Commission Gift - Pilot Watch

RobertGDog

RobertGDog

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May 31, 2018
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My DS is commissioning as a pilot in the Navy. We would like to get him a nice watch for graduation. We don't want anything pretentious. just one that is classy and useful for a young pilot. Thank you for your suggestions.
 
RobertGDog said:
My DS is commissioning as a pilot in the Navy. We would like to get him a nice watch for graduation. We don't want anything pretentious. just one that is classy and useful for a young pilot. Thank you for your suggestions.
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I recommend waiting until he is winged and is actually a Navy pilot, and likely has seen enough watches on instructor pilots and had conversations on pros and cons with experienced naval aviators to know what he wants. It could range from an everyday make and model to 4 figures “look at my big $ watch” watch. He can also buy quite nice watches through the Navy Exchange or AAFES system at a discount or get a military discount.

You may want to consider the more usual commissioning gifts such as a brand new officer cover, nice engraved with commissioning date wooden box for uniform insignia (many choices on internet), officer sword (though those are not required for Navy until O-4 rank), big contribution toward uniforms or first apartment items, and as a nod toward the aviation path, a framed copy of the “High Flight” poem.
 
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There is also this list of “pilot watches,” not necessarily “watches for pilots,” - because there is always a list that can be googled:

DH and my DBIL are both retired full career F-14 naval aviators. I asked my husband a few years ago if he wanted the “Blue Angels” Citizen watch, and he said, “that would be a little over the top, back then and now.” Naval aviation is an industrial environment, tough on all gear. Ruggedness and utility would be top factors.


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CatDog99 said:
I could fall down this rabbit hole so easily.... Must resist the urge to comment on watches ⌚
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There are some amazing watches by IWC for pilots, ceramic and made to survive ejection. TOP GUN model is amazing...
Others are Bell and Ross, Bremont.
Realize these are a bit more... but they will last and don't need battery.
 
I've had 2 sons commission 4 years apart. As a graduation gift, I bought them a new laptop as 4 years of college and engineering programs slowed the old one down. I also bought an 8 TB external hard drive for loading books, music, games, etc...for deployment. As a commissioning gift I bought their uniform pkg that they ordered through Abbott. As a winging gift, I bought my oldest DS a leather pad folio with his name and Naval Aviator engraved on it, plus an IPad mini which he wanted because Apple has the maps used for aviation plus it came in handy on deployment. Youngest DS is still in flight school but will proudly do similar for his winging.
 
I am a pilot.

I am a horologist, as well as a stylophile (so is another member here)...

A VERY nice (my USAF blood is about to burn) watch IS the Citizen Blue Angels watch. I have the original, and the follow-on. SUPERB timepieces. I don't normally wear it in the cockpit of a tactical aircraft. A flying bus is fine. The price point is excellent.

Hamilton...well known for aviator watches; my first USAF-issued watch, complete with radioactive "glow in the dark" parts, was a Hamilton. They have many selections...all very nice.

If you have no budget...the Rolex Air-King is synonymous with aviation history. It's also very basic and pricey! The above watches are WAAAAAAY lower in cost and have more functionality. Of course, at the bar, nobody talks about (using their hands) "There I was, shooting down my Citizen..." It's ALWAYS "there I was, shooting down my Rolex..."

And lastly...for the "I have a budget but it's healthy..." there is Omega's Moonwatch Professional. It has it all and is VERY nice. It's also pretty rugged.

Okay...that's the "cool" factor. Now, what would I wear flying and into whatever I got into? I've worn my Citizen when flying large aircraft. I've never worn any of my high-end watches. My dad wore his Omega when he flew. Today I'd wear the Citizen or I might get a Timex MK1 Chronograph. It looks pretty excellent.

Oh...I have worn my USAFA branded Tag... it's pretty rugged.

Okay...I should NEVER have read this thread....
 
DH does have some nice dress watches, including a Citizen and the full-on USNA Tag, plus my Dad’s 14 kt vintage Movado self-winding from the 1930’s. For the tactical cockpit, he was always more practical. He thinks he wore a Hamilton. He said he went through a lot of watches in that environment.
 
flieger83 said:
A VERY nice (my USAF blood is about to burn) watch IS the Citizen Blue Angels watch. I have the original, and the follow-on. SUPERB timepieces.
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My black-shoe blood still curdles a bit over it but I too have the Citizen Blue Angels watch and it is wonderful.
I'm not really proud of repping the airdales but a good watch is hard to find.

I also have a SWO watch from "erieff and sons" which I found at an industry/SWO conference. I've since bought my son a Submariner dolphins watch from them when he attained his Sub Qual. They also make watches with OTHER warfare insignia.
 
Of course, now I had to go window-shopping the Citizens. I love the Eco-Drive no-battery approach, no need to ever open the case for battery replacement, just give it a dose of sun every so often. I have been wearing the same Citizen Eco-Drive since my O-6 change of command (gift from DH) at the turn of the century, stainless steel, tailored, mother-of-pearl face, day/date and yes, 40 “discreet” (teensy) diamonds around the face and marking hours. The dang thing will never wear out, and it has worked perfectly since the day I put it on. No excuse for another one.

In the course of my window-shopping, I came across the - yes, wait for it - Captain America watch. Nice watch, made me laugh. Comes in various models. Here’s one, just right for any super hero.



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