Top Aviation Inspired Watches of 2020

Westime is highlighting 6 of the most authentic aviation inspired watches.

Explore the links below or visit one of our locations to discover these exceptional machines in person.

TAG Heuer Autavia Calibre 5 Chronometer

An automatic watch inspired by vintage pilot’s watches, with bronze case and chocolate brown smoked dial. The vintage design is reinforced by advanced materials, including titanium for the case back and brown ceramic for the bidirectional turning bezel. The sparse dial design is highlighted by numerals and sword-shaped hands with white Super-LumiNova® treatment for enhanced readability in low light. The easy-to-read date window is at 6 o’clock. Bronze is a metal that evolves naturally over time. Its patina will become unique, for a stand out watch.

Created in 1933 by Charles-Edouard Heuer, the 1st dashboard instrument for automobile and aeroplane was named AUTAVIA (contraction of the words AUTOmobile and AVIAtion). After a disappointing rallye because of its unclear dial, Jack HEUER decides to recreate Autavia as a wrist chronograph, with turning bezel. The result would be one of the most significant timepieces in the history of the company. «It was bold, modern, stylish and highly legible». Since then, Autavia has a long history in design and technology and is considered as the 1st of the Heuer “Big Three”.

The TAG Heuer Autavia Calibre 5 Chronometer is not currently displayed on our site, please visit one of our stores to see it in person.

Longines Avigation Watch Type A-7 1935

Today, Longines combines the original beauty of the most remarkable of its former products with cutting-edge watchmaking technology. The Heritage models are a tribute to the pioneering spirit that has inspired Longines designers since the company’s early days. The brand’s products accompanied many pioneers in their adventures in the air, on land and under the sea. The very core of Longines timepieces is based on this expertise. They demonstrate the continuity of a brand and that brand’s continual ability to pay tribute to history through refinement and elegance.

The Longines Avigation Watch Type A-7 1935 is not currently displayed on our site, please visit one of our stores to see it in person.

Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Pan Am

The Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Pan Am Edition is distinguished by one of the most recognizable logos in the history of aviation printed on its transparent sapphire caseback. The Airline capsule collection will be available from April 2019 at Breitling boutiques and official retailers. For decades, Pan American World Airways was a dominant force in commercial aviation and its name is still closely linked with the excitement of air travel. The Pan Am Edition with a stainless-steel case has a stunning blue dial with contrasting silver subdials and is presented on a stainless-steel mesh bracelet. Its in-house mechanical chronograph movement delivers both remarkable precision and a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. This model is also available with an Air Racer bracelet or a brown vintage-inspired leather strap with either a pin buckle or a folding clasp.

Click Here To View Breitling's Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Pan Am | Click Here to See It In Person

Zenith Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Adventure

Zenith Pilot Type 20 Adventure combines a wholly urban outlook with unparalleled versatility. Expressing reliability, comfort and robustness, the Pilot Type 20 Adventure also comes in a chronograph version, the Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Adventure. Guaranteeing trademark Pilot easy readability for adrenalined-up thrill-seekers and city slickers alike, along with two fully-interchangeable strap options, these additions to the Zenith Pilot line are set to be a high-energy hit for every occasion.

A natural heir to the onboard instruments developed by Zenith in the early years of aeronautics, the Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Adventure is powered by an automatic El Primero column-wheel chronograph movement. Not to be outdone, the Pilot Type 20 Adventure is equipped with an automatic Zenith Elite 679 calibre, ensuring total reliability and a 50-hour power reserve designed to outlast the most tenacious ambush. Featuring the wide easily adjustable ratcheted crown of the original aviation instruments that inspired these must-have pieces of 21st century kit, both Pilot Type 20 Adventure have 45mm cases in bronze. While titanium casebacks bear the ZENITH Flying Instruments logo in a final salute to the pioneering spirit of their role models, the very latest in urban must-haves is issued with grained khaki green dials packing oversized Arabic numerals entirely made of Super-LumiNova®.

Making the Pilot Type 20 Adventurer the ultimate accessory if you’re into where the action is, these high-flying timepieces come in a choice of camouflage alligator leather or suave khaki matrix calfskin leather straps, both with protective rubber lining and a titanium pin buckle.

Click Here To View Zenith's Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Adventure | Click Here to See It In Person

Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Bi-Compass

True to its philosophy, Bell & Ross introduces a new version inspired by analog instrumentation of aircraft cockpits, where each instrument is a reference point in terms of precision, legibility,reliability and performance: the BR03-92 BI-COMPASS. With this watch, Bell & Ross recreates the graphic style of these navigation tools as closely as possible, offering an alternative to the traditional approach of telling the time.

The Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Bi-Compass is not currently displayed on our site, please visit one of our stores to see it in person.

MB&F HM9 'Flow' Air RG

Inspired by the dynamic profiles of automotive and aviation mid-century design, HM9 Flow treads the path first opened by the HM4 Thunderbolt and HM6 Space Pirate, utilising a geometrically complex combination of milled sapphire crystal and titanium or red gold case elements. But HM9 goes beyond its predecessors, redefining what was thought to be possible in case design.

Reminiscent of a jet engine, the highly complex case encloses an equally complex manual winding movement, developed fully in house. Twin balance wheels beat independently on each flank of the Machine, while the central body reveals the gearbox of the HM9 engine: a planetary differential that averages the output of both balances to provide one stable reading of the time.