Old School Cool: Vintage-Style Pilot Watches For The Modern Man

Once upon a time, tool watches relied on a specific design language for practical purposes Take the pilot watch for example-their large legible numerals, oversized crowns, and extra long straps were all explicitly chosen to serve the airmen that wore them Today, many watchmakers still rely on vintage pilot watch design codes not because they offer real-life functionality but because they are great looking timepieces.

Here are three vintage-style pilot watches made for a contemporary audience Zenith's history with making pilot watches dates back to 1909 when Louis Blériot wore a Zenith watch on his wrist when he became the first to fly across the English Channel Naturally, for their contemporary aviator watches, Zenith draws plenty of design cues from that "Special" vintage model, as well as the Type 20 Montre D'Aéronef dashboard instruments the watchmaker made for the French in 1939.

Bronze has been the darling metal in retro-styled watches in recent years, particularly cherished for the way it oxidizes to develop its own unique patina. . Source