Knowledge Center — Pilot Watches

1938 It was the year 1938. Aviation was booming around the world--Spain alone commanded a fleet of 500 aircraft--and pocket watches were not practical for pilots. Prior to the Aviation Age in the twentieth century, wristwatches were seen as feminine and only used by women. Men vastly preferred pocket watches.  It is not until more pilots needed watches in their cabins that the practicality of wristwatches became evident. Wristwatches were styled in a masculine way to move away from the feminine stereotype of wristwatches.  The Big Crown Wristwatches became the norm for pilots, but the watch company Oris went a...