Pilots have this “easy” today. The plane has a picture of a device that tells them the names of all passengers. But it was not present a few years ago. And the pilots needed additional information that the planes did not have at that moment. It was not necessary for the pilot, but the information helped them many times. Pilot watches were created from this need.
A small History of Pilot Watches
At the beginning of the 20th century, watches were still luxurious things that many people couldn’t have. In addition, these watches were just pockets. At that time, if you wanted to wear a watch in your pocket, tied to a chain, you had to make a special strap to be able to take your wrist. This a problem for pilots, which needed both hands under control.
This is 1904, when Brazilian aviation, Alberto Santos-Dumont, asked his watchmaker, Louis Cartier, who needs a big, worthy look, and he can see it without issuing control of his aircraft.
The result was Cartier Santos, a name that he reminded of his friend. A square clock, which has some patches on the bezel section, and especially the bracelet. Cartier Santos, officially released in 1911, averages fuel, wind speed, lifting capacity, navigation, and time consumption. An authentic computer at this time. For many people, it was the first wristwatch in history.
How did the pilot watches be made?
From that moment, many brands started making their pilot watches. Among others, brands like Zenith, Omega, and Breguet worked on this kind of evolution. But it was in World War II when such watches fired the production of brands. These were the times of strategy, and integrated attacks, in which a good aviation clock was necessary to win the war.
Of the numerous functions they could include, the pilot watches had to have special features to meet their function.
- Large and viable circle. Pilots should be able to read their watch several times in negative situations. Therefore, they were usually done in fields with a black background, and white numbers with white numbers. The light for night flights was another plus that was important in the circle of the pilot clock.
- The crown should be enough size. Pilots needed to be able to manipulate their watches with gloves, so a large crown, facilitated work.
- Tachymeter and bevel with multiple readings. Over time, he continued to grow more and more. But thanks to the full screening of talks and bells, the pilots can measure their flights. Today was the closest thing to the smartwatch.
- Being GMT, though it was not until the 50s, that Rolex began the first watch with this function. Although not all pilot watches he has, it is a function that was included in many of these people, due to the utility of most passengers, including any pilot of the time, transoceanic flights begin.
And the pilot, do these watches use?
Well, I don’t believe it, and I’m sure they don’t have the least majority. In the 80s and 90s, navigation devices made a leap. There was a lot to do with electronics in the watches. And today, we are not going to talk about the smartwatch, which also includes more special functions.
Currently, this is a watch that is focused on civilian people, where designs that were made for some reason, or as needed, have to get maximum marketing today and generate more sales. But there are still many old memories, lovers of aeronautics, and that’s why big brands continue to work on new designs and manufacturing pilots.
