Therefore, naming this watch after him seems a fitting choice, given that it looks to pay tribute to the Hawker Hurricane and its pilots. There are three versions of the Clowes available in steel, with a retail price of £295, and a plated bronze-coloured version priced at £330. 

The Clowes Automatic Is Not For The Small-Wristed

Now, the first thing that struck me about the Clowes is its size. The steel case is a whopping 46mm in diameter, which makes it the largest watch I think I’ve ever reviewed. It’s got a lug to lug of 55mm, and a thickness of 13.5mm. As soon as I strap the watch onto my 6.25-inch wrist it’s obvious that it’s too big for me. However, the Clowes Automatic will be perfect for anyone with larger wrists after a watch with real presence. Sizing aside, the case is nicely finished, with sharp edges and even brushing. The crown is also pretty big and therefore really easy to grip. 

A Dial Packed With Details

After the overall size of the Clowes, the next thing to hit you is the dial, which is protected by a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating. The watch has a Type-B layout, but Avi-8 have taken that standard Flieger design and completely overhauled it so that the Clowes Automatic is a far cry from a basic pilot’s watch. 

Firstly, the oversized minute markers are applied 3-dimensional blocks that really pop out at you and give the dial some impressive depth. The dial itself has a bit of depth too, as it’s embossed with a camouflage pattern that evokes that used on the Hawker Hurricane. Besides the camouflage pattern on the dial, the Clowes Automatic has a ton of other nods to the Hurricane and the RAF. For starters, the counterweight on the seconds hand is the silhouette of a Hurricane. Then, above the date window, there’s the aircraft identification code for Clowes’s Hurricane – JXB, with the RAF Roundel. Above the minute track at six you’ll find the inscription: “In Omnibus Princeps”, which is Latin for “First In All Things”, the motto of the RAF’s No.1 Squadron. Another nod to the squadron can be found on the 12-hour scale, where the one is highlighted orange in contrast to the other red numbers. Lastly, the minute marker at twelve is red, white, and blue to mimic the fin flash painted on the tail of RAF planes. 

Looking at the Clowes and taking all these elements in, I think they might all be a bit much. Less is often more, but that’s just my personal opinion, and I’m sure there are many people who’ll appreciate and enjoy these touches. Plus, whilst the dial isn’t really my cup of tea, in Avi-8’s defence the Clowes is still very easy to read. The lume is also surprisingly good, and I was pretty impressed with the steady even glow that emanated from the hands and numerals. 

As a pilot’s watch, the Clowes doesn’t have a particularly high depth rating, and it’s only water resistant to a mere 50m. This is referenced across the top of the dial where the equivalent imperial measurement of 165ft is printed. 

The Clowes Automatic comes on a 22mm leather strap that tapers dramatically down to 18mm. It’s nice and thick so it pairs well with the watch, and though it’s not of the highest quality, it’s pretty much what I’d expect for an affordable watch like this. 

The Movement

Inside the Clowes beats a Seiko NH-series automatic movement. It has 21 jewels, a 3Hz beat rate, and a 41-hour power reserve. Seiko’s NH-series of calibres are well-known for their reliability, and in that regard, this is a solid choice of movement. However, the movement doesn’t have a hacking feature, so the seconds hand keeps ticking even with the crown pulled out. In this day and age, it’s a minor feature that most movements have, and I feel that one of the newer Miyota 8-series calibres would be a better choice, as they have similar specs and hacking. 

Final Thoughts

As you might’ve guessed from my comments about the Clowes’s size and dial, this isn’t a watch for me. However, those are purely subjective reasons, and there are a number of features that I really like about the watch.  I am rather fond of the 3-D markers. They aren’t something I’ve seen before at this price point, and I think they go a long way to helping the Clowes feel fresh. The same goes for the camouflage pattern on the dial. Together with the markers, it makes the dial feel very contemporary and gives it some real depth, something that’s often missing from pilot’s watches. 

My own tastes aside, the Clowes is undoubtedly a well-made watch and a strong value proposition. Avi-8 has done a good job of putting an original spin on a classic pilot’s watch, whilst maintaining the design’s legibility. The finishing of the watch is excellent, and I think that if you appreciate all the little references to the RAF and the Hurricane then this is a great watch to get. Again, whilst those references aren’t for me, at £295 the Clowes is a  well-rounded watch for the money, and it’s a solid pick for an entry-level pilot’s watch.  

You can purchase the Clowes Automatic from Avi-8’s website here.

The post The Avi-8 Hawker Hurricane Clowes Automatic – An Exceptionally Contemporary Pilot’s Watch appeared first on 12&60.

The colourways of the Hitchcock Automatic are inspired by the various polo clubs Hitchcock represented over the years, which is a well-thought-out touch. This one being the “Cooperstown” blue.

At £275, is it worth it? Let’s check it out.

The specs

• Dimensions: 43mm diameter x 14mm height x 51mm lug to lug
• Weight: 91g
• Water resistance rating: 5ATM / 50m
• Movement: Seiko NH35
• Accuracy: -2.1 sec / day
• Lug width: 22mm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: RRP £275, use code WIAB for 15% off making it £233.75
• Available from: https://avi-8.co.uk/pages/p-51-hitchcock-automatic

There are two key standout features on the P-51 Mustang Hitchcock: the dial, and that eye-catching crown guard.

Firstly, the crown guard, which supposedly echos the engine exhaust of the aircraft this watch is in honour to. It’s slightly reminiscent of Panerai, however, this guard cannot be manipulated or opened in any way – it’s simply a bar over the crown, allowing you just enough room to pull it out to set the watch. Setting it is pretty fiddly too, as you have to navigate around the bar and use just the very tips of your fingers. But, it sure does look cool.

The second outstanding thing about this watch is the dial. The Hitchcock’s multilayered dial is drawn from both the cockpit and body of the P-51 Mustang, offering depth, texture, detail and all sorts of style wrapped into one. The sandwich aspects of a number of the hour markers exemplify the industrial feel, as well as the faux screws which look pretty good. The plate sitting on the top right corner of the dial is a neat touch too.

The hands are just the right size, width and length, with a bold border to provide great legibility.

The lume has surprised me too. It’s not stated what type it is, but it sure is strong and charges fast.

The case itself has a sleek contoured shape, which wears better than the 43mm diameter and 13mm height suggests. Whilst the mirror-like polished finishing on the sides is not going to stay perfect for long, it does impress on the wrist.

The domed sapphire crystal is very reflective, but you do get a pleasing flash of blue anti-reflective coating at certain angles, albeit not very effective.

The identifiable padded leather strap is a genius design, inspired by the style of the P-51 Mustang’s seats. It’s beautifully soft, supple and comfortable straight out of the box, with a complimentary deep blue colour and light blue stitching.

Found within the Avi-8 P-51 is the Seiko NH35 movement. A tried-and-tested movement that’s in nearly every sub-£500 automatic. In a tribute to Hitchcock’s heroics outside the cockpit, the case back features the words “Ten Goal Tommy,” referencing his 10-goal handicap in polo. It’s coming in at a pretty amazing -2.1 sec/day.

Final comments

I think it’s a strong watch for £233.75 with code WIAB. Very clever design, and above-standard execution for the price point. It’s going to appeal to aviation fans more than anyone else, of course, but I’m impressed by the thought that’s gone into the various aspects linking back to the P-51 Mustang plane itself, but also to Tommy Hitchcock too.

The post Avi-8 P-51 Mustang Hitchcock Cooperstown Watch Review appeared first on 12&60.

In this special edition, the multilayered and skeletonised dial of the watch incorporates a unique piece of Harrier XV741’s fuselage, under the index at 12. The standard versions are £360, so I feel a premium of £35 is pretty good for something that cool.

Limited to 741 pieces, it’s a stunning, uniquely designed watch with one hell of a dial. Let’s check it out to see if it’s worth it.

The specs

• Dimensions: 44mm diameter x 13.5mm height x 52mm lug to lug
• Weight: 92g
• Water resistance rating: 5ATM / 50m
• Movement: Miyota 82s7
• Accuracy: +21.2 sec/day
• Lug width: 22mm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: £395, 15% off with code WIAB – £335.75
• Available from: https://avi-8.co.uk/products/xv741-automatic-blue-nylon-limited-edition

With a 44mm diameter, it does feel quite large for me and my ~7” wrists. With a height of 13.5mm and a pretty flat case, with no particular downturn on the lugs, I feel like it balances a bit like a saucer on the top of my wrist, unfortunately. Watch size is down to personal preference, but I think it would be a much nicer watch to wear had it been 42mm.

The case itself also doesn’t particularly reach out to me either, due to the finishing. Gunmetal is awesome, you can’t deny that – but the polished finishing Avi-8 have used is a little bit tacky looking in my eyes. It also picks up fingerprints like crazy.

One interesting feature is that the XV741’s takeoff and landing coordinates from the Transatlantic air race are etched into the case sides. The push-pull crown is easy to use with good deep grip, featuring the RAF roundel deeply and neatly engraved on the end.

Let’s face it, the dial is truly unique. I like it, it’s unusual without looking like it’s trying too hard – if you know what I mean. The bold hands are super – in terms of design, construction and legibility, and despite a complex and detailed dial with loads of depth to it, the dial as a whole is not overbearing at all.

The running seconds hand is located at 4:30, an interesting skeletonized disc, supposedly mirroring the front profile silhouette of the Harrier XV741. The “11.29 miles” on the seconds hand display represents the average distance per minute flown during the race (0.89 mach or 677.5 mph equates to 11.29 miles every 60 seconds).

The frame surrounding the 24-hour indicator at 9 is inspired by the shape of the Harrier’s cockpit, whilst the dial itself is not a hand, but rather a rotating disc with a detailed bridge over the top with an arrow.

The green metal bar positioned horizontally across the middle is striking, both in terms of a lovely injection of colour, but also in terms of construction.

Surrounding the dial is a lovely knurled rehaut, which looks fantastic and frames the dial so well. It’s a simple thing that shows impressive attention to detail.

The unique piece of Harrier XV741’s fuselage under the index at 12 is a marvellously unique aspect of the watch, done in a really tasteful way.

Avi-8 have labelled the lume as “Swiss lume”. This is likely Swiss SuperLuminova; the strength is average.

The movement is labelled as a “Miyota 8 series”, but after some digging, I identified it as the 82s7 https://miyotamovement.com/product/82S7/. It runs at 21.6k bph, has a 42-hour power reserve, and 21 jewels. It does not have a hacking seconds hand. The custom rotor to mimic the Rolls Royce Pegasus engine on the Harrier looks fantastic and is very responsive.

The exhibition caseback is quite industrial looking with a load of specs engraved around the window. It has a brushed finish, which in my opinion looks a lot better than the rest of the case and I’d much prefer it if the entire case was finished this way.

The strap is as good as always for Avi-8; I find them thick, rugged and sure to put in a shift. It’s a little stiff out of the box but it’ll loosen up.

The XV741’s participation in the air race was given the code name “Operation: Blue Nylon”. Hence, an additional nylon and canvas strap has been included. This strap, however, is a bit of a conundrum for me.

Firstly, it’s like a strap I’ve never come across before. Once I figured out how to put it on, it was overly bulky, lumpy and generally a bit uncomfortable. Whilst it’s cool that you get a free strap, it’s not one that I’ll end up wearing.

Final comments

I’ve been struggling to make my mind up about this watch for a while now. But, I feel my concerns do not overpower the positive points of the watch. The case as a whole makes me utter a hard “meh”, but the sensational dial completely makes up for it.

Whilst I don’t particularly care too much about whether it has the unique piece of the Harrier XV741’s fuselage under the “0”, I appreciate the historical relevance it would possess to many watch and aviation aficionados. I do find it pretty cool and it would certainly be a talking point.

With code WIAB, £335.75 is a fair price to pay. Whilst it’s not completely for me, I certainly believe those who are interested in the aeronautical significance that this watch is portraying will enjoy it. It’s a real feast for the eyes and is sure to impress.

The post Avi-8 XV741 Watch Review appeared first on 12&60.

The three watches I want to talk about today don’t stray very far from what has made AVI-8 a trendy brand at this price point. This isn’t a detailed review, but more of a teaser for the three of them and for one that I think stands out a little more and I’m sure will be very popular for the brand.

The Watches:

• Avi-8 Patriot Automatic Limited Edition P-51 Mustang
  • Price: £450; £382.50 using 15% off code WIAB
• Avi-8 Flyboy Engineer Automatic
  • Price: £225; £191.25 using 15% off code WIAB
• Avi-8 Type 300 Automatic
  • Price: £330; £280.50 using 15% off code WIAB

Firstly, what’s similar? Well, all three are three-hander automatics featuring a Japanese movement (NH35). All are made from stainless steel, all feature a date function, all of them have sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coating, and all have a very favourable lug width of 22mm. They all feature lumed hands and indices, so when things get dark, they will remain legible.

From here, the watches take similar but differing paths. Both the Flyboy Engineer and the Type 300 Automatic come in at 42mm in diameter and come on stainless steel bracelets. The Flyboys bracelet is almost a jubilee style while the Type 300 is in a more oyster style. Both have milled security clasps and overall are very solid in their feel. The Patriot, in this instance, is the odd one out in the bracelet category and comes on a very nice leather strap. The leather is very soft and supple but feels like it will last and is very comfortable on the wrist. The Patriot is also the biggest of the three at 43mm, but because of the leather strap this is also the lightest overall on the wrist

Other differences become apparent when you look at the back of the watches. In this instance, the Flyboy is the odd one out and features a solid case back with a lovely engraving of a pilots face and the Flyboy wording underneath. Both the Patriot and Type 300 feature a display case back with decorated rotor. For the patriot, this takes the form of a black rotor with the AVI-8 brand name on it and an American centre star for that patriotic reference. The Type 300 has a rotor that’s been cut out to look like a fighter plane which is a simple but nice touch on this one.

Dial wise this is where things again get different. Although all three use what is the same movement. Their approach to dial layout is very different. All three feature what I would call a brackish green colour tone with yellow details. But all three also have very different styles when it comes to finishing. AVI-8 always comes up with very complicated and sometimes busy dials, but they are always exciting and fun to look at, and these three are no different. The Patriots Dial has two sections to it one sitting slightly higher than the other, and the finish is a very fine brushing that runs in different directions for both sections. These are attached with tiny silver screws, and it’s reminiscent of aircraft body panelling. The indices float around the outside chapter ring with simple baton markers but then the twelve, or in this case zero, three, six and nine markers are recessed in a sandwich dial style. The hands are broad and sharp and fully lumed, and the second hand is finished in a bright yellow. As with most dials from AVI-8, this one is detail-rich and has a 3d effect that makes it fun to look at. The brushing is well done, and overall it’s a very nice dial.

The Type 300 is a drab, flat green with yellow details for the indices but again AVI-8 have added depth to the dial with 3d markers and indices and a central section that is recessed for the date and a small seconds sub-dial. The Type 300 does away with traditional one to twelve indices and mixes them with other markers at the minute markers of five, twenty-five, thirty-five, forty-five, and fifty-five. Between these sit more traditional hour markers but these are in grey and can be hard to see. It’s not a problematic dial to read by any means but is probably the least traditional. Although due to the sizing it’s highly legible like all AVI-8 watches tend to be.

Finally, the Flyboy Engineer, which is probably one of the most simple dials I’ve seen from AVI-8. The dial again is in the green colour, but this one is graduated out to darker tones as you reach the indices. It also has a fine-textured metallic effect like very fine sand which adds to the dial depth. Indices are again applied and run from zero at noon right around the dial with a 3d look, and all finished in yellow. Flyboy appears in text at the six o’clock position as does automatic but finished in red. The hands are a more traditional Flieger style, and again yellow lume filled. At the centre of the dial is a small, simple crosshair pattern and then moving out to just under the indices is the twenty-four-hour scale. This dial on the whole I think is very understated from AVI-8 but also has all their trademark styles and finishes in a simple to read and very traditional overall style.

Final Thoughts

As I said at the beginning, this is more of a look at, instead of a review of these three pieces. To review a watch, I like to spend time wearing it in different situations and get to know it and how it wears and functions over some time. In this instance, I didn’t have that luxury, but what I will say is there was one that I would reach for and would have liked to have spent more time with, and that was the Flyboy. At their heart, all three have the same movement and the NH35 is tested and proven, but from an appearance and aesthetic point of view, the Flyboy was the one that spoke to me the most. It has a more traditional Flieger look but with just enough of the AVI-8 twist to make it enjoyable and stand out from the crowd. Green may not be my first choice, but it’s available in multiple colours, and at 42mm, it’s a nice size for this style of watch. The engraved case back is nicely done, and although I’d probably remove the bracelet and put it on leather or a NATO strap, it’s nice the bracelet is there as an option. All of these watches have exotic dials, and it will come down to personal preference in the end. I’m expecting the Flyboy to be quite the hit for AVI-8 and that’s where my money would go if I had to choose one to keep.

For a full specification list head over to Avi-8 and check these and their other watches out.

The post A Trio From Avi-8: Patriot, Flyboy Engineer,Type 300 appeared first on 12&60.

AVI-8 produces quite a wide range of aerospace inspired watches that take design cues from some of the most famous planes and squadrons that flew over the years. Recently I got to spend some time with one of their Harrier 2 models, specifically the Ace of spades version (ref AV-4070-03) this model is a tribute to the 231st Marine attack squadron who fly the Harrier 2 in operations.

So straight off this is not a small watch at 44mm, but with downturned lugs, it thankfully wears very comfortably on the wrist. The case is in stainless steel but has a grey IP coating that suits the industrial style of the watch overall. Sat across the dial is a flat piece sapphire crystal with AR coating to maintain legibility and ensure a scratch-free life.

The lug width is 22mm, so this should make swapping straps easy if this is something you like to do to make a watch your own. If not, then I had absolutely no complaints with the grey leather strap with black contrasting stitching that comes supplied. It’s a very supple strap while still feeling substantial and tough enough to last many years. The strap looks like it will probably age well and give a beautiful distressed look as time goes by. It also comes with hardware in the same grey finish as the case and is signed on the buckle with the AVI-8 name.

The back of the case has the usual information we all expect and also refers to the Ace of spades squadron, which is a nice touch. And then there is the dreaded display case back. Anyone who has read any of my other reviews on other sites will know where I sit on display case backs. Far too many companies add these for what I can only assume is a misguided view that they are interesting. For the most part, unless the movement is something unusual or a special effort has been made to make it enjoyable, I’d rather not see it thanks. Thankfully as with the dial which we will come to shortly, they have added an exciting rotor to the automatic movement. The rotor wheel is made to look like the ducted fan blades on the Harrier. So as much as I hate to admit it, this does look very nicely done! So no complaints on this one thumbs-up to AVI-8 for not taking shortcuts in this area.

So dials are something that I think stand out for AVI-8 I have seen dozens of variations and I would challenge anyone to say they are ordinary or uninteresting. The Harrier 2 is no exception, made up of thirty individual pieces all laid out in a way that draws inspiration from its namesake the Harrier they say! In all honesty, I don’t know enough about the Harrier to pick up on all these I’m certain subtle design cues, but I can say it’s detailed and undoubtedly fun to see. The seconds, for instance, run on a small circular disk instead of a seconds hand and it’s just an exciting way to do this that’s fun and different.

There is also a 24-hour sub-dial that looks like some sort of targeting or radar display with highly polished and faceted indices. There are so many layers to this dial it’s hard to not just stare at it and look for more details. Splashes of red on the 24hr hand and the seconds disk break up the grey theme along with the polishing. You get a real mechanical but also almost futuristic feel from this dial and for me, that was quite refreshing.

So in conclusion, what do I think? Well, the Harrier 2 is a big watch, maybe too big for some but only you can decide from a size perspective what works for you, but it does wear well considering its size. It is an aviation-inspired watch, so I dare say if you’re looking at these you understand the size, for the most part, comes with the territory. There is 50m of water resistance which I would usually complain about, but this is an aviation-themed watch, not a diver, so should be perfectly adequate for most people. The specifications state Japanese automatic movement but go no further in stating what this is. In the time I had it, I had no issues with timekeeping so again in this instance I can’t say I was concerned. The AVI-8 isn’t a pilot’s watch. It’s an aviation-inspired watch with lots of subtle little details and some premium materials like the sapphire crystal and nice leather strap rounding out the package. The dial is the star of the show, and I’m sure will have mass appeal. If you look at a dial and it holds your interest and makes you smile then that’s a win in my book. So bravo too AVI-8, the Harrier 2 doesn’t go far wrong in its execution and fun factor.

Specs:

• Movement: Japanese automatic two hands with 24 hours and small seconds disk
• Dial: Black Dial with Swiss Luminous applied index
• Case: 44mm round IP-gun stainless steel case Thickness: 14.5mm
• Lug to Lug: 53mm
• Crystal: sapphire with ar coating
• Water resistance: 50m
• Band: 22mm grey genuine leather with tang buckle
• Price: RRP £305 / ~$380
  • Use code WIAB for 15% off: making it £259.25 / ~ $325
• Available from: https://avi-8.co.uk/products/av-4070-03

The post Avi-8 Hawker Harrier II AV-4070-03 Watch Review appeared first on 12&60.

The specs

• Dimensions: 44mm diameter x 15mm height x 52mm lug to lug
• Weight: 102g
• Water resistance rating: 5ATM / 50m
• Movement: Miyota 6S50 – 4 year batt, big date, 1/20 sec chrono, 60 min chrono
• Lug width: 22mm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: £275
  • 20% off using code WIAB: £220 / ~$290
• Available from: https://avi-8.co.uk/products/av-4065-03

The video review

The post Avi-8 Matador AV-4065-03 Watch Video Review appeared first on 12&60.

At a glance, I think the 1980s is my favourite, but the more obvious RAF nod of the 1960s due to the roundels on the dial will no doubt call out to many. After all, this collection was released as a celebration of a century of the RAF (the Royal Air Force – the air force of the United Kingdom). Let’s take a closer look.

The specs

• Dimensions: 42mm diameter x 12.5mm height (1960s) / 14.5mm (1980s) x 48mm lug to lug
• Weight: 78g (1960s) – 88g (1980s)
• Water resistance rating: 5ATM / 50m
• Movement: Miyota 8218
• Accuracy: -3.7 sec/day (1960s); +10.2 sec/day (1980s)
• Lug width: 22mm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: RRP £280 / Using code WIAB will get you 20% off making it £224
• Available from: https://avi-8.co.uk/pages/avi-8-centenary

The case

The case used is the same standard barrel case throughout the rest of the range. Interestingly, the 1980s is 2mm taller – this is most likely due to the special small seconds indicator which has a surround above it, requiring extra height. You don’t notice it though until you put them right next to each other.

The cases are 95% brushed – the only part that’s polished is the top shoulders of the lugs. This makes sense; it provides a bit more of an industrial feel that is more suited to a real aviator timepiece. It’s also more rugged and hard wearing.

The 42mm diameter is perfectly reasonable for an aviation timepiece, and I personally find it perfectly wearable.

We have a reasonably domed sapphire crystal, which yields visual distortion at tight angles as it’s only domed on the top.

The push-pull crown has the RAF roundel deeply engraved in the end. It’s not very shapely at all – it just sticks straight out, which is rather boring. It’s a shame it’s not a proper onion crown that is synonymous with aviators – much like the crown that was found on the 1920s for example.

The exhibition caseback has various details lightly laser etched around the window, each with their own model year featured.

The dial

The layout of the dial is the same across the entire range, mainly due to the selected movement: date indicator at 3, running seconds hand at 4:30. Indeed, that’s not the only similarities – the general feel to the dial design is cleverly intrinsically linked between the ranges, due to the various features such as the hour markers, raised platforms, and font used.

Personally, the most subtle appearance of the 1980s appeals to me more; I think the bold RAF roundel on the 1960s a little too eye catching for my liking.

They both have a slightly translucent backing to the dial, which is a nice twist from the original two releases. It allows some of the movement and date wheel to be visible which creates an interesting visual backing.

The hands are the same on both, sword-shaped with a brushed border and black base. They are lume filled, but the lume strength isn’t the most impressive.

The hour markers are all very precise and thick too – signifying good quality. The 1980s hour markers are batons with a slight downward turn at the end, whilst the 1960s hour markers have a lume filled channel in the centre.

The small running seconds indicator at 4:30 is fairly straightforward on the 1960s, with a detailed RAF roundel as the backdrop. The 1980s second hand has a cockpit instrument panel-esque vibe to it, with a sheath surrounding the bottom half, and the hand having two ends so you can still read the seconds.

The strap

I find the straps on Avi-8 watches are always excellent quality: usually thick, very supple. Despite the straps on both the 1960s and 1980s are two different types (leather and canvas), I’m equally as happy with both of them.

The 1960s has a distressed, rugged full leather construction. It’s thick as expected, and suits the watch well – I like the dark olive colour which works well with the dial. It has some small stitched detailing at top.

The 1980s is a sand canvas strap rather than leather, with a light cream stitching. Like the 1960s, this strap works very well with the appearance of the dial of this model; I’m pleased that some thought went into the straps and the same one wasn’t just slapped on all the range.

Both are fitted with the same brushed tang buckle as is usual for all Avi-8’s, with a curved top and the Avi-8 logo engraved on the bar.

The movement

The movement itself is nothing particularly exciting. Whilst it’s not the best looking, the Miyota 8218 is a true workhorse that performs well and is durable.

Some specs include 21 jewels, a 42-hour power reserve, low-beat of 21.6k bph (6 ticks per hour), however, it does not have a hacking seconds hand.

What is impressive is the fact that Avi-8 have included a custom rotor, which is slightly skeletonised with the RAF roundel in the centre and some custom print – a pleasant surprise.

Final comments

As was the case with the previous two models, I’m impressed with the quality for the price. Avi-8 have ditched the old pricing structure they used to follow: overpriced RRPs with massive discounts, which is a good thing. Instead, all their latest offerings have been extremely fairly priced. At £280, there’s not much to complain about at all, but with the code WIAB, you can get an extra 20% off making them £224.

For those of you looking for an out-and-out RAF-themed watch, then I don’t think you can get better than the 1960s. For those interested in a slightly unorthodox aviation-themed watch, then the 1980s would be a great option to consider. When it comes to negatives, there’s a couple of bits on the case that could be neater – for instance, the finishing around the polished shoulders of the lugs, and the caseback could do with being engraved rather than laser etched. But if you watch the video review above then you’ll also see the pretty impressive case it all comes in.

All in all, I really like them both and I am very happy to recommend them to anyone who is considering them.

The post Avi-8 Centenary Collection (1960s & 1980s) Watch Review appeared first on 12&60.

With an RRP of £250 (down to £200 with code WIAB), the Hawker Harrier II 4051 takes cues from a cockpit of a fighter jet. The dial is well executed, but the lightweight logo lets it down. It’s a chunky beast too, but I’m not too sure on the polished PVD case. Watch away to see what I think about it!

The specs

• Dimensions: 44mm (says 45mm on site) diameter x 14mm height x 52mm lug to lug
• Weight: 95g
• Water resistance rating: 5ATM / 50m
• Movement: Unknown Quartz chronograph
• Lug width: 22mm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: £250
• Available from: https://avi-8.co.uk/collections/hawker-harrier-ii/products/av-4051-03

Video review

The post Video Review: Avi-8 Hawker Harrier II 4051 appeared first on 12&60.

Avi-8 have just released the Centenary Collection, celebrating 100 years of the RAF (Royal Air Force).

Each of the 4 series, with unique dial and fonts, will be highlighting a particular decade (1920s, 1940s, 1960s & 1980s). They all share the same case and dial configuration, but with slight adjustments to the dial appearance as well as custom crowns. Here we have the first two models – the 1920s & 1940s; the 1960s and 1980s will be released in Q2 2018.

Pre-orders for these two models start on the 7th March 2018, and launch on the 22nd. PS, you can signup here and get a discount: https://avi-8.co.uk/pages/centenary-20s-40s-signup

For quick reference, the 1920s model is the cream dial; the 1940s is the dark dial.

The specs

• Dimensions: 42mm diameter x 12mm height x 48mm lug to lug
• Weight: 1920s: 81g; 1940s: 76g
• Water resistance rating: 5ATM / 50m
• Movement: Miyota 8218
• Accuracy: 1920s: +23.1 sec/day; 1940s: +3.6 sec/day
• Lug width: 22mm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: £249
• Buy here (sign up link): https://avi-8.co.uk/pages/centenary-20s-40s-signup

The case

As mentioned previously, all models share the same case; only the crown differs – and the generation that is laser etched on the caseback.

The barrel case is pretty much completely brushed, bar a couple of polished accents: the top shoulders of the lugs and also a ring around the base of the bezel and caseback.

The crown on the 1920’s is my favourite: a full and rounded, bulbous onion with a glass top with the roundel beneath.

On the 1940’s, the crown is a half-onion, still with a roundel on the end – but with deep engraved rings. As there are no colours, I find it a little bit more plain when comparing the two. Upon closer inspection, the roundel isn’t quite centred either which is a shame.

These cases come equipped with a sapphire crystal; Avi-8’s don’t always have them so I’m pleased to see this.

The dial

The same dial layout is used: small seconds at 4, date window at 9. Both dials have a textured base which provides engaging depth.

A decent amount of time and effort obviously been put in to this range as there’s a fair amount of customisation between the two – different hands, hour markers, crowns, and date wheels.

They’ve also generally done a great job in providing a style that mimics the generation each model is based on whilst keeping within the constraints of the dial layout.

I feel the 1920s model expresses this period really well – in particular the cathedral hands and the vintage, art nouveau font used for the hour markers.

The 1940s is more akin to the type of “Big Pilot” aviation watch that’s still so popular today, with diamond hands and bold numerals with leading 0s. With an inclusion of a crosshair, it certainly feels more like a pilots watch.

Lume is generally pretty good; I find the 1920s is brighter.

The strap

I find the strap quality is always great from Avi-8. Both are similar in construction and design: a shade of brown to complement the dial with white stitching. The 1920s leather has a matte texture to it, whilst the 1940s has a smoother, slightly patent finish.

The 1920s is a lighter tan brown, to accompany the cream dial. The colour of the 1940s also works well with the darker dial; being a darker, oaky hue.

The tang buckle is completely brushed and features the Avi-8 logo engraved in the centre of the top bar.

The movement

The movement powering the Avi-8 Centenary collection is the Miyota 8218. Both models have the same custom rotor; skeletonised with the RAF roundel in the centre.

Specs include 21 jewels, 21.6k bph, ~40 hours power reserve, small seconds at 4, and date. However, it does not have a hacking seconds hand, so there’s no way to set it perfectly.

The regulation is varied; the 1920s comes in at +23.1 sec/day; the 1940s at +3.6 sec/day. There’s quite a difference there – hopefully all will productions models will be well regulated but this suggests that might be a bit of a gamble. That’s not to say that the 1940s is extremely accurate of course.

Final comments

I’m really pleased to see Avi-8 being much more sensible with their pricing. Since their initial release, their quality and specs have improved, whilst their RRPs have dropped. No complaints there from me.

For £249, the Centenary collection offers a decent amount of watch for the money. I like the concept of the four “generations”, with each one mimicking the styles of that period: it’s sure to mean that there’ll be one that appeals to everyone. There’s no sign of any sort of cost-cutting either despite the amount of custom elements across the models, with the cases and dials all pretty flawless and accurately constructed.

I’m looking forward to seeing the other two models (1960s and 1980s), but in the meantime these two certainly look the part, feel good and offer good value for money – especially being that you can get a discount if you signup now.

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Avi-8’s latest release, the Hawker Hunter Day Date, is available from today for a pre-order price of £125 until September 22nd 2017, after which it’ll be available for the RRP of a reasonable £155.

At a glance, it’s plain to see it’s aviation themed, as is their custom, but it also looks well detailed and skilfully constructed – especially the dial.

Let’s take a closer look to see how their latest offering stacks up.

The specs

• Dimensions: 45mm diameter x 12mm height x 54.5mm lug to lug
• Weight: 89g
• Water resistance rating: 5ATM / 50m
• Movement: TMI VX43E21C
• Lug width: 22mm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: £155
• Available from: https://avi-8.co.uk/pages/av-4057-hawker-hunter-day-date

The case

The Hawker Hunter Day Date has an obvious aviation themed case; there’s no doubt that it’s based on a dial of an instrument panel. It’s rather angular, with a variety of facets and angles on show. Whilst the majority of the case is brushed, there’s also a couple of polished elements which is a nice touch: namely the top shoulders of the lugs, bezel piece and the screw heads in the corners of the top (which are likely to be fake).

The general finishing of the case leaves a bit to be desired; it’s not the most refined in terms of brushing or edging. But, the RRP of the watch probably matches this.

The push-pull crown has the RAF roundel on the end: bright blue and red rings which looks great. It also has good grip and is easy to use. The crown guards are a shapely triangle exuding out of either side – mimicking plane wings.

The screw-in caseback is fully brushed, and features an illustration of the Hawker Hunter plane. Various specifics surround this; all markings are lightly engraved.

The crystal is mineral with a sapphire coating, which many believe is the best option – it has the scratch resistance of sapphire, and shatterproof properties of mineral. It’s flat, which naturally keeps the reflections at bay. This is a good thing, as the anti-reflective coating doesn’t seem to do a whole lot.

The dial

The dial is extremely complex and multilayered – and is actually constructed to an impressive degree for the price. It does have 4 fake screw heads (Avi-8 love using them for some reason), but they don’t look as tacky as usual and fit in quite well.

The complexity of the dial is rather splendid when you consider the RRP; especially with the custom date and day wheels taken into account. These are displayed at 12 (day) and 6 (date); I always enjoy vertical positioning – a little bit different to usual.

The prominent features of the dial are the turbine-esqe central disc which contains the date indicator. It’s accurately moulded (most likely plastic over metal) and is a real eye-catcher.

The hour markers are all rather bold – they’re sat on top of the highest level of the multi-layered dial so are the highest points; with the large applied numerals at 12 (displaying a 0) and 6 being particularly prominent.

The hands are flat in appearance, sword shaped, and on the large side of things to compliment the aviation theme. They have a thick border to them and are filled with lume to provide clear legibility.

The logo, sadly, is the only thing that’s not quite up to scratch on the dial. Everything else is very impressively done, but the logo’s just a little too flat and doesn’t signify the same amount of quality.

The lume is of average strength, nothing that exceeds expectations considering the price of the watch.

The strap

The strap is constructed with lovely thick leather. I’ve always found the straps on Avi-8 watches to be great quality, and this is no different.

It is oil tanned finished; giving it a cool low-sheen, semi-matte appearance. There are two aesthetic stitches at the top ends which provides some interest. The two thick keeper loops are made of the same quality leather.

The strap comes with a standard tang buckle with the logo engraved on the top bar.

The movement

The movement powering this Avi-8 is the TMI VX43E21C. Ever heard of it? Me neither.

Information on this movement is extremely difficult to find, but it’s worth thinking about a couple of things: TMI are part of the Seiko group, and it’s a quartz. So whilst it’s hard to say for sure, I’d be willing to bet that it’ll be a faithful servant for a while.

Normally the day and date are located at 3, so Avi-8 have made custom wheels to alter the positioning to 12 for the day and 6 for the date.

Final comments

Firstly, I’m glad to see Avi-8 are understanding their pricing structure more. Gone are the days of ridiculously inflated RRPs and offering their watches with a massive “discount”. Instead, its much better to just put out a watch that’s competitively priced and allow it to sit in its natural market.

Secondly, the Hawker Hunter Day Date just a pretty impressive watch for the money. The pre-order of £125 is of course nice, but the RRP of £155 is still a good price for the calibre of finish. The dial in particular is very detailed and constructed, and the watch comes fitted with a lovely strap too.

I’m pleased Avi-8 have taken such effort with their latest release; and I’m even happier when I see the price tag.

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I’ve reviewed a number of Avi-8’s here, and all have been well designed but not quite finished up to the standard of the RRP. Thankfully, a lot of the time you can get them elsewhere for less.

That being said, the new Hawker Hurricane Battle of Britain does not follow that trend. This is a watch that justifies the price tag, with a number of features that really impressed me. 

Priced at £340, it’s acceptable for an affordable automatic watch. No doubt in time it’ll be available elsewhere like Amazon for less, but in the meantime enjoy 20% off using code WIAB making it £272.

The primary purpose of the watch is to recognise the planes fought in the Battle of Britain – the first battle that was completely fought in the air, between the RAF and the Nazi airforce. 1963 planes were involved, so Avi-8 have made 1963. 

Check out Avi-8’s official statement for the release of this watch here.

The specs

• Case dimensions: 43mm diameter x 12mm height x 52.5mm lug to lug
• Crystal: Scratch Resistant Sapphire
• Dial: Sandwich construction dial with applied luminous Arabic indexes and hands in Black / Brown / Green
• Lug width: 20mm
• Water Resistance: 50m / 5ATM
• Movement: Miyota 8215
• Weight: 83g
• Warranty: 2 Years International
• Limited to 1963 pieces to match the number of aircraft

The case

The first thing I notice is how the finishing on this watch is much better than any other Avi-8 I’ve seen. It’s also on the large side, with a 43mm diameter and the leather NATO strap forcing it to sit higher off the wrist.

The highly polished bezel generates quite the impression, whilst the rest of the case is mainly brushed. We have a polished ring around the very outside edge of the caseback and a polished plaque on side.

The plaque is very nicely done, with what look like real screws (sometimes you see fake screws on things like these). The engraving is neat for the size and has the unique serial number on. It’s set into the case, and this is one of the impressive touches that has impressed me.

The push-pull crown is also a great feature. The extremely deep engraving on the end is of the RAF roundel – this and the markings either side of the crown on the case is designed to mimic the markings on side of a plane. The end of the crown is polished and is machined with excellent precision. The two letters engraved to the left of the crown is the squadron code, and the letter to the right is the identifier of a specific plane within that squadron. I tracked down the squadron RF, and it was based in Poland, so this is a nice dedication to the reality of the battle.

The screw-in caseback has an exhibition window to show off the movement and great plane rotor. Various watch details are pleasantly engraved surrounding the window, which is all done to a high standard.

Sitting on top of the case is a single domed sapphire crystal. It has a layer of anti-reflecting coating on the underside which provides a blue flash when the light hits it. It’s not amazing at removing reflections, however, but does look nice.

The dial

The dial is multilayered with quite a lot going on: it has plentiful depth and texture.

The main base of the dial has a ridged effect which is interesting and provides a variety of reflections. The top layer in the centre stretches out and encompasses 12, 4 and 8 in a propellor pattern and features a roundel in the centre. This is a nice subtle nod to the aviation theme.

All of the printing is raised on the dial, and this is possibly the only downfall of the entire watch. I would have liked a bit more definition on the logo and printed numerals – they don’t quite hit the standard of the rest of the watch.

We do, however, have applied numerals at 12, 4 and 8 which are polished rose gold and well made.

The hour and minute hands are thick swords, with a black border and filled with lume. They both have a subtle red tip which is more of an aesthetic touch rather than for legibility.

The seconds hand is a black stick with a neat red plane on the end acting as a counterweight.

The date window is positioned at 6 and features a lovely polished ring border that catches the light and is splendidly finished. In addition to this, the date wheel is custom – firstly it’s matched in colour to the dial, and secondly a custom font has been used to match the rest of the numerals.

The rehaut is raised off and above the dial, almost like a mezzanine. It has the minute track printed on and is a really interesting design feature of the dial that catches the eye.

The movement

The movement used is the Miyota 8215, which doesn’t look too bad for a Miyota. Usually they look incredibly industrial and plain, but here the custom rotor really makes up for that.

I’ve never seen this before – the rotor is the shape of a plane (funnily enough the Hawker Hurricane). It’s tastefully done, and is the kind of thing that pleasantly surprises you and makes you have a double take when you first see it. A great touch – it’s just a shame it’s hidden behind the bottom section of the NATO strap in normal circumstances. 

Other specs include a non-hacking seconds hand, low-beat running at 21.6k bph (6 ticks per second), 21 jewels, date, single direction (left) rotor winding, 40 hours power reserve, and accuracy of -20 / +40 seconds per day.

Thanks to Caliber Corner for the picture below.

All Miyotas have an excellent reputation for reliability so you’re in good hands here. 

The strap(s)

The Hawker Hurricane Battle of Britain comes with two NATO straps – one leather and one canvas. The canvas strap isn’t of the same quality as the leather, but it’s a nice extra option to have.

The leather is beautifully soft and incredibly supple – there is no need for any breaking in. The colour is a very dark oaky brown which compliments the dial.

The rose gold hardware is all brushed and has the Avi-8 logo engraved – on both the buckle and the ring on the long length which is a nice touch.

The NATO strap isn’t quite the same level. The hardware isn’t as good (it doesn’t have the same engraving). The canvas is comfortable enough but not finished as well – it’s a bit rough around the edges.

Final comments

As I’ve mentioned before, this is the tidiest Avi-8 I’ve come across yet. 

With the 20% off using code WIAB, it’s a great purchase at £272 – even more so if you feel passionately about this topic. Even if you don’t have any concerns with planes or the Battle of Britain, it’s still a very nice watch that everyone can appreciate.

It’s the little things that make the Avi-8 Hawker Hurricane Battle of Britain stand out – the plaque, the crown with the squadron registration, the plane rotor on the movement, plus the general fit and finish. The only negative is the dial printing could be a bit more refined.

The watch certainly makes an impression – and I’m happy to say that it’s the nicest Avi-8 I’ve met to date.

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Recently Avi-8 have been creating quite a storm in the affordable market, mainly because they have literally exploded I to the scene with a very impressive lineup. Usually new watch brands would start with no more than 5 models. But Avi-8 have thought that’s just plain lazy. So they’ve set off with a massive 102 models. Now that’s how to make an impression. Having a good browse through their collection, there was something about the 4004 that caught my eye. I like the unusual design of the case, the dual crown and the dual time zone at 7.

So, now it’s in my hands, let’s take a look to see if it is a decent affordable aviation watch.

The case

When you see the 4004, the first thing you notice is the rather striking case. If I was to think of one word which sums up the case, it would be angular. It has a definitive style to it which works very well. Due to the design of the case, there are some sharp corners, but the case is machined so well these corners aren’t uncomfortable or razor sharp, but rather they are cut with high precision.

The case features dual crowns, which I love. The top crown is to control the inner rotating bezel, and the bottom crown is to change the date and time(s).

The case is all stainless steel with a brushed finish, bar the outside bezel and caseback which are polished. The general finishing of the case is flawless, the brushed being uniformed and the polished being spotless and so reflective you could use it as a mirror.

The crowns have a roundel etched on the end and have great grip and a soft rubber ring around the centre, offering very impressive grip.

The shape of the case is hard to explain, but reminds me a little of the IWC Ingenieur. I’ll let the photos do the talking!

The inner rotating bezel is very easy to use, it is obvious that it has a good mechanism behind it when you use it. It isn’t too stiff, but has just enough resistance to ensure it’s not accidentally moved or knocked.

The crystal is a flat mineral crystal, with an effective layer of anti reflective coating in the underside. Personally, at this price I would have preferred a sapphire crystal as they are more scratch resistant. But, this crystal does the job well and is insanely clear.

The caseback is nicely designed with deep engraving of all detailing, which again shows high quality.

All in all, the case has a very solid feeling to it, and is machined very well, with impressive accuracy. Due to the design, it was imperative that it was flawless, and I’m happy to see that it is indeed.

The dial

The colour of the dial is a lovely silver / off white colour, with a subtle texture to it. As a sucker for textures, I find this pleasant to view and catches the eye well.

The dial features applied hour markers which are all cut with high precision and applied spot on. There are batons for each hour, as well as a large 12 which stands out against the dials’ light colour.

The inner rotating bezel is a great feature and looks smart. At 12 there is a small red triangle, producing a dash of colour with a lumed pip within, and a minute track around the lower edge. Every 5 minutes has a larger marker and the two digits either side. All printing is flawless and very easy to read. I really like this feature, as you don’t see it too often. The bezel being inside the case rather than on the outside means that the crystal and view of the face is much larger, giving the watch a much more impressive appearance.

There is an interesting roundel feature around the date window which matches the aviation theme, and brings in another small splash of colour into the dial. It has a red ring which is in turn surrounded by a blue ring. In my opinion, these could be a tad thinner and not as bold, as I’m not too keen on the thick rings. One thing I have noticed is that the date text on the date wheel is too large for the window. This is a shame as it makes it look a little strange, and sometimes the date is hard to read.

The hands are all made of a shiny black material, which looks more like plastic than metallic. The hour and minute hands are both sword shaped, the hour being longer and thicker. The second hand is well designed, it being a thin stick with a red aeroplane at its tip and an inverted triangle as it’s counterbalance.

Both the hour and minute hands have lumed centres. These are the only lumed parts of the watch, bar the pip at 12 in the inner bezel. The green lume is average, taking a while to charge and then not glowing particularly bright.

For me, the main feature is the dual time indicator or 7. It is a retrograde subdial (which doesn’t go round and round like a normal subdial, it reaches the end and then flicks back to the start). Whilst it takes a little while to get used to, it offers a very quick and easy read of the second time zone. All you really ever need to know is the hour anyway, as the minutes will usually be the same across both time zones. This semi-circle subdial is a smooth finish rather than continuing the texture of the main face. This is a effective way of differentiating between the two in a subtle and appealing way without making a spectacle of the second time zone, whilst still allowing it to be easy to read.

The dial does offer good legibility as a whole, and is very well refined and designed.

The strap

I have found that the straps are very high quality on Avi-8 watches. The 4004 really is no exception. The leather is so amazingly soft and supple, it is a joy to wear. The underside is beautifully done and results in such a comfortable feeling on the wrist. The strap is very easy to bend so it is comfortable to wear straight out of the box – sometimes leather straps cane stiff to start with and take some time to soften. That is not the case with this strap. I do like how the long side of the strap has a flattened end rather than a pointed one, I think this reflects the angular style of the case well.

It is a very deep black leather with contrasting white stitching around the outer edge. The stitching is very well executed and neat. There is a raised lump down the centre of the strap for the whole length, giving the strap a higher profile and some extra thickness. The strap loops are also very soft and made of high quality leather.

The buckle is brushed stainless steel which is very well machined, with very smooth edging. The logo is etched nice and deep and it has a thick strap pin, which fits well with the wide holes in the strap.

All in all a very good strap, with the feel of the leather being a real winner. It is very comfortable on and means for a pleasant wear when matched with the light weight of the case.

The movement

The movement powering the Avi-8 Hawker Harrier II 4004 is known as a Miyota GP 01. Heard of it? Neither had I. Obviously being a Miyota, you can be sure that it is of good quality and likely to last a good while.

The key feature of it is that it has a retrograde dual time subdial at 7, which can be easily independently set to the main time. A very handy feature indeed for travellers or pilots.

Being quartz, it is very light and durable, and offers excellent accuracy. To change the time, you pull the bottom crown out to the second position, and twiddle away. The first position gives you the ability to change the date and the second time zone. Simply rotate it clockwise to change the date, and anti-clockwise to change the second time zone (you can only advance the time zone one way). When you reach the far right end of the subdial, it flicks back to the start so you can continue adjusting the time. A very cool feature which is excellently executed – it really couldn’t be easier to use!

Final comments

Whilst the asking price is high at £300, you are getting a great looking and very well made watch. It is a shame that it doesn’t have a sapphire crystal, but some prefer mineral crystals anyway as they are more shatter resistant, but less scratch resistant. It really is a unique looking watch which catches the eye and is impressively built.

So if you are interested in a unique styled pilots watch which is well made, with a lovely leather strap and different movement then I would recommend the Avi-8 Hawker Harrier II 4004.

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Looking through their collection, the Hawker Harrier II 4001 really stood out to me. PVD coating, lovely thick vintage leather strap, and looks to die for.

Let’s take a closer look to see if it justifies it’s £300 price tag.

The case

The case sizes in at 42mm, so it’s not a small watch. It has a great presence on the wrist, thanks to the colour of the case and dial, and the thick strap too. It is very comfortable to wear, thanks to the light weight of the quartz movement and the soft feeling of the IP coated case.

The black IP (ion-plating) coating is a variant of PVD coating. It is visibly matt and almost almost tacky/sticky to the touch. It all feels high quality and thick – I think that if you were to accidentally knock it, it won’t chip or damage easily.

The case back is the only part which isn’t plated. It is screw-in and polished stainless steel, with a nice graphic of a Hawker Harrier Jump Jet in the centre, surrounded by the watch specifics, all of which are nice and deeply engraved.

The pushers operate in a smooth manner, with no play or wobble evident. They both have a surrounding grip which give them a tool-like appearance.

Sitting atop the case is a mineral crystal, with a fair layer of anti-reflective coating on the underside. Mineral may be easier to scratch than sapphire, but it is harder to shatter. So they both have their advantages, but ultimately, sapphire is more desired on a watch. It is a shame that Avi-8 have chosen to fit a mineral crystal. At £300, I personally would have expected sapphire.

The push-pull crown sits comfortably within the crown guards, and has good grip surrounding it. On the end there is a roundel machined nice and deep reminiscent of one you’d find on an Air Forces fighter jet. A great touch which continues the aviation theme.

The lugs are well shaped, with a decent downward sweep which follow the shape of the wrist, resulting in the strap fitting well. They also have a beveled top edge which breaks up the case, giving it a softer appearance.

The case in general is well machined and finished, all is as you would expect with a watch at this price.

The dial

The Avi-8 Hawker Harrier II may be a homage to the classic Top Gun style pilots watch, but they have done a really great job in making the dial unique and very visually stunning.

The thing that strikes you immediately is three things; the various levels of depth the dial has, the beautiful texture to it and it’s deep green colour.

They have put a lot of effort into the dial, which is evident from the plentiful applied hour markers, variety of hands and dual-levelled dial.

One thing that really surprised me though is the lack of lume. There is none. It doesn’t bother me too much, but it may put a lot of people off – and lume is kind of important if you’re a pilot and you need to check the time in a dark cock pit. It really would benefit so much if all the parts you’d expect to be were lumed – the hands and the hour markers. It would have looked awesome in the dark!

The hour markers are all applied and immaculately done. There are two markers for each hour – batons around the outer edge and numbers within, bar the oversized 12 and 6, and the 3 and 4 which make way for the Logo and the date window.

The minute and hour hands are quite thin compared to what you would expect. They are a similar style to Bell and Ross, or the Christopher Ward C11, but thinner. They are all very well made. I like the seconds hand, which is a very thin arrow with a red tip in the shape of a plane. A good way to introduce another colour which is another positive design feature. It matches the red hands of the top and bottom subdials, which are of an interesting shape. The hand on the left subdial is bold and thicker than the other small hands. The lighter colour creates a good contrast from the green dial resulting in good legibility for the chronograph minutes.

One thing that I am a big fan of is texture. And this dial has plenty of it. There is a bobbly texture to it, which I think is probably quite hard to make and look good too. It is surprising that the printing in the dial looks so good and perfect on this texture too, as I can imagine it would be hard to do.

The dual level is another thing I love about the dial, and again it shows the thought, time and effort that has been put into the design and manufacture of the Hawker Harrier II 4001. The applied upper level surrounds the outer edge of the dial, with cut outs between the hour markers, and also surrounds the top and bottom subdials.

There is a fair bit of printing on the dial, with the logo, markers on the sundials and also the minute track. All are executed perfectly with no flaws. It’s good to note how good the dial design is, because there is a lot of detail to it – and yet in no way does it look cluttered or busy. Everything has it’s proper place and isn’t too overbearing.

The date window is positioned at 4, is accurately cut and has a neat printed border around it. The date wheel is white with black printing and lines up well.

As I mentioned before, it is remarkable that with all the detailing on the dial, it’s readability is still very good. You can locate the hands and tell the time at the quickest glance. The colour of the hands, with their black surrounds contrast well against the green of the dial, allowing them to pop out.

The strap

The strap provided is surprisingly good quality, I was very pleased with it when I first felt it.

Avi-8 have used thick, high quality leather. It has a beautiful vintage brown colouring to it, feels very soft to the touch and is very supple and malleable. It has a nice indentation around the edging accompanied by cream stitching, which is thick and immaculately done.

The buckle is black IP coated stainless steel to match the finish of the case, and features a very well machined rectangle deeply etched into it with the logo within. I like the thick pin too, which is sturdy and has a sweeping characteristic to it ensuring easy and secure use of the strap.

The loops are also thick leather and have the indentation along the outer edging to match the strap itself. I like the thought that’s been put into that and the quality is evident.

The movement

The movement powering the Avi-8 is a TMI VD57. I’m going to be honest and say I’ve never heard of it before! After doing a bit of research it seems to be a budget Japanese quartz movement. It’s as accurate as you would expect a quartz to be.

The functionality is interesting and different to probably its direct competition in the form of the Miyota OS10. The big hands all work as normal – minutes, hours and seconds (rather than the big seconds hand being the chrono seconds). The top subdial at 12 is a 1/10th second indicator, which spins around like crazy for the first 30 seconds of timing. The subdial at the bottom at 6 is the chronograph seconds hand, and the subdial on the left at 9 is the chronograph minutes. One annoying thing with it is that when you reset the movement after timing something, rather than the hands immediately flicking back to the top, the bottom seconds hand has to spin backwards for every minute you have been timing for – almost as if it’s winding back up! It’s quite strange and sometimes takes a while to fully reset if you have been timing something for more than 30 minutes.

Final comments

I really do like the Avi-8 Hawker Harrier II. The design is outstanding – blatant aviation theme but extremely unique. They have refused to fall into the usual design traps so many aviation watches do.

I’m really gutted it doesn’t have a sapphire crystal – at £300, I personally feel that this is a must. But that’s the only negative thing about it in my opinion. The strap is lovely, and the case and buckle with their IP coating are also quality.

So, if you want an aviation watch which is a little bit different, and you’re not too fussed on the mineral crystal – then this is for you.

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