Pursuit

Sleekly simple, the Pursuit offers a great entry point into the world of aeronautical watches. A simple dial with highly visible indices, complemented by glow-in-the-dark SuperLuminova markings, creates a wristwatch that’s easily read under any circumstances. The function of the watch is protected by a sapphire crystal, the hardest regularly used material behind diamonds, and is water-resistant at 100 meters. The operation of the Pursuit is tied together by a flawless Miyota 2315 movement for ultimate accuracy. Far from merely functional, the Pursuit has several aesthetic components designed to allude to the history of aviation which brought it to life. A starry design is found both on the crown of the watch as well as on the sculptural caseback. The caseback features a winged star, surrounded by a slanting pattern meant to replicate the perceived motion of a plane rotor. Two variations of the Pursuit are available: One with a navy blue dial, the other with a black dial. Both versions come with a brown Italian leather strap, featuring an Alcantara backing designed to improve comfort on the wrist and last well under duress of sweat. Highlights: Complex contemporary stylings complement this traditional aviation watch. Multiple dial options and attention to durability make this an all-around powerful entry point to this list.

Pursuit World Timer

The next option in the Pursuit line takes inspiration from the mid-20th century when constant air travel made knowing how to navigate timezones an essential skill for any traveler. The Pursuit World Timer The navy dial and white lettering are complemented by an easily adjustable bidirectional bezel. The bezel features airport codes for each of the 24 different time zones and a special coloring for Greenwich Mean Time, making it easy to convert time at a glance: no calculations needed. On the caseback, a star is flanked by outstretched wings. The airport codes are represented on the outer circumference, with the major city associated with each of them printed in full. The dial also showcases luminosity markings on the hands, indices, and hour markers for ease of legibility, and the 316L stainless steel case and sapphire crystal ensure a degree of protection to the piece. A watch that exudes a mixture of both form and function, the piece is complemented by a stainless steel bracelet. Thanks to quick release pins, the watch is also compatible with any Jack Mason 22mm strap. Highlights: The Pursuit World Timer has all the makings of an effective aviation watch, but the airport codes enumerated on both the bezel and caseback give it a distinct appeal for those who refuse to be confined to just one time zone.

Pursuit Chronograph

After examining one classic pilot’s watch, and one with the international traveler in mind, we come to the first chronograph on the list. What sets this and all future chronographs apart from the previously listed watches are the complications: All chronographs by nature feature stopwatch capabilities and many include tachymeter functions as well. Both are exhibited in the Pursuit Chronograph. This take on the classic pilot’s watch showcases an elegant crown and caseback design that looks to the skies. Highly visible indices marked with luminosity markings aid in legibility, and careful design features in both the case and crystal increase protection. The Pursuit Chronograph stands out among the previous watches on this list, as well as from other chronographs, thanks to its uniquely placed subdials located at the 6 o’clock, 9 o’clock, and 12 o’clock positions. Two variations of the Pursuit Chronograph exist. The first showcases a navy blue sunray dial, featuring two white and one navy blue subdial. This style comes with a brown leather strap. The second version is a solid, matte black, featuring matching subdials and an Italian leather strap for a smooth, formal appearance. For further customization, quick release pins make it so that either Pursuit Chronograph is compatible with any 22mm Jack Mason Strap. Highlights: A distinct dial, diverse complications, and uniquely positioned subdials create a chronograph that melds practicality with original design mechanics.

Avigator

Within a few short decades at the start of the 20th Century, air travel would go from an utter impossibility to a lived reality. The Avigator, short for “aerial navigator,” takes inspiration from early men’s watch designs to commemorate the Golden Age of Aviation. The sleekly integrated subdials, stopwatch, and tachymeter create a powerful but understated chronograph watch. It should be noted, discussing this historic timepiece, that the wartime use of watches contributed to the modern popularity of chronographs. Chronometers could be used to measure the distance from explosions and also served to allow precise military maneuvers when direct communication was impossible. Befitting a watch made for aeronautical use, a stainless steel case and sapphire crystal combine with 100-meter water-resistance testing for a watch as functionally durable as it is aesthetically appealing. All watches use uniquely textured sunray dials and feature winged stars on the caseback. Three models of the Avigator exist: The first is a subtle black sunray dial with white lettering and gold-accented indices. A second features a navy blue sundial while showcasing both white and blue subdials. The third is a starkly white dial with black lettering. All feature luminosity markings for added legibility and come with a matching leather band. Highlights: Distinctive sunray dials and a wide variety of customization options makes the Avigator a stunning option, easy to tailor to your own personal style.

Pursuit Automatic Box Set

At first glance, the Pursuit Automatic has a great deal of similarity to the very first watch we listed. It features the same streamlined design as the Pursuit. Examining the watch reveals similar water-testing, as well as a 316L stainless steel case and sapphire crystal. Once the watch is turned over, however, its secret is revealed in the caseback: The Pursuit Automatic, true to its name, uses a Miyota 8215 automatic movement. The other watches on this list use quartz movement. What this means is that the watch is battery-powered. Automatic watches, however, are a type of mechanical watch that uses complex machinery in order to power the rest of the watch. Unlike normal mechanical watches, which must be hand-wound, the Pursuit Automatic is powered by the kinetic energy created simply by wearing the watch on your wrist and moving normally. If the watch ever does wind down completely, it can be either hand-wound or gently turned in order to power it. Beyond merely being an interior detail, the automatic movement is visible in two important ways: The exhibition caseback gives a window into the machinery, which gives the watch its significance. Turning the watch over to examine the dial offers a subtler but just as significant difference: The movement of the hands. While quartz watches give a constant “tick tick” motion, automatic watches rely on a slowly unwinding hairspring, which causes a sweeping legato motion of hands. Two versions of the box set are available. One showcases a navy dial and stainless steel bracelet. The other reveals a monochromatic black dial and case, enhanced by a black Italian leather strap. Highlight: The Pursuit Automatic uses classical visual language to create an iconic interpretation of a pilot's watch using an iconic type of watch movement. These distinctive elements make it a beautifully simple timekeeper which belies a deep devotion to craftsmanship.

AOPA Pilot’s Chronograph

When passion meets skill, greatness appears. The AOPA Pilot’s Chronograph is the result of a long collaboration between the watchmakers of Jack Mason and the aeronauts of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). By combining a mutual love of the skies, these two groups have come together to create a truly special pilot’s watch. To begin with the functional components of the watch: The chronograph uses a unique acrylic crystal. Acrylic, an untraditional material, was chosen for the way it reacts under changing air pressures. Shatterproof, scratch-resistant, and flexible, it was chosen for pilots in mind. We have also utilized multicolored Trigalight H3 and SuperLuminova markings to create distinct colors signifying the hands, indices, and subdials, ensuring legibility whether on a moonless night or in a dark cockpit. The Swiss Ronda Caliber 5030.D movement is protected from the magnetic fields, which would wreak havoc on an unprotected watch. The aesthetic components of the AOPA Pilot’s Chronograph have been given just as much attention as the functional ones. Despite having a full tachymeter and stopwatch functionality, the addition of the black case, bezel, and dial with white lettering make the watch feel perfectly balanced rather than busy. The logo of AOPA, a shield marked with “1939”, flanked by outstretched wings, can be seen subtly imprinted on the dial. The caseback continues this level of detail, with the AOPA name and logo visible alongside the Jack Mason name, naming all the features previously specified along the circumference of the caseback. Highlights: Jack Mason and AOPA have come together to create a pilot’s watch designed with pilots’ inputs. The acrylic crystal, anti-magnetism efforts, and intense iconography give the impression of a pilot’s watch, which truly gives consideration to those in the sky. In the final analysis, the AOPA’s Pilot’s Chronograph is the rare watch that tells a story with every aspect of its design.

Best Pilot Watches: Adventure Bound

The analog display watch has come a long way since the pocket watch. For the watch with the caliber you need, Jack Mason has all the timepieces you could want. No matter where your GPS or compasses say you are, pilot watches are there by your side. So grab your scarf and pilot gloves, check the UTC to prepare for takeoff, and head off on your next adventure.