Pilot

Alpina Startimer Pilot Watches

The retro looking Startimer Pilot collection from Alpina will have three pieces including the pictured chronograph, a three-hand automatic, and a time with subsidiary date dial model. A little warning right off the bat, the pictured model with that style dial is really nice, but there is another model that seems to be floating around with hour and minute hands so stubby it seems to be a joke. Do yourself and the world a favor - friends don't let friend by watches with too-small hands.

At 44mm wide, the Startimer Pilots come in steel cases that are 100 meters water resistant and have sapphire crystals. I like the thin bezel that maximizes dial space. The little touch of red on the counterweight of the chronograph seconds hand is welcome. Using a bi-compax layout, the dials are classic looking but functional - while the chronograph doesn't significantly obscure reading of the dial. The sizable Arabic hour numerals feels functional and sound. Inside the watch are Swiss automatic movements, while the version with just the time and date has an in-house made Alpina/Frederique Constant movement. According to Alpina these Startimer Pilot watches are being made in partnership with plane makers Cessna and PrivatAir. Look for them at reasonable prices sometime this year. Each is said to be limited to 8,888 pieces.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: Alpina, Chronograph, Pilot, Startimer, Watch

Hanhart Primus Chronograph Pilot & Racer Watches

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Hanhart Primus Chronograph Pilot & Racer Watches

Hanhart is a brand you'll hopefully be hearing more about soon. The Austrian (I believe) sports watch brand has evolved into something quite nice over the last few years and might finally get the attention it deserve in the US under new North American oversight by the man who made Chronoswiss popular in the States. One of Hanhart's newer models is this Primus Choronograph watch. I wonder if the rock band Primus has anything to say about this? Maybe Hanhart just gave them all watches.

The Primus Chronograph comes essentially in two forms - one with and one without a rotating diver's bezel. The models with the bezel are referred to as the Primus Chronograph Divers, while the bezel-less version are the Pilots or Racers. The watches are 44mm wide in steel cases that have been aDLC coated black. The aDLC coating is very hard and scratch resistant. Note the red chronograph start/stop pusher. The dials on both models are a bit different and come in orange or steel/white. My top pick is the Diver. It has a neat looking striped rubber strap and easy to read dial. The Primus Chronograph watches use modified Swiss Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph movements Look for these nice lookers soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: chronograph, diver, Hanhart, pilot, primus, racer, watch

Muhle Glashütte SAR Pilot Chronograph Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Some men absolutely scoff at the idea of a traditional luxury watch. Gold, precious metals, "formal" appearance? To them, "no thanks" is the most obvious response. So what timepieces tend to suit their personality and tastes? A utility focused German watch like this that doesn't know the meaning of the term "fashion." By Muhle Glashutte, this is the newer SAR Pilot Chronograph. An updated, alternative version of the SAR (for the German Search & Rescue team). With a serious attitude, the brand shows off highly durable materials in a case that is simple to read, and unique to use as a chronograph (thanks to the large, left mounted, trigger style pusher.

In a 44mm wide watch, the watch is in steel with satin finishing and a rubber strap. The dial is beyond "instrumental". offering a highly legibility and polarizing design. Inside the watch is a modified Swiss ET Valjoux 7750 with a Muhle Glasshute modified design to include one of their own bridges. The movement is flitted around, with the pushers on the left side of the case. A very cool timepiece for the activity lover in us all. Priced under $4000 I believe.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: chronograph, muhle glashutte, pilot, SAR, watch

Patek Philippe Pilot Watch Goes For $1.7 Million At Christie's Auction

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions

I bet you've never seen this Patek Philippe watch before. That is because it was not known to exist, and is a one of a kind made in 1936. Earlier this month in May, this watch sold for just over $1.7 million dollars at a Christie's auction in Geneva. The buyer was a private Swiss museum, and they recognized the special watch for its value, especially as a unique Patek Philippe. The watch is chrome-plated nickel being large at 55mm wide and has some unique navigational complications and an hour hand that operates on a 24 hour scale (not 12 hour scale). I don't claim to understand the functions entirely, as I am no pilot, but the watch is set to measure a 360 degree circle. The minute hand makes a full rotation each 4 hours, and the two seconds hands rotate each 4 minutes. Really not sure about what that all does, but it has something to do with directional angular navigation. The time can still be read though, but on the 24 hour scale. This goes to show that no matter how peculiar they are, the watch collecting world simplly loves a rare Patek Philippe timepiece.

Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Via WatchTime.

Tags: auction, aviator, christies, patek philippe, PatekPhilippe, pilot, rare, watch

Another Rock Star Takes To The Skies

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings, Celebrity Shopping

The celebrity pilot trend continues. The latest person to take to the skies, is Justin Hawkins, the lead singer of The Darkness. Hawkins has been learning to fly a helicopter and plans to take himself to concerts on the band's British tour this month. He has become friends with a London instructor, who will co-pilot the chopper to gigs and he hopes to get his license pater this year. The singer, who is known for his theatric stage performances hopes to buy a helicopter to make a dramatic entrance to The Darkness' concerts.

Source

Tags: celebrity, helicopter, justin hawkins, JustinHawkins, music, pilot, the darkness