Check out the Hamilton Khaki pilot day date. It’s a flieger style watch and was used in the movie interstellar. I personally have it and it gets so many compliments
this post was submitted on 26 Oct 2023
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The Bulova Lunar pilot, is a quartz watch but high precison, it is a watch that has been in space, and if you like it more there is the blue white version that to me is even more beautiful and it wont break the bank
You should get one with a clear back so that the mechanism is visible
Even though it is quartz lunar pilot would be perfect and it is under 1000usd. As you mentioned you dont want to buy somethign expensive but in case you change your mind go for Omega Speedmaster or Rolex Milgauss
A Poljot Strela!
Haven't seen anyone recommend a Hamilton Pilot Day Date, or GMT Air Race yet. Maybe a used Sinn 900 series if you can find one.
Zeppelin automatic would be my suggestion just for their logo and history.
Don't think anyone had said this yet. Does he even like watches? Something to consider... Maybe hint around to see what he likes first.
Good point. I recently got into watches in the last year or two. The last few times I've visited him he's asked me what watch I'm wearing and will give a quick compliment. I have a hunch he wants one but just hasn't had the funds to get into it
If I were you I would straight up ask him what watch he wants if he wants any, idk but the whole concept of surprise gifting someone a watch is weird to me. Especially since everyone has different tastes.
What do you consider not breaking the bank? That will make it easier to put a list together.
Mid range option: Bulova Lunar Pilot
Luxury option: Omega Speedmaster Professional
Budget option: Swatch x Omega Moonswatch
Vintage option: Seiko 6139 "Pogue"
All of these have space history and/or theme
For an aero engineer, has to be Omega Speedmaster
The Bulova is PERFECT. Hits the nail on the head in so many ways.
that Omega Speedmaster is beautiful... Might save that for myself
Be advised the lunar pilot is a pretty massive watch that looks big on many wrists
thanks for the heads up. I'm second-guessing it now as I think about his wrist size. something smaller might be more appropriate
It’s also quartz, but it’s pretty cool for a quartz watch.
FYI the Bulova lunar pilot is technically a quartz watch (one of your no-no requirements). Still a great watch though, and lots of other good suggestions here as well.
I 2nd his budget option swatch x Omega
I was 100% suggesting the Bulova as soon as you gave the brief. Super solid watch, in a price range that isn’t too scary, from an engineering perspective it’s really impressive, and seems to match him well. Great choice, he’ll love it.
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I would advise against a Pogue, I’m pretty sure there are more fakes and Frankens than real ones unless you’re going through a vintage dealer
I second the LP ! I work in the space domain myself and it's such a great alternative to the moonwatch. It's quartz but a high precision quartz so it keeps perfect time basically. If you are worried about wrist size make sure to get the 43.5mm version. That would be the 96k111. Cheers !
Most baller would be a speedmaster, but that's too expensive. I'd consider some other space watch to be on theme!
Used Breitling aerospace (or new if you can find in price range)
I think Sinn 104 is a fantastic fit for this. Full of cool engineer-y stuff and history. Bezel spins both ways, unusually good water resistance for a pilots watch, has both day and date on the dial (with both english and German options), and there's an open case back so you can see the movement. Right in your price range too. I have one and have been very happy.
Lorier Astra, it captures the style of the space age and it's in the name. If you can stomach ~2.4k CW just released an aventurine dial moonphase
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Second-hand Breitling Aerospace.
Not as a gift
Aerospace engineer who loves watches here.
My daily is a speedmaster, but I have a few Flieger-style watches. Check out Laco. Lots of history. Doesn't break the bank
Never heard of Laco - these things look clean... Definitely in the running now. Thanks!
Laco is great! Stowa is another brand that kills the no-frills flieger style. Would highly recommend.
Seiko Alpinist
If #3 is flexible, considering the Bulova Lunar Pilot is a candidate, then I’ll suggest a used Omega X-33 Gen 2. The case back is absolute killer for engineers’ hearts.
Otherwise a used mechanical Speedmaster Moonwatch would also be amazing.
Came here to suggest the X-33
My buddy is about to graduate with his AE degree. He is not overly into watches so I got him this with a nice strap and had the case back engraved. I have a couple Orients and they have been great. My dirty jobs beater is a defender and has been going strong for 6 years.
Look at Hamilton. Classic designs, great history, can dress up or down, good bang for the buck and is well received by the watch community. Check out their website and then buy it on the grey market. Even if I had millions of dollars to spend on watches I would still rock a Hammy in the rotation.
Keeping with the air theme (but not the space theme)
Glycine Airman
You could look into aerospace related watches. The Speedmaster has been mentioned before but it’s way out of budget sadly. An alternative with history and similar looks is the Bulova Lunar Pilot. It has a great watch movement and as an engineer by training I enjoy mechanical and good quartz movements equally. It’s super large though and while some watches can get away being rather large, the Lunar Pilot can be too much. Pilots watches could be an other option. They have a lot of history and usually also look pretty clean. And, compared to some other types, you can get very good models at many price ranges. Between Lacos entry models and IWC high end models, there is one for most budgets and almost all are very nice. You can look at Laco for traditional ones (they also made the original ones for the German airforce among other manufacturers), Stowa is another great recommendation more under the radar. Some slightly different models come from Sinn or Guinand as an alternative.
As another, less mentioned option, would be Fortis. The new models are a bit different and imo expensive for what they offer but the older models might be worth a look.
One of the most „Air related“ watch is the Navitimer which is also out of budget but Hamilton has some alternative and the Seiko Flightmaster is also a great option!
The Sinn 144 is also very nice; Sinn in general has a lot of flight related stuff since the founder was an avid pilot. It might be hard to find one for the price since it sadly got pretty expensive lately. The 142 and 157 are also nice. Guinand again offers very similar options (same founder I think).
What about a Russian space watch? Russian watches have their own unique design language and special history.
Longines Hydroconquest or the old Conquest
If the Bulova Lunar Pilot is ok - Citizen Skyhawk and Navihawk. There are probably 25-30 years of models to choose from with varying sizes and design languages. I got one not too long after getting my current job, which is in aerospace and a lot less hands-on than my old job. The flight computer is pretty much a gimmick, but I got a kick out of teaching myself to use it. I use the chronograph and timer pretty frequently. I also really like the world time function on my G Shock, which is what ends up winning when I travel for work.
a Laco or Sinn mechanical flieger watch? Checks all the boxes. Laco automatic fliegers run $400 to $500-ish whilst the Sinn 556 is around $1200 to $1500 IIRC
Werenbach have actual remenents of Soyuz rockets that launched.
Some of the discontinued series are on sale for reasonable prices.
Mid range option: Citizen Promaster Ecodrive/ radio
Luxury option: Skydweller/ Brietling navitimer
I was in your brothers position a decade ago. Get the speed master if even remotely near price range. The number of conversations I have had start due to that watch, including with the former NASA director who I met at dinner, are incredible.
Ok, I'm a speedmaster acolyte so it's REALLY hard to not insist that you go that way, but it seems like it's a bigger ticket purchase than you want to go for. Ok.
Have you looked at Stowa pilot's watches? Super legible, no-nonsense-all-business fliegers. Personally I have a soft spot for the no-logo models.
There's a whole range, the Klassik 40 might be a good place to start checking them out. Laco is another brand that makes some cool ones.
When it comes to space, you could have a look at Selten Series 00 with meteorite dial.
Look at fortis cosmonaut chronograph! Mechanical spacerelated historical and Swiss. Models from the 90s can be found around that price and every watchmaker on the planet can repair that 7700.
I’m an Aero Engineer and a Speedmaster is the one for me (I have one). But, if it’s a gift and you can’t spend more than a couple hundred, the Moonswatch would be a good choice.
Another luxury but slightly cheaper one that my friend got is a Breitling Aerospace EVO
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