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.

The Timex x Pan Am Automatic Ace

This Timex Waterbury Automatic has an amazing look and, as of May 2026, is available on Amazon. 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 Ace Automatic Watch

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 order this cool collaboration watch here on Amazon 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 x Pan Am GMT Quartz Watch

This GMT watch is available here on Amazon. If you order, the affiliate link will generate a small commission for this website. 

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.  

[This post was updated May 20, 2026.]

A Glimpse at the AVI-8 Lancaster Bomber Watch

I recently caught a glimpse of the AVI-8 Lancaster Bomber watch at a local retailer.  Since I enjoy my AVI-8 Hurricane watch, I was curious to see some of their other models.  AVI-8 Lancaster Bomber Watches commemorate Britain's most famous World War II bomber. I like the way that the subdials are presented in a horizontal row across the bottom of the dial.  While some makers present instrument panel inspired watches, it looks like AVI-8 is providing an instrument panel on their watch!  The light brown band also gives the AVI-8 Lancaster Bomber watch a vintage look.

AVI-8 Lancaster Bomber Watch

The British Lancaster Bomber was a very capable aircraft.  With four engines and an undivided bomb bay, it was capable of delivering the largest bombs dropped during World War II.  With modifications, it could carry bombs of up to 22,000 pounds. 

Photo By Geoff Acton (Flickr: Lancaster Bomber Cowes) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

It can be recognized by the rather upright turret over the bombardier's bubble in the nose and by its twin tail configuration.  The dark paint came in handy as the British bombed at night during World War II.  The Americans bombed during the day.

By Geoff Acton (Flickr: Lancaster Bomber Cowes) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The AVI-8 Lancaster Bomber watch comes in two configurations.  The first provides the instrument panel configuration.  The second emulates the big bomber by providing a a bubble in the crystal over the date window.  The bubble is larger than the magnifier on a Rolex.  It's a pretty unique feature in the world of watches.  It's an innovative touch in a watch that draws inspiration from history.

[As of 2024, it looks like AVI-8 discontinued their Lancaster line of watches, but check out Amazon for the latest offerings.]

The Citizen Blue Angel Eco-Drive Watch

When it comes to respected middle class watch brands, Citizen has to be near the top of the pile.  They make high quality watches that incorporate the latest timekeeping technology.  The Citizen Men's Pro-Master Skyhawk Eco-Drive Watch is a serious aviation watch that incorporates atomic timekeeping for accuracy, local time for 43 cities, a 1/100 second chronograph, 2 alarms, 200 meter water resistance, and a slide rule bezel.

Citizen Pro-Master Skyhawk A-T

If you are ready for precision aerobatics, the popular series of Citizen Blue Angels watches are variants of the Skyhawk A-T that commemorate the famed U.S. Navy Blue Angels aerobatic flight demonstration team.  While it might be tough to read a watch while flying wingtip-to-wingtip in a formation of F-18 fighters, the Blue Angel watch has all the technical sophistication that any jet pilot would desire.

By U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andrew Johnson [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The Blue Angels Skyhawk A-T watch brings all the best Citizen's technology to your wrist and connects you in a small way to a long line of distinguished pilots. The synthetic leather-band, this Citizens Blue Angels World A-T watch has blue and yellow accents that reinforce the connection to the famed flyers. It also keeps time for 26 world cities.

No matter which watch you choose, these are the kinds of timepieces that make any heart soar!

By U.S. Navy photo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Watches for the Love of Flight

Today, I'm doing some research for an upcoming article that I'm writing about a World War 2 fighter plane.  Naturally, I'm wearing my AVI-8 Men's AV-4011-05 Hawker Hurricane Analog Japanese-Quartz Brown Watch. Of course, mine is green.  But, the AVI-8 is always a watch that always inspires me when to read more and write more about aircraft.

I like the AVI-8 line of watches and I like that they are inspired by real aircraft like the Hawker Hurricane.  I wish that they would do a watch inspired by the Gloster Gladiator:  Great Britain's Last Biplane Fighter.  

Gloster Gladiator:  photo by Kogo GFDL license wikimedia commons

If you like biplanes and heroes, perhaps the AVI-8 Flyboy Automatic would be a good commemoration of that fading era of flight!  It's simple, elegant, and mechanical!

The AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane Watch - A Celebration of Vintage Valor!

On December 7th, we remember one of the most devastating surprise attacks in U.S. history:  the Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbor.  It is natural that our thoughts turn to the greatest generation and World War II. 

I recently received a watch that commemorates one of the great fighter planes of that war.  It is a Hawker Hurricane watch courtesy of a new watch brand from the United Kingdom--AVI-8.   The Hawker Hurricane was the main fighter plane of the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain in World War II.  While the Hurricane is  known as a European fighter, the watch still reminds me of the World War II era.

The AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane Watch

I really like the clever use of the RAF insignia as a subdial in the chronograph.  I also like the way the watch captures the colors of the original aircraft.  The green shows very brightly with a camera flash.  In regular daylight, it is very dark.  However, you can certainly see the resemblance in colors in this photograph of a restored Hawker Hurricane Mk 1 shown below.

Hawker Hurricane Mk 1

I think that the AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane watch that captures the spirit of the venerable World War II fighter plane very effectively. 

AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane Chronograph Watch

One cool thing about these AVI-8 watches is that they do not cost an arm and a leg.  In fact, the AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane watch is  reasonably priced here on Amazon.com.

A Hawker Hurricane in Action Somewhere in Asia!

I'll bet that the Hawker Hurricane series sells quickly.

[As of 2024, the Hawker Hurricane watch is a still a great seller.  I recently refreshed this watch with a new watch strap and battery.  It's still flying on my wrist.]