What size pilot watch should I get?

The median pilot watch in our catalog is 41 mm across with a 48.8 mm lug-to-lug and 12.5 mm thick. Lug-to-lug matters more than case size: for an ideal fit, keep it under 47.2 mm on a 6.5" wrist or 55.1 mm on a 7.5" wrist.

How much does a good pilot watch cost?

The 26 current pilot watches in our catalog run from $390 to $10,700 list, with a median of $2,550. The cheapest is the Dan Henry 1963 Pilot GMT 'Pepsi' DH63-K11.

What is the smallest-wearing pilot watch?

By lug-to-lug, the Sinn 356 PILOT Classic W at 45.3 mm, followed by the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date 38mm Bullseye 01 754 7779 4061-07 5 19 25 at 45.5 mm.

Are most pilot watches automatic?

88% of the pilot watches in our catalog with a known movement are mechanical (automatic or hand-wound); the rest are quartz or solar.

What is a Type A and Type B pilot dial?

Type A has a plain 12-hour dial with a triangle at 12. Type B has the minutes on the outer track and the hours on a small inner ring, made for navigators timing to the minute.

Pilot watches

A pilot watch is made to be read at a glance in a cockpit: a big, high-contrast dial, oversized hands and a crown large enough to turn with gloves on. Some add a slide rule bezel for flight calculations.

Current models

Median case

41 mm

Median lug-to-lug

48.8 mm

Median list price

$2,550

What makes a pilot watch

A black dial with large white numerals and lume
A triangle with two dots at 12 o'clock on the classic Flieger dial, for orientation in the dark
An oversized onion or conical crown
Often a larger case than other styles, from 39 mm to well over 44 mm

Cartier made the Santos for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont in 1904. The German B-Uhr of the Second World War, 55 mm across, defined the Flieger look, and Britain's Mark XI, made by IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre from 1948, defined the cleaner one.

Case sizes

36–38 mm1
38–40 mm4
40–42 mm12
42–44 mm7
44–46 mm2

Case width of the 26 current pilot watches in our catalog, from 12 brands. Of those with a known movement, 88% are mechanical.

Citizen Promaster Navihawk 40mm CA4664-60X — Live eBay listings for picks below. Photos from eBay.

Citizen World Chronograph A-T AT8020-54L — Live eBay listings for picks below. Photos from eBay.

Best pilot watches under $500

Watch	Case	Lug-to-lug	Thick	Water	Movement	List price	eBay median
Citizen Promaster Navihawk 40mmCA4664-60X	40 mm	—	—	200 m	Solar	$476	$534
Dan Henry 1963 Pilot GMT 'Pepsi'MicrobrandDH63-K11	42.5 mm	50 mm	13.9 mm	100 m	Automatic	$390	—

Best pilot watches from $500 to $1,500

Watch	Case	Lug-to-lug	Thick	Water	Movement	List price	eBay median
Citizen World Chronograph A-TAT8020-54L	43 mm	—	12 mm	200 m	Solar	$795	$527
Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Day Date Auto 42mmH64635140	42 mm	51 mm	12.1 mm	100 m	Automatic	$1,125	$898
Mk II Hawkinge Type 48 non-dateMicrobrandCG05-1001S	37.8 mm	48.5 mm	12.8 mm	100 m	Automatic	$595	—
Marathon 41mm Steel Navigator Automatic (SSNAV Auto)MicrobrandWW194029SS-0801	41 mm	48 mm	11.5 mm	100 m	Automatic	$1,300	—

Best pilot watches from $1,500 to $5,000

Watch	Case	Lug-to-lug	Thick	Water	Movement	List price	eBay median
Longines Spirit Zulu Time 42mmL3.812.4.63.6	42 mm	49.2 mm	13.9 mm	100 m	Automatic	$3,550	$2,650
Oris ProPilot X Calibre 40001 400 7778 7155-07 7 20 01TLC	39 mm	47 mm	11.8 mm	100 m	Automatic	$4,800	$3,237

Best pilot watches over $5,000

Watch	Case	Lug-to-lug	Thick	Water	Movement	List price	eBay median
Rolex Air-King126900	40 mm	48 mm	11.6 mm	100 m	Automatic	$8,150	$10,089
Omega Speedmaster Pilot332.10.41.51.01.002	40.9 mm	49.6 mm	14.7 mm	100 m	Automatic	$10,700	$8,495
Breitling Avenger Automatic GMT 44A32320101B1X1	44 mm	53 mm	12.1 mm	300 m	Automatic	$5,550	$3,600
IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XXIW328201	40 mm	49.2 mm	10.8 mm	100 m	Automatic	$5,900	$5,206
Oris ProPilot Calibre 11101 111 7808 4164-07 8 20 04LC	43 mm	51 mm	13.2 mm	100 m	Manual	$7,400	—

One watch per brand in each price range, ordered by how many are listed on eBay right now, a rough measure of what people buy. List prices are manufacturer prices in US dollars.

Shortest lug-to-lug

Sinn 356 PILOT Classic W45.3 mm
Oris Big Crown Pointer Date 38mm Bullseye45.5 mm
Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 4147 mm
Longines Spirit Zulu Time 39mm47 mm
Oris ProPilot X Calibre 40047 mm

Thinnest

IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XX10.8 mm
Marathon 41mm Steel Navigator Automatic (SSNAV Auto)11.5 mm
Rolex Air-King11.6 mm
Oris ProPilot Date 41mm11.7 mm
Oris ProPilot X Calibre 40011.8 mm

Pilot watches by wrist size

Questions

What size pilot watch should I get?: The median pilot watch in our catalog is 41 mm across with a 48.8 mm lug-to-lug and 12.5 mm thick. Lug-to-lug matters more than case size: for an ideal fit, keep it under 47.2 mm on a 6.5" wrist or 55.1 mm on a 7.5" wrist.
How much does a good pilot watch cost?: The 26 current pilot watches in our catalog run from $390 to $10,700 list, with a median of $2,550. The cheapest is the Dan Henry 1963 Pilot GMT 'Pepsi' DH63-K11.
What is the smallest-wearing pilot watch?: By lug-to-lug, the Sinn 356 PILOT Classic W at 45.3 mm, followed by the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date 38mm Bullseye 01 754 7779 4061-07 5 19 25 at 45.5 mm.
Are most pilot watches automatic?: 88% of the pilot watches in our catalog with a known movement are mechanical (automatic or hand-wound); the rest are quartz or solar.
What is a Type A and Type B pilot dial?: Type A has a plain 12-hour dial with a triangle at 12. Type B has the minutes on the outer track and the hours on a small inner ring, made for navigators timing to the minute.