# What is the best Aviator's watch? Chronographs etc..e.tc... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 10, 2005, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484 "2005-08-10T18:28:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484/1 "2005-08-10T18:28:00Z")
I am in the market for a new watch. I’m looking for durability, no-plastic/ rubber, chronograph optional and very gentlemanly-like. I’m rather fond of the [Breitling Bentley](http://www.tnsdiamonds.com/Breitling/k1.jpg) line of aviators…but I am open to anything of the like. Does anyone wear an aviator with a chrono daily? Any preferences? How about weight? Is there major differences between platinum, titanium, gold, stainless? I know titanium would be light but would it tarnish easily? Howabout the platinum? Same problem. For now let’s leave cost out of it…but it is certainly a factor. If I show up with a 10k watch on my wrist my wife would execute me. So opinions on gentlemanly watches?? What say you? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484/2 "2005-08-10T18:43:21Z")
Seen on a coffee cup: ‘Pilots. Big wallet, big watch, big…’ I wear a [Rolex GMT Master II](http://pw1.netcom.com/~heliboy/gmt-jubilee-oyster.jpg)\*. I like the 24-hour hand. While certainly un-hip, I like its clunky looks. It’s a nice, classic, functional design. Chuch Yeager is wearing a Submariner in a photo taken when he was a captain, and another photo when he was a colonel. Similar to the GMT II, but without the 24-hour hand or 24-hour bezel. I’m also rather fond of the Omega Speedmaster, as worn by NASA pilots. Similar to the Breitling in the link, but more utilitarian-looking. It’s available with a leather strap or metal bracelet. When I was younger I _coveted_ the Breitling Chronomat. But I liked the larger dial on the Rolex, which wasn’t _that_ much more expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484/3 "2005-08-10T18:47:19Z")
Oops. I forgot the ‘\*’. \*This is a jpeg I made to decide if I wanted the Jubilee bracelet on my watch. Since it was no longer offered on the GMT II, I took a photo of the bracelet from the Rolex website (where I got the image of the GMT II) and created the image in my PhotoImpact programme. I liked the way it looked, so I eventually found a dealer who would sell me an original bracelet with the correct ends on it for my watch. (Rolex is unreasonably persnickety about what they’ll ‘allow’ you to do with their products.) ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484/4 "2005-08-10T18:49:04Z")
Both of those are very nice indeed. I really like the speedmaster. I think I’ll go to a local jewelers I know to have rolexes and such and try them on to see which is most comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484/5 "2005-08-10T18:55:35Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > Both of those are very nice indeed. I really like the speedmaster. . [Here’s the Speedy I like](http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/omega.html). (My personal preference would be for the leather band, though.) ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484/6 "2005-08-10T18:58:03Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Seen on a coffee cup: ‘Pilots. Big wallet, big watch, big…’ “…wrist?” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484/7 "2005-08-10T19:03:42Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > “…wrist?” Yeah, you get a big wrist from ‘wrist exercises’. I work out a lot. I’m surprised I can wear a watch! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484/8 "2005-08-10T20:00:22Z")
I love a quality time piece. This [Tag Heuer](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002TJNNO/sr=1-4/qid=1121955882/ref=sr_1_4/104-1247966-5395142?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=3888811&s=jewelry&v=glance) has been a favourite of mine. Recently, just looking around for a new watch, I found this [Casio](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/4971850813/ref=pd_sbs_jw_3/104-1247966-5395142?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance) which goes for a song. I usually only like automatic watches… but this one is quite nice for a digital watch. Cool features as well. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484/9 "2005-08-10T20:06:35Z")
That’s absolutely amazing, **Quicksilver**. When I opened this thread, I went to the Tag Heuer website and was browsing the Link Chronographs. The [EXACT](http://www.tagheuer.com/watches/detail.lbl?watch=CJF2112.BA0576&search=F:20;T:0;C:s;)model, even the blue dial, was the one I had settled on as probably my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484/10 "2005-08-10T20:14:41Z")
I’d love a Speedmaster, but I currently wear [this](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/scotdor/2273572.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484/11 "2005-08-10T20:29:53Z")
[Ulysse-Nardin’s freaks are nice](http://www.ulysse-nardin.com/e/collection.e/watchdetail.e.jsp?ID_Group=100000&ID_Cat=100000) [Seamaster’s](http://www.omegawatches.com/index.php?id=287#) are also neat ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484/12 "2005-08-10T20:30:57Z")
> [@Duke of Rat](#): > > That’s absolutely amazing, **Quicksilver**. When I opened this thread, I went to the Tag Heuer website and was browsing the Link Chronographs. The [EXACT](http://www.tagheuer.com/watches/detail.lbl?watch=CJF2112.BA0576&search=F:20;T:0;C:s;)model, even the blue dial, was the one I had settled on as probably my favorite. w00t! 😃 Near as I can figure, that the new version of the watch I have. I bought my chronometer automatic about 10 years ago. It’s hardly ever left my wrist and has performed almost flawlessly. I say almost because the watch has been running 11 minutes fast every month since the day I bought it. I don’t mind though. I enjoy the ritual of turning it back on the first of each month. 🙂 I sure like that blue face though. Very tempted to treat myself. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484/13 "2005-08-10T20:34:07Z")
> [@Dorjän](#): > > I’d love a Speedmaster, but I currently wear [this](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/scotdor/2273572.jpg). There is something about a russian made time piece that I absolutely love. Don’t know why. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484/14 "2005-08-11T05:04:28Z")
Those are some awfully fine watches that have been listed here, and I lust after most of them. With that said, however, I must point out that many watches can be damn difficult to read in the dark. I wear a [Navy Seals](http://www.luminox.com/about.asp) watch as my everyday watch. It does not matter how late it is, or how dark it is of if I have my glasses on, I can read this watch down to the second. Something to think about. (yes they make cronographs) ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484/15 "2005-08-11T05:06:16Z")
I forgot to add, click on the link, and you will see what the watch face looks like in total darkness. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484/16 "2005-08-11T18:52:16Z")
[This](http://www.hechts.com/gifts/OnlineShopping/WB?DSP=4&PCR=14:10030:10364:11182:11184&IID=103477&c=1) is very similiar to the watch I have. The band is a little different style, and my watch has gold in the band and along the bezel and the crown and buttons are all gold. My watch is also only WR 50, not 100 as in the picture. It’s very comfortable, and I only take it off to sleep. It’s also quite a bit more affordable than many of the other watches in the thread. ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-aviators-watch-chronographs-etc-e-tc/316484/17 "2005-08-12T15:25:48Z")
I mention this because I want [one](http://www.yeswatch.com/wrist-watch/timekeeper/zulu.html). It also comes with 3 different bands. It seems useful for pilots as it gives a graphical representation to how long until sunset.