I’d go Sinn, Bell & Ross, or IWC. You’re just going to get better quality, in my opinion, and the designs are better, again, in my opinion. I like a cleaner look with just really huge legibility as top “tool” on my aviation watch. I own a model from each of those brands and would vouch for them. Real high quality watches.

Stowa, IWC and Laco.

Longines Spirit series, Oris Propilot, IWC Mark XX, Sinn 356 Flieger etc.

Check out Brellum they have a pilot line that are sweet.

There are two schools of thought. A watch with a GMT complication so a pilot can have the local time on the bezel and their home time on the dial is common. There are tons of affordable options here, and many GMT's are ubiquitous. Your main decision will be dial color, bezel color, quarts vs. automatic, and braceles vs. strap.

Also, many pilots take pride in airmanship, so they like to keep their navigation skills sharp. So, a chronograph for timing turns and a slide-rule bezel for computations are popular. The Breitling Navitimer kinda rules the roost in this category, but the Sinn 903 is probably a close second. There are some other slide rule watches out there that aren't bad either, like Citizen Promaster Nighthawk, Navihawk, and even Casio Ediface that are quite affordable.

The Omega Speesmaster Moonphase sort of splits the difference. I think the Air King isn't a good substitute for the Breitling.

41mm navi. Forget AD experience, save money by going secondary or gray.

Buy the Sinn version of the Navitimer. Half the price for same thing

https://preview.redd.it/estecl8x5e3f1.jpeg?width=768&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=09a9a0f94196b6e1cbe214745e013830de543ac2

.

Navitimer. Save up. And postpone the purchase.

For my money, I’d go with IWC for a pilot’s watch.

Too bad this sub doesn’t allow photos.

Tool watch: Casio G-Shock GW-M5610U. Doubles as a GMT and chronograph because it has those functions, too.

Daily wear/GADA: Seiko Selection SBTM323. Solar, radio-syncing, perpetual calendar.

Dress: Citizen Collection SID66-5191. Solar, classic size at 34.8mm, thin at 5.3mm, on a leather strap.

That’ll about do for anything. You’re in for all three together at about $600.

Citizen promaster diver - Cartier tank quartz - Casio ae1200

bgd-5650-1

LCW-M100tse

ocw-t200

Bulova spaceview 

Yours is definitely awesome, but if you really want a space/scifi themed watch, there is absolutely no watch more perfect and fitting than the Hamilton Murph. It was literally created as a prop for the movie Interstellar, and they later released it for public sale. It is THE space watch, hands down.

I’m new to this and not quite ready to spend that much on a watch yet. And once I am, there are going to be others that are more my style. But I’ve heard about the Murph, and yeah it’s really the only answer here IMO!

If budget is a big concern I’d really look at all of Tandorio’s offerings. They have a wide array of dial options in their pilot case. I have one of the more basic models I picked up on sale for like $35 and love it. I think they offer solid watches for the price.

Definitely not historically accurate- but I’m really digging their newer offering of a NH34A GMT with Grand Seiko style dial in a traditional pilot case. Really cool combo. Love the grand Seiko look but rarely do I dress in a way that merits such a fancy watch. Pilots I can rock daily.

Don’t forget a sale is coming up at the end of the month, so don’t buy just yet.

I would say the Escapement Time Flieger. I mostly hear/read great stories about it.

I just received the the Escapement time Flieger type A and it’s seriously insanely beautiful.

It’s a near copy to the stowa 40mm.

Even the movement is a clone SW200 and PT5000.

You’d be insane to pay $1300+ for stowa when Escapement times flieger for $95 on sale.

Some others don’t have the right case or the right movement or the crown.

But the Escapement time is shockingly beautiful and an insane watch for $95 and a PT5000 movement.

I woldn't consider my self an expert...but I'll take a stab at it.

Budget - Addiesdive pilot - NH35, sapphire, bracelet, all for $60 is a steal. finishing, date window, dial logo, and case design are the things I'm not hugly fond of

Historically accurate - Hruodland pilots they have a few style and even distressed versions. case and sizes are accurate from what I know of.

Specs - Cronos pilot like I said below, spec monster with great finishing and proportions. plus they are clearancing them out so it's like $135-ish with coupons. which is a bargain for a Cronos on a bracelet

overall - if I were buying a type A, whether it was an older style type A or a newer (IWC mark XIII homage) I'd probably go with the cronos. good looks, nice color options, nice bracelet, perfect size (for me), good lume, and very nice proporions. finishing should be top notch as well.

addiesdive or tandorio for budget options

if you want something more special, the hruodland turbine adds an extra touch and is very beautiful

Already looked at Laco? They are quite affordable and one of the original 5 to produce the pilot watches for the German Luftwaffe.

I have the Laco Aachen 42 and the last-gen Seiko Flightmaster in blue. Both are pretty solid options depending on what you’re looking for.

The Laco has the historical value and both A and B types are available depending on what your dial preference. The 42’s case is max capacity for my wrist (~6.75”)but you can get the 39 if the 50mm lug to lug on the 42 is too large. The strap and water resistance could be better considering the price of the watch and it doesn’t exactly fit under a cuff, especially with heavy sweaters. You can however get it on a metal bracelet and/or swap out the band; it’s wicked comfortable on a single-pass paratrooper strap.

The Seiko is nice and thin being quartz and has a chronograph and higher water resistance. I think the newer model is much harder to read than the last one, but that brings the question of new vs used. Both are cheaper than the Laco

So I googled that Stauer - that’s really just playing on the Breitling Navitimer. I really can’t think of many inexpensive alternatives, so I’ll veer slightly off course. Citizen Nighthawk, Seiko Flightmaster, or find something similar to the Citizen ref. BL5400-52A (which you may need to find used, it may be out of production).

For more traditional pilot watches like that Mil-tec, I’d say look at Laco. Steinhart also makes a few pilot watches, but they don’t have the history Laco has behind them (as Laco was one of the original companies that made flieger watches.

Looks really good man

Long time reddit lurker (especially r/watches), but first post.

I have been looking for a nice simple pilots watch with a metal bracelet for about 2 years. I really like the IWC Mark XVIII and the Pilot Chrono, but could not bring myself to spend the extra $$$ for the brand. Then spent a long time deciding between Sinn / Laco / Archimede, but ultimately settled for the Archimede Pilot 39 A S (clean watch-face, bit smaller for my small wrists, beautiful bracelet, ETA 2824-2).

Extremely happy with it (have had it for two months). The craftsmanship / finish is incredible and the design is so clean. Works at about +10s a day pretty consistently. Should post a lumen shot as well, really nice!

Did I miss any other clean pilot watches with metal bracelets in my research? Already thinking about my next watch...

Great looking watch! Love how simple and clean the design is.

Looks like another watch to add to my wish list...

Are the endlinks solid on the bracelet? I have the pilot 39 as well, and am considering getting the bracelet.

That is a gorgeous watch.

The watch ain’t that pretentious but the photo is!

Bought from Ratio website

₹12k MRP + ₹7k custom duty

You imported it ? Customs if any ? Hows the feel , fit and finish ?

https://preview.redd.it/xtb6g9adc87f1.jpeg?width=3456&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fc7d7d6ac858954ca5c9a274d5cadd0b427ea998

Ratio watches are sooooooo underrated , they make excellent watches

From amazon or abroad?

Are these worth it but , are you happy with your purchase?