Wristwatches for Extreme Conditions
The beginnings...
Even the pioneers of aviation quickly realized that a watch no longer belonged in a pocket, but on the wrist, so the time could be read at a glance. This also established the first criterion, and for pilot watches, a secure fit and good hold on the wrist were above all important.
Pilots of the First and Second World Wars also wanted wristwatches with extra-long leather straps so they could be worn over jackets and coats or even on the thigh.
Extreme conditions – extreme demands
Technical possibilities for making watches more precise and equipping them with more functions quickly advanced.
Typical of pilot watches is, for example, that they have large, easy-to-read numerals, usually feature a black dial with white numbers, and sometimes even have luminous hands so the watch can be read easily at night.
Another exceptional condition is the magnetic fields in the cockpit, which could negatively affect the watch's rate. For this reason, certain alloys are often used that are less sensitive to magnetism and thus provide magnetic shielding.
But even on the ground, some features of such a special watch are essential. Very early on, a hacking seconds hand also became indispensable, ensuring easy synchronization of watches after a radio signal or with one another. This is made possible by simply pulling or pushing the winding crown and is especially important in the military.
Extreme athletes and people who are constantly moving through changing environments naturally also have very high expectations when it comes to material quality.
What matters here is that the watches are extremely robust. The watch glass should be as scratch-resistant as possible, and a waterproof case is a given.
Acrylic glass is especially suitable for pilot watches because, thanks to its elasticity, it can better compensate for pressure differences. This means it does not break or shatter. Unfortunately, it is also more prone to scratches than other types of glass, but these can also be polished out again. Sapphire crystal has proven to be very popular and practical over time.
For the straps, simple but robust materials such as leather or linen are suitable, and the case should be made of steel. Gold, for example, would not only be unnecessary but also too soft a material.
Navigation
In 1931, in connection with the first transatlantic flight, the "hour angle watch" was introduced. It had a dial with a 12-hour and a 180-degree scale, as well as a bezel divided into 15 angular degrees and an inner dial with 60 and 15-degree divisions. From then on, calculating geographic longitude became possible. Today, of course, that is history when you think of radar, GPRS, and radio.
Nowadays, a pilot watch has to impress with other qualities.
Chronographs are popular, especially for their stopwatch function for short-term measurements of up to 12 hours. Chronographs that can measure split times or reference times (split seconds) are also often chosen. The so-called flyback function also allows for a "reset in flight," making it possible to start a new measurement interval with just one push of a button.
For pilots who move frequently between time zones, it is worth buying a watch that can display multiple times (e.g., home time and local time).
