in both black and anthracite dial variants. Both feature arabic numerals crafted of molded lume, ensuring visibility no matter the conditions. The watch’s titular big crown is a holdover from vintage pilot watches, where they served to allow gloved hands access to the crown. At just 12mm thick, the Big Crown ProPilot Big Date is a sleek and low-flying option, perfect as the next addition to your everyday carry.
