Navigator watches - a survey

[Crusader]

Perhaps some of you, like me, are fascinated by "Navigator watches". For practical purposes I define a "Navigator watch" as a highly precise watch with 12h indication, center seconds with hacking function, and a rotatable 12h bezel to indicate a second time zone (sometimes combined with elapsed minute markings). Day and or date feature are optional, and the bezel should ideally be bi-directional for quick use in the cockpit. The movement does not have a chronograph or GMT function.

Lately Navigator watches have become popular with watch manufacturers. Marathon's current issue watches are available to civilians in limited quantities; mb-microtec (under the Traser/H3 brand) has brought out the P6500, a replica of the SandY P650, a couple of years ago; Bill Yao has recently introduced Navigator bezel inserts for his Seiko watches, and he is working on the MMT Blackwater, a Benrus Types I and II homage; and last but not least Damasko will be offering their upcoming DA46 aviation watch with a second timezone bezel.



The appeal of the Navigator watches derives from the combination of a very precise yet basic movement, a highly legible dial and the additional function of a second time zone bezel. Keeping track of a second time zone is important for GMT, in which aircraft logs and other aviation-related information are frequently kept, and for traversing time zones in long-distance flight so that both local time and the reference time (GMT, or the home base time) can be viewed at a single glance. Significantly, the bezel-based second time zone function does not add a complication to the movement, unlike a movement-modified GMT watch or a chronograph, two other classic manifestations of pilot's watches. Not having a chronograph function emphasizes the watch's core function of providing precise time, while some additional functionality is still provided by the bezel which is extraneous to both the movement and the case. The uncomplicated movement will necessarily be more rugged than a chronograph or GMT-movement, increasing the precision, reliability and serviceability of the watch.

Unlike a fast-paced pilot's chronograph, the "Navigators" are sedate watches. Their purpose is not to measure seconds and minutes of patterned approaches, but to provide exact time for celestial navigation. Even though the "Navigator" may not be as useful for today's pilot as either a GMT watch or a chronograph, it derives its classic appeal because from harking back to a time when aviators needed above all the precise time in order to determine their position, rather than worrying about flying patterns in crowded airport approaches or checking the functions of high-powered turbines. In a way, the Navigator is a watch that would not be out of place on a ship. It invokes memories of the original naval chronometer, John Harrison's H4, and of being an indispensable pendant to a sextant for celestial navigation, long an absolute necessity for aviators but now largely displaced by the ubiquitous availability of GPS-based navigation.



The term "Navigator" for this type of watch is found in the American military specifications. As far as I know the first Navigator watches with rotatable 12h bezel were the Benrus Types I and II introduced from 1971 on. Prior to that, conventional watches (without rotatable bezel, but again highly precise) were referred to as "Navigators" in both the American and the British military specifications. Notable examples are the Mark XI (made by IWC and JLC) on the British side, and the Hamilton FAPD watch on the US side. Mainly neutrally marked rotatable bezels were employed on aviation watches as early as before and during WWII (IWC Mark IX, Czech Air Force Longines, German Fliegerchronographs). After the war rotatable bezels with various scales appear to have been only used on the French (Types XX/21) and German pilot's chronographs, whereas the time-only navigation watches in the US (A-11, A-17, DTU 2A/P, GG-W-113, FAPD) and UK armed forces (Mark XI, G-10) remained without rotatable bezel, at least until the introduction of the Benrus Types I and II in the US.

The Benrus Navigators in the US arsenal were followed by the Adanac Navigators (made by the Canada-based Marathon watch company) with Type II dial and hands, and a quartz movement, made in two runs in 1986 and 1989. Then, in 1991, came the Marathon steel navigators, with a quartz movement and tritium vials on the dial and hands, but not on the bezel. These were followed in the same year by the composite case Marathon Navigators (F-version) and the Stocker and Yale P650, both with tritium vials on dial, hands and bezel, and the all-steel S&Y P660 (though the latter had a 60-minute bezel). Current U.S. issue since 1999 has been the Marathon Navigator G-version, which is also available in a date version as of June 2005.



Here is a survey of currently available Navigator watches, and those in the works. Needless to say, the list is purely subjective (I am, e.g., leaving out the issued watches which are available pre-owned, and sold-out watches). Not all watches have all the key features of navigator watches listed above, but they are reasonably close for a "desk pilot" like me to feel "elevated" when wearing them. ;-)


Damasko: DA 46

Automatic movement (high-grade ETA 2836 with day and date indication), super-hardened steel case (1600 HV), high-grade AR-coated sapphire crystal. Comes with a choice of 12h and 60 minutes bezel; the 12h bezel has additional minute marks all around. Super-hardened PVD bezel-insert, very distinctive dial/hands style. Technologically by far the most advanced of the Navigators, with an antimagnetic rating of 80,000 A/m and a crystal secured against sudden loss of outside pressure. Planned release date 3rd/4th quarter 2005. Super-Luminova.

Preliminary concept drawing (with 60-minute bezel):


Link: http://www.damasko.de/eng/da46_technik.htm
See also: http://www.timefactors.com/damasko.htm


Bill Yao: Modified Seiko SKX 007

Automatic movement (Seiko 7s26), steel case, plane mineral or domed sapphire crystal. Wide range of dial and hands options. Together with the Types I and II bezel inserts (available in a high-grade hard-anodized type 3 version called HA3) you can build your own navigator watch, as close to the original Benrus as you like, or with extra features (day/date, a choice of different hands and dials, colored hands, sterile casebacks, choice of case finish etc.). Bill now also offers less expensive bezel inserts in the same style, the T2. The bezel of the modified Seiko diver is unidirectional, and the movement does not hack, nor can it be wound by hand. Super-Luminova. The base watch, the Seiko diver, is legendary for being one of the most robust of mechanical watches, though its accuracy is usually not chronometer-grade and should not be expected to compare with an ETA movement out of the box.

Here is an example of a Seiko SKX 007 in the style of a Benrus Type II:


Link: http://www.mkiiwatches.com/cus_w_seiko.html


Bill Yao: MMT Blackwater

A newly developed watch by Bill Yao. A Benrus Types I and II homage, true to the original but with sensible improvements (e.g. sapphire crystal, 20mm lug width, screw-down back). Automatic movement (high-grade ETA 2824), steel case, sapphire crystal, optionally AR-coated on the inside. Comes with or without date. Fixed bar option, bezel is unidirectional. Super-Luminova.

The Blackwater Type II (date version):


Link: http://www.mkiiwatches.com/cus_w_bwater.html


Ray: Benrus Types I and II homage

Automatic movement (ETA 2824), steel case, high-domed mineral crystal. A lower-quality, but very accurate homage to the Benrus Types I and II with the original 19mm lug width and a substantial height of over 15 millimeters. No date version.

The Rayrus Type I:


Link: http://stores.ebay.com/id=96440053&s...TRK:MEFS:MESST


Marathon: composite case Navigator (G-model, with and without date)

Quartz movement (ISA 1198), composite case, acrylic crystal. Current issue watch of the US Armed Forces available to the public in limited quantities. Meets the military specification (water-resistance, altitude and antimagnetic rating). Tritium vials on bezel, dial and hands. A date version has been available since June 2005. A review can be found here: http://www.tz-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6447 .

The no-date version:


The date version:


Link: http://www.broadarrow.net/sale.htm


Westcoastime: M-16 II

Automatic movement (ETA 2824), steel case, mineral crystal. An O&W M-series diver with the dial and hands of a Marathon field watch. Unidirectional bezel, without elapsed-time markings. Tritium vials on dial and hands, conventional lume (Luminova-type) on the bezel. A review can be found here: http://www.netisto.com/m16II.htm

The WCT M-16 II:


Link: http://www.westcoastime.com/m16typ2tritv.html


Traser/H3: P6500 (with and without date)

Quartz movement (Ronda 715), composite case, mineral crystal. Replica of the SandY P 650 and made in the same Swiss factory. Fulfills the military specification (water-resistance, altitude and antimagnetic rating). Tritium vials on bezel, dial and hands. This is a very light watch, and my favorite for a quartz navigator. A review can be found here: http://www.tz-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6447 .

The P6500 no-date version:


Link: http://www.watchuseek.com/h3_shop.htm


Luminox: 3401 (with OEM or Yao dial)

Quartz movement (Ronda 715), PVD'ed steel case, sapphire crystal. Unidirectional bezel, without elapsed-time markings. Can be modified with a sterile Yao dial in the style of the SandY P660. Tritium vials on bezel, dial and hands.

The unmodified Luminox 3401:


and here modified with the Yao 660 dial:


Links: http://www.luminox.ch/produkte_ar.cfm?Kat=1
and: http://www.mkiiwatches.com/custom_dial.html



Helpful links:

Hyunsuk Sung's military watches website: http://www.50717.com/
Ned Frederick's military watches website: http://home.earthlink.net/~brendo81/46374.html
Billy Schorr's Benrus Types I and II website: http://www.freewebs.com/billyschorr/benrustypeiii.htm
American Navigators review: http://www.tz-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6447



Any additions or corrections are very much welcome!

[Gert]

Bravo! Very interesting read.

You may also consider including the technologically less interesting standard Yao M-type:



Cheers,
Gert

[Crusader]

You are right, Gerd.

I forgot to include the basic O&W M-series, without and with Yao modification. I'll add them in a future version. :)

[rfrazier]

You don't have watches that do exist, and do have watches that don't exist. Very existential. ;)

Best wishes,
Bob

[abraxas]

.
Thanks Crusader. I will probably get one of those Blackwaters when they come out. Loosely connected ... I find the new Longines Avigation an interesting addition (although of an older era) both in terms of name and look.

http://www.watchscape.hpg.ig.com.br/longines.htm

john

[deano42]

Here is an example of a Seiko SKX 007 in the style of a Benrus Type II:

Hi Crusader

Top class review, thanks...

I guess thats your Yao you showed.?? Did you ever get it updated with the white on black day/date wheel.??

Would be good to see that in the flesh...

Thanks
deano

[Crusader]

I guess thats your Yao you showed.?? Did you ever get it updated with the white on black day/date wheel.??

It is in the works right now. :wink:

[adrian]

An interesting read, as usual Crusader. But from my point of view "functionality" should take over "classic". As far as my (biased) opinions are and disregarding the price, a modern navigator watch should fall the following pattern:
1 - Vulcain Cricket GMT (GMT alarm)
2 - GP TimeTraveller
3 - IWC UTC
4 - UN SanMarco
I think they are (at least) as much as navigators as you showed with a much mordern approach and design. (OK, do not look at the prices) How do you view them?

[Crusader]

An interesting read, as usual Crusader. But from my point of view "functionality" should take over "classic". As far as my (biased) opinions are and disregarding the price, a modern navigator watch should fall the following pattern:
1 - Vulcain Cricket GMT (GMT alarm)
2 - GP TimeTraveller
3 - IWC UTC
4 - UN SanMarco
I think they are (at least) as much as navigators as you showed with a much mordern approach and design. (OK, do not look at the prices) How do you view them?

Any watch can be a navigator watch ... but in my view, it would be comparing apples to oranges to pit a GMT against a chrono against a simple watch with 12h rotatble bezel. I make no claim to "define" navigator watches ... I just happen to be interested in the above particular class of movement-unmodified, bezeled watches, and not in the others. I wouldn't even claim they are superior. :wink: I just happen to like them. :)

I put my thoughts on various types of aviation watches (flightdeck watches vs. lifestyle watches, to put a not too fine point to it) in another review, see http://www.tz-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=67063

[adrian]

...to put a not too fine point to it...

:lol: :lol: :lol: OK :lol: :lol: :lol: