Inspired by Flight: AVI-8 Hawker Hunter Men's Pilot Watches

The Hawker Hunter was a spectacularly successful transonic fighter aircraft produced by Hawker-Siddeley Aviation starting in 1953. Nearly 2000 Hunters were produced, and it served with 22 different Air Forces around the world including the United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore Sweden, Switzerland, India, Jordan, Lebanon,  Zimbabwe.  The Hunter started as a fighter aircraft and transitioned to a fighter-bomber role as it was supplanted by supersonic aircraft. 

A Privately-Owned Hawker Hunter flying in an airshow

In the watch world, this amazing aircraft is currently commemorated by AVI-8 watches. 

A Swiss Hawker Hunter on Museum Display

There are several versions of the AVI-8 Hawker Hunter watch so there are plenty of choices and decisions for collectors to make. But, don't get analysis paralysis because some of these are on sale for a limited time only! 

AVI-8 Hawker Hunter 45mm Retrograde Chronograph

This first version, the AVI-8 Model 4052, is a quartz chronograph with a cool instrument panel look. 

AVI-8 Hawker Hunter Retrograde Chronograph (Amazon photo)

It comes in 4 different color and strap combinations.  In grey and in green, this 45mm watch is currently 36% off! You can see the grey version, here on Amazon.

AVI-8 Hawker Hunter Atlas Automatic GMT watch

If you are looking for an automatic, AVI-8 offers a 44mm GMT watch with an awesome exhibition caseback offering a peek into the works. The watch is powered by a Japanese TMI NH34 movement.

AVI-8 Hawker Hunter Atlas Automatic GMT Watch (Amazon Photo)

Amazon has three variants of this watch.  But, right now, this watch is 29% off in green and a solid deal.  You can see this AVI-8 Hawker Hunter Atlas GMT Automatic here on Amazon!

AVI-8 Men's 44mm Pilots Watch -- Atlas Dual Time Chronograph

The final version of the AVI-8 Hawker Hunter watch is a 44mm quartz dual time model. There are nine variants of this model on Amazon and two of them (including this one) are 33% off for a price of just a bit over $200.

AVI-8 Hawker Hunter Atlas Dual Time Quartz Chronograph (Amazon.com photo)

You can see the AVI-8 Atlas Dual Time Chronograph here on Amazon.

Inspired by Flight: Timex Pan Am Collaboration Watches

One of the cool things about joining the Timex Affiliate program (beside commissions) is that I get a chance to look ahead and see some amazing watches that are on their way to market. There are several enthusiast oriented watches that are coming from the Timex x Pan Am collaboration.

Pan Am Background

Founded in 1927, Pan Am was an original pioneering American airline that was known for leadership in international air travel. While Pan Am went bankrupt and ceased operations in 1991, the brand's logos and trademarks remain well-recognized and strongly attached to some of the most glamorous eras of passenger aviation.

Lockheed L-1011 Photo by Tim Rees (GFDL 1.2 <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html> or GFDL 1.2 <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html>), via Wikimedia Commons

The Pan Am trademarks have been bought and are now used by a transportation holding company.  There have also been multiple attempts to revive the brand as an airline.  While Pan Am will likely never soar to their previous altitudes, the Timex x Pan Am collaboration watches are quite inspiring.  Let's take a look at a few.

[I should note that clicking on the links of this post may generate commissions for this blog.]

The Timex x Pan Am Automatic Ace

This Timex Waterbury Automatic has an amazing look and should be flying out of the Timex online inventory with expected shipping dates between October 31 and November 14th, 2025. The airliner silhouette at 12 o'clock and on the strap below 6 o'clock are subtle, but amazing to see.

Timex x Pan Am Automatic Ace (Affiliate Link)

The watch has a 21-jewel Japanese Automatic movement from Miyota, a 41mm diameter case, and 100-meters of water resistance in a stainless steel case with traditional pilot's watch style. It has the Pan Am logo in the bottom half of the watch, on the exhibition caseback, and on the crown. You can pre-order this watch here on the Timex website and I will receive a small commission to help support this blog.

Timex x Pan Am GMT Watch

GMT watches were once the watch of choice for jet setters and other world travelers. That makes it the perfect watch for an airline collaboration. The Timex x Pan Am GMT watch has a 39mm diameter recycled stainless steel case, a quartz GMT movement, and a second-hand that evokes a tiny airplane. The Pan Am logo can be found on the lower part of the blue dial, engraved on the crown and filled with a rich blue paint, on grommets near each lug, and on the caseback.

Timex Pan Am GMT (Affiliate Link to Timex)

This watch is available now here on the Timex website. If you order, the affiliate link will generate a small commission for this website. According to the Timex site, several hundred people are visiting this watch each day. It may go fast.

While these watches are upmarket for Timex, they are still quite affordable for most watch collectors. They would make an interesting addition to any watch collection.  

Wristwatch Review: Ed Hardy Men's Black Strap Watch (Model 50446)

If you are looking for affordable watches to collect, one brand to keep an eye on is Ed Hardy. The brand brings unique tattoo artist inspired art to the wrist at a price point that is usually less than $30. If you look at the Ed Hardy Model 50446, Men's Black Strap Watch, you'll find an interesting example of affordable artistry. 

The Ed Hardy Model 50446 Quartz Watch

Ed Hardy Watch Style

This Ed Hardy watch is a standard quartz watch, but it has an elaborate design on the dial surface that artistically portrays a highly stylized mechanical watch movement. While serious collectors would surely scoff at a false movement in foil relief, it's actually a pretty cool looking watch and an interesting piece for less staid collections. 

Ed Hardy Watch (Model 50446)

I like to see Ed Hardy piece incorporate the tattoo-inspired art that made the designer famous. You can read more about this watch and its unusual style in my Watch Wearing Wednesday entry on it.

Ed Hardy Watch Dimensions

This Ed Hardy watch is rather large for a tanker-style watch. The case of this watch is 48mm across (about 50mm counting the crown). The strap is 24mm wide. The watch strap length is listed at 9 and 3/4 inches. I find that the watch fits my 7 and 3/4 inch wrist easily. 

The Ed Hardy Model 50446 has a generous strap size.

Ed Hardy Watch Construction

The caseback is stainless steel and the case is a 100% metal alloy. The band is silicone.  

Ed Hardy Model 50446 Stainless Caseback

Ed Hardy Watch Overall Impression

This is an interesting watch and a conversation starter. By no means is it some kind of elite watch, but it is a fun watch for a fashion watch collection. I probably like this watch more than I probably should. But, you can usually count on the Ed Hardy brand to make a statement.

Ed Hardy Black Strap Watch (Model 50446)

Where to find Ed Hardy Watches

You can find this Ed Hardy watch at JC Penney.  It may also be available online at Walmart.com. As of this writing in October 2025, it was only $22 at JC Penney. That makes this watch an outstanding deal.

TGIF: Achieving the Ulysse Nardin Classico Look

The Ulysse Nardin Classico Inspiration Watch

Sometimes collectible watches from elite brands haunt our dreams. For example, the Ulysse Nardin Classico is a beautiful nautical inspired watch. I can imagine wearing it as a well-heeled yachtsman and quietly motoring into an anchorage off of the Mediterranean sea. I can imagine checking the time as an anchor plops into the water and the line plays out. I can taste the wonderful meals that await along the French Riviera. But, like a splash of salt water, the lofty $8000 price tag keeps this dream out of the reach of many of us. The Ulysse Nardin Classico is a beautiful watch that touches our souls as a watch enthusiasts. However, a high-end luxury watch like this always raises a question:

Can we use this watch as inspiration and find something with the look that we can still afford?

The Ulysse Nardin Classico

You can see this amazing Ulysse Nardin Classico timepiece here on Amazon. 

But, what can we find as an affordable alternative watch? 

Ulysse Nardin Classico Alternatives

I found two affordable watches that might fit the bill. The first alternative that comes to my mind is the Peugeot Vintage Business watch (below).

Peugeot Vintage Business Watch (Amazon Photo)

This watch has the look with a small seconds subdial and a dial as blue as the ocean. It has a reliable Seiko quartz movement for trouble free wear.  With a price of less than $100, the Peugeot watch will even free up some cash for hourly boat rental at your nearest lake or beach town. If you'd like more information, you can check out the Peugeot Vintage Business Watch here on Amazon.

Orient Bambino Small Seconds Watch (Amazon Photo)

The second watch that comes to mind is the Orient Bambino Small Seconds watch (above). While the dial is black, this watch provides a date complication and an automatic mechanical movement. Orient has long been known for making quality automatic watches and classy looks. The brand does have some cachet with collectors. Fortunately for us, Orient is also known for being affordable. You can still get one for less than $200.  If you're Bambino curious, check this one out here on Amazon.

Welcome to October! It's time for Spooky Watches!

Hanging with Old Friends and my Bulova

With Halloween right around the corner, October is a fun month! We get to bring out all of our spooky watches and try to take spooky pictures with all of our watches. It's a month where I can show off all my skull watches without feeling like I need to join a motor cycle gang. To kick this month off, I'll show you my vintage (circa 2007) Bulova Marine Star when I was checking to make sure all the bodies were still hanging where we left them.

A Vintage Bulova Marine Star is great for casually hanging with friends

To learn more about this Bulova and how I learned how old it was, check out my post here--

Wristwatch Review: Bulova Marine Star (Model C937355)

Wristwatch Review: A Caribbean Joe Watch with a Cushion Case

One of the nice things about the Caribbean Joe brand of watches is that it brings classic watch looks to those of us with limited watch budgets. Such is the case with the Caribbean Joe watch with a cushion case and faux sub-dials.

Caribbean Joe Cushion Case Watch (Model CJ7128SLGR)

What is a Cushion Case Watch?

A cushion case is a watch case design that was popular in the early 20th century and incorporates square and round design elements.  A cushion case is a square-ish or rectangular case with gently rounded corners that has a circular dial and crystal in the center.  It looks like a round watch resting on a square pillow.

Caribbean Joe Watch Design and Features

Like most Caribbean Joe watches, this one is designed for looks. It has a green dial, non-functional subdials, a somewhat square cushion case, and a synthetic leather strap. The dial design, bright orange second hand, and house The quartz movement is from Singapore. 

Caribbean Joe Square Watch with two cups of Joe

Caribbean Joe Watch Dimensions

One thing I like about Caribbean Joe is that their watches are well proportioned. This square Caribbean Joe watch is about 43mm wide (45mm if you count the crown) and roughly 11mm thick. It fits might 7 3/4-inch wrist without any issue and has plenty of strap left for the gathers to fit comfortably.

Caribbean Joe watch strap on 7 3/4 inch wrist

Overall Caribbean Joe Watch Impression

I enjoy wearing this watch. It has a classic look that is a little unusual and a worry-free quartz movement. The non-functional subdials detract from my perception of this watch's value, but they help the brand mimic a classic look. For less than $21 at Kohl's, this watch is a good buy.  For more on the pros and cons of Caribbean Joe watches, check out my post Are Caribbean Joe Watches Any Good. Overall, I like this one!

Where can I find this Caribbean Joe watch?

Caribbean Joe watches are available at Kohl's, Boscov's, and Seirra. This watch is listed as Caribbean Joe Square Dial watch (Model CJ7128SLGR) online here at Boscov's (not an affiliate link).

TGIF: Watch Brands for Collectors on a Budget

It's fun to collect watches. But, it can be demoralizing to read watch magazines and watch websites that are often focused on watches that lie far beyond comfortable middle class price points. It's no fun to read about watches that we can't afford and where our collection might be limited to just a handful of very high quality timepieces.

A used Nivada watch that is out of my price range

While the dream lingers out there on the edges of our imagination, in reality, the median household income in the United States in 2025 was just under $84,000.  The average income was a little higher at $121,000 annually. This means a Rolex watch could easily be priced at 10% of a year's annual household income. That's a significant financial commitment. When you think about the chronic underfunding of American retirement accounts, the high cost of housing, and the purchasing power than many American's have lost due to inflation, luxury and ultra-luxury watches as defined by the watch industry become an impossible dream.

A Pair of Timex Waterbury Watches

Fortunately, we don't have to give up watch collecting. There are many watchmakers that provide interesting watches at far more affordable price points.  In my years of perusing watch advertisements, Amazon listings, and collecting watches on my own, I've found 11 watch brands that provide affordable watches.  Most choices from these brands are prices at far less than $500. Many regularly offer nice watches for less than $100.  Here are the 11 watch brands that watch collectors on a budget can count on for attractive, affordable, watches:

1. Timex
2. Orient
3. Invicta
4. Mathey-Tissot
5. Peugeot
6. Harry Williams
7. MVMT
8. Skagen
9. Diesel
10. Swatch
11. Vostok

You can find plenty of great watches to build a collection without breaking your bank!

The Diesel I didn't get when I had the chance!

Now that my blog is a Timex affiliate through Commission Junction, we can send you directly to the Timex US Home Page for their most up-to-date offerings. To check out some of the very best Timex watches that I've found as an Amazon affiliate, please visit my Best Timex Watches on Amazon page. For an excellent selection of very collectible Diesel watches, check out my affiliate page Best Diesel Watches on Amazon.