Buyer's Guide
Looking at our stats, I see that demand for recommendations regarding diving watches is a seasonal thing with most visitors coming in summer and then gradually declining till Christmas only to start growing again in early January. "Pilots" are different animals: I have an impression that people are always interested in "aviators" regardless of the time of season. So, for your reading pleasure, a choice of fifteen timekeepers from under $200 to more than $10,000 as priced by online retailers that I find worthy of being considered while shopping for your new (or maybe your very first!) pilot's watch this year.
Swiss Watches
This year, Doxa has released a number of "anniversary" timekeepers that celebrate the brand's first semicentennial in the business of making professional diving watches. While the gorgeous blackfaced Sharkhunter and the silverfaced Searambler attracted their fair share of attention from collectors and, um, more normal enthusiasts alike, it was the DOXA Sub 300 "Black Lung" Limited Edition automatic diving wristwatch that broke the brand's own sales record with the whole bunch of watches being pre-ordered during the first 24 hours after the registration officially commenced.
Swiss Watches
With this gorgeous Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Automatic (ref. H82305931,) the Swiss-based watchmaker that mostly deals in relatively affordable timekeeping instruments not simply expands its line of diving companions. It finally offers a wristwatch that is not just "different" from the rest of the crowd, but -unlike their last year's Navy Frogman- can actually be worn by a casual person without attracting weird glances from persons who "just don't get it."
Japanese watches / Quartz watches
Already released as the Japanese Domestic Market (ah, that legendary 'JDM' abbreviation that's been rice-rocket freaks' and watch aficionados' darling for so many decades!) models, the new Seiko Prospex Diver Scuba Giugiaro Design Limited Edition (available as refs. SBEE001 & SBEE002) is an almost perfect re-issue of the wristwatch from the 1980s that had a great potential, but for some reason failed to become an icon of industrial design. Well, I can only welcome the Japanese brand's decision to give the collection a second chance, even as only a limited edition model.
Swiss Watches
Unveiled earlier this year at Baselworld 2017, the new Montblanc TimeWalker Automatic Chronograph UTC Ceramic (ref. 116101) wristwatch like a nice (if a bit overpriced to my taste) addition to the Swiss-based maker's of luxury "writing instruments" that also happens to sell watches line of sporty chronographs. While some of the main selling points of this new watch -like, say, the choice of movement, as well as the combination of materials- look more "acceptable" to yours truly rather than even mildly "exciting," we at WorldWatchReview.com would still recommend getting one of these oversized pieces of, um, time-measuring opulence if the price is not a problem.
Quartz watches / Swiss Watches
The new Breitling for Bentley Supersports B55 Connected offers you the same list of amenities as their earlier "hybrid" smart watches that was first revealed about two years ago, but in a styling that is so loved by thousands of Bentley fans. Reassuringly overpriced and deliciously archaic, it will probably feature one of the lowest "value for money" ratios in the Swiss watchmaker's whole product range, yet it's not the mythical "value" that allows Breitling to continue being one of the brands for those who love deadly planes and fast cars.
Swiss Watches
Coming soon to a store near you, the new Victorinox Swiss Army I.N.O.X. Carbon (refs. 241776 & 241777) collection of military-styled quartz wristwatches offers a decent Swiss made movement neatly packed into a feather-light carbon-fiber body. Despite being somewhat overpriced, the watch still gives you tons of style and comfort in return for that hard-earned cash.
Swiss Watches
The new Hamilton Broadway Day Date Automatic (refs. H43515735 & H43515135) wristwatch, the Swiss brand's recent attempt at grabbing their own share of a growing "affordable dress watch" market, offers a nice blend of interesting exterior, good build quality and one of the best "long-play" mass-produced automatic movements that you can get in the sub-$1k price range. Unexpectedly elegant and amazingly refined, right now this may be one of the best choices for the money.