A pilot’s watch can make a great choice when choosing a timepiece, regardless of whether you find yourself behind a cockpit or not.
These watches comes with about as much history as any watch style, making them a fun choice for aviation history buffs. But the right pilot’s watch also looks great and can go with pretty much any look you’re going for.
And don’t worry- as this guide is will prove, you don’t have to spend thousands to get your hands on a quality one.
In this guide, not only will we go over the 5 best pilot’s watches currently available for under $500, but we’ll also discuss what you should look for when comparing these timepieces.
That way, if you don’t find a watch here that you like, you’ll feel confident in your search for the perfect pilot’s watch.
Off we go.
Finding The Right Pilot’s Watch
There’s no secret to why these watches are called “pilot’s watches”. These are literally watches that have been designed for pilots to use while they are flying their aircrafts.
The idea sounds kinda unnecessary these days, you know, with technology and everything. But back in the day, when computers and auto-pilots weren’t a thing yet, an accurate timekeeper was an essential tool for a pilot.
As the story goes, the first pilot’s watch was created by Louis Cartier at the request of his pilot friend, Alberto Santos-Dumont.
The pilot asked Cartier to design a watch that he could wear and read while flying and the first pilot’s watch was born (the Santos de Cartier) around 1904.
As aviation grew, the need for and popularity of these watches quickly grew.
Even today, pilot’s watches remain a staple in the watch industry. The design of modern pilot’s watches takes several cues from the original designs, but with plenty of technological advances.
Today, pilot’s watches usually share a few key characteristics:
- Large dial
- Over-sized crown
- Functioning bezel
- Anti-magnetic case
For more info on the above features, check out my pilot’s watch guide.
When comparing pilot’s watches today, regardless of budget, there are a few things I encourage you to consider. These include:
Type of Movement
Regardless of what type of watch you’re looking for, it’s always a good idea to consider the type of movement the watch uses. The movement of a watch refers to the type of “engine” used to power it.
Watch movements can be quartz or mechanical (or solar I guess).
Quartz watches use a battery and mechanical watches don’t. Generally speaking, quartz watches are less expensive than mechanical watches because they don’t require as many moving parts inside the case.
That said, there are plenty of expensive quartz watches out there.
Mechanical watches can be manual or automatic, with manual models requiring winding and automatic models being able to wind themselves as you wear them.
If you’re interested in the craftsmanship that goes into the watch, you’ll probably prefer a mechanical watch. And luckily, there are plenty of mechanical pilot’s watches available for under $500.
Either way, when comparing watches and prices, I always like to start at the type of movement being used.
Crystal
The crystal of a watch is the window protecting the dial. Watch crystals generally come in 3 varieties based on the material they’re made of: plastic (acrylic), mineral glass, and sapphire.
Acrylic crystals are the cheapest and least scratch resistant; sapphire crystals are the most expensive and most scratch resistant (in fact, sapphire crystals are some of the hardest materials on Earth).
I think it’s a good idea to consider what type of crystal a watch comes with when comparing models. It’s always a good idea to opt for sapphire when the budget allows because it’s the most durable material available.
Speaking of cost, getting a pilot’s watch with a sapphire crystal is very doable for $500.
Bezel
Most pilot’s watches come with a functional, rotating bezel. If you have the know-how, this bezel can be used for calculating all kinds of things, like travel times, speeds, and even calculations and conversions (through the use of a rotating slide rule).
If you going for a vintage pilot’s watch, you can find models that don’t have a bezel.
If you are looking for a more modern pilot’s watch, odds are you’ll be looking at watches with bezels.
If you plan on using the bezel to make calculations, more power to ya, but it’s ok to go with a bezel even if you don’t plan on using it.
A lot of folks like the look of a complicated bezel and I can see why- they do look sophisticated and cool. Other folks might find that complicated bezels can be distracting when it comes to telling time.
Which ever group you find yourself in, I think it’s a good idea to consider the bezel appearance when searching for the right pilot’s watch.
The 5 Best Pilot’s Watches For Under $500
#1 Laco Augsberg 42 Basic Pilot’s Watch
Laco is a German company that has been making watches for roughly 100 years and when it comes to pilot’s watches, it’s gonna be hard to find a more legit backstory than theirs.
This company gained real-world experience when they began providing watches for German pilots during WWII – their Augsberg 42 Basic is designed after the watches they produced during this time.
If you’re looking for a vintage pilot’s watch with an emphasis on craftsmanship, the Augsberg 42 is as good as it gets in this price range.
This watch is powered by an automatic movement with 21 jewels and comes with a scratch resistant sapphire crystal. The case is stainless steel and comes with a transparent back, so you can see the automatic movement in action.
The case is 42 mm in diameter, which is large, but fairly normal for a pilot’s watch (the extra size makes it easier to read the numerals).
Speaking of which, the numerals and hands are luminescent for easy reading in the dark. The Augsberg 42 comes with a brown calf leather band for comfortable wear.
This watch is lacking a bezel- again, it’s going for the vintage look.
But if you’re looking for an automatic pilot’s watch that looks great and is easy to read, the Augsberg 42 is a smart choice.
#2 Glycine KMU 48 Rose Gold
Glycine is a Swiss watchmaking brand that has been producing their own movements since the early 1900’s. The company has a long history of creating pilot’s watches and their Airman lineup is still going strong today.
Their KMU 48 Rose Gold plated watch is lacking the often seen triangle indicator at 12 o’clock, but is otherwise a great example of what a vintage pilot’s watch should look like.
Like the Augsberg 42, this watch also has a lot going for it under the hood. The Glycine KMU 48 is packing a manual mechanical movement with a 46 hour power reserve.
This watch also comes with a sapphire crystal, meaning it will be almost impossible to scratch.
The solid steel case is plated with 18k rose gold for an attractive look. Something to consider about the case is that it’s 48 mm in diameter (as the name implies). This is very large for a wristwatch and guys with smaller wrists may want to grab a ruler to get a good idea as to how large this watch really is.
The extra size though, makes it very easy to read.
The luminescent hands and numerals allow easy reading in the dark and the red numerals on the inside allow for easy 24 hour time keeping (military style).
I like the black leather strap too, I think it goes nicely with the rose gold case.
Overall, the Glycine KMU 48 is a gorgeous Swiss pilot’s watch that is well-priced at around $400. Just keep that large size in mind before you buy.
#3 Orient Men’s Pilot Watch
Orient is a Japanese watch brand that started in the early 1950’s. Although they haven’t been around quite as long as the 2 companies listed above, they’ve developed an impressive reputation for creating sophisticated and affordable timepieces.
I think their Men’s Pilot Watch is a prime example.
The stainless steel case paired with the stainless steel bracelet makes for a more modern look, as does the blue dial. Although the dial itself is pretty old school (except for the date window at 3 o’clock).
Technically speaking, this pilot watch comes with a Japanese automatic movement with a power reserve of roughly 40 hrs. If you go longer without wearing, you can manually wind as needed to get it up and running again.
This watch also features a hacking mechanism, allowing you to stop the second hand to sync up with any time source you choose.
Orient placed a mineral glass crystal over the dial, so this watch won’t be as scratch resistant as the Ausberg 42 or the Glycine KMU, but given the price I think it’s forgivable.
The case itself is 42 mm in diameter and water resistant to 100 m.
This watch is also lacking a rotating bezel- a trait that adds to the more vintage design. Personally, I prefer the cleaner look, but I promise we’ll include a watch with a functional bezel before this list is over.
Overall, with a sale price of just over $200, it’s going to be hard to find a mechanical pilot watch any cheaper than this. A great deal by any definition.
#4 Seiko Men’s Flightmaster
Seiko is another Japanese brand that’s been innovating since the 1880’s. This is the same brand that gave the world the first quartz watch back in 1969- a feat that completely changed the watchmaking industry forever.
Although the brand is well-known for producing nice looking affordable quartz watches, they also have some pretty luxurious watches in their lineup (like some of their limited Grand Seiko’s that’ll run ya 6-figures).
Don’t worry, their Men’s Flightmaster certainly doesn’t fall in that category.
This watch will cost around $200 depending on where you purchase, making it one of the more affordable pilot’s watches out there with a fully functioning slide rule (see, told ya we’d include a functioning bezel).
The advanced rotating bezel can be used for all kinds of calculations and conversions, as well as function as a compass. The Flightmaster also includes a chronograph, allowing you to time events if the occasion arises.
Under the hood, this watch is packing a quartz movement. The crystal is made out of mineral glass and the band consists of a stainless steel bracelet.
Size wise, the Flightmaster is pretty average for a pilot’s watch with a case diameter of 41 mm. This watch is also water resistant to 100 m, so don’t worry about getting it wet.
If you’re looking for a more modern take on the pilot’s watch, Seiko’s Flightmaster is a great choice. For the price, it’s going to be hard to find a more attractive or functional model.
#5 Hamilton Men’s Khaki King Pilot
Rounding out our list is the Men’s Khaki King Pilot by Hamilton. The Hamilton company started as an American brand in the 1880’s, but is now a Swiss company and part of the huge SWATCH group.
The brand has a well-earned reputation for producing clean, elegant looking watches that won’t destroy your budget. In fact, most of their watches come with a full retail price well-under $1000 (and we’re talking automatic movements and sapphire crystals).
Their Khaki King Pilot is another example of a more classic pilot’s watch- no chronographs or slide rules here. The most advanced feature on this watch is the date window at 3 o’clock.
This is another quartz watch, although unlike the Flightmaster, the King Pilot does come with a sapphire crystal.
The case here is stainless steel and 42 mm in size, giving it just the right fit most guys are looking for. This watch comes with a brown leather strap, which I must say, is a bold choice given the black dial.
I don’t know who ever said you can’t wear black with brown, but hey, I say go for it.
Against the black dial, the white numerals are large and easy to read, making it a synch to see what time it is. This watch is also water resistant to 2oo m, which is a lot for a pilot’s watch.
Overall, if you’re cool with the black on brown fashion faux pas, Hamilton’s Khaki King Pilot has a lot to offer for this price range. A quality watch indeed.
Final Thoughts
Pilot’s watches are a fun group of timepieces that can be found in many styles and price ranges. It’s interesting to thing about the history and the necessity from which these watches arose and to see how they’ve changed over the years.
When looking for a pilot’s watch in any price range, I encourage you to think about the type of movement, the crystal material, and the type of bezel (or lack there of) you’d like to have.
Deciding on these 3 features will rapidly narrow down your search.
As this list shows, you can get pilot watches with automatic movements and sapphire crystals for under $500- which I think is pretty amazing given how expensive everything is these days.
I’m a fan of the more vintage look. I like the pilot’s watches that have simple dials and are lacking the crazy bezels- hence the watches that made it on this list.
But if you’re more interested in quartz watches with slide rule bezels, don’t worry, there are plenty out there. If you didn’t care for the Flightmaster, you might want to check Citizen out- they have several affordable pilot’s watches that you might like.
That about does it. I hope you found this guide helpful. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to leave a comment.