Pilot’s Watches With Unusual Functions

The advent of aviation at the start of the 20th century gave way to a whole new genre of watch: the pilot’s watch. Some models feature additional functions you won’t find on everyday watches. Find out more about these unusual features and whether these watches make worthwhile purchases.

What distinguishes a pilot’s watch from other timepieces?

Pilot’s watches came to be as a result of early pilots needing a way to tell time without taking their hands off the flight controls. The simplest solution was to mount a pocket watch on a strap they could wear around their wrist. Watches like the Cartier Santos from 1904 were a sensation in the heyday of the pocket watch, ushering in the era of the wristwatch.

But the strap isn’t the only factor that has maintained the popularity of pilot’s watches. These timepieces are considered robust, reliable, and highly-functional tool watches. They often feature streamlined, minimalist dials with contrasting dark backgrounds and light numerals, hands, and indices, making them readable in varied lighting conditions.