The Best Swiss Pilot Watches $1000 to $4000: Fortis, IWC, Bell & Ross, Oris, & Breitling 

I own the red dial Oris from the video. I think it is unique, stunning, and absolutely beautiful. A lot of others who see it are not impressed. Thanks TGV for giving this watch a little love!

Wow, today was a very special day. I have been celebrating my 49th birthday as well as my wife and my 15th birthday. We have been in the Bahamas for a few days now. I went into an Omega boutique. I was able to spend about half an hour with my grail watch, an Omega Railmaster. I can without a doubt say that this time has not dissapointed in my impression of my grail. In fact it has only stoked my desire for this watch. The one in the boutique had a gray dial which was not one that I had on my radar, however seeing it in person has become, my new personal favorite. I would have to say it took every bit of my willpower to walk out without that piece of beautiful horology, not to mention, my wife looking over my shoulder. I am most definitely going to own one of these gorgeous time pieces as soon as possible. I would have to give the salesperson an enormous amount of credit for putting up with me for as long as he did. He was top notch to say the least. Thank you Lynden for your patience. I just had to share my experience and hope to act on this experience as soon as possible. Yes my grail is now even more desirable that I have held it in the flesh.

This man is an icon. An intelligent, well spoken, and joyful person to learn from. I’d love to see a series on the watches you would recommend from various brands. Thanks!

The black Fortis , omg!!! Amazing👍🏻💪🏼🇺🇾

Nice to see a Lockheed Ventura on display at the air race. In my opinion the North American P-51 mustang, and the Supermarine Spitfire, are the most BEAUTIFUL fighter planes ever built.

My heart says yes. My wallet says “you can only afford the Citizen Nighthawk”.

A late comment, for a minor correction in history: Lindbergh used a Longines watch on his ”lindyhop” but it was not yet the famous hour angle watch. That was designed by Lindbergh after the flight, when he had become world famous and Longines saw his value in business of course. Longines was the ultimate watch provider for pilots on that era, among them also Amelie Earhart.

What, no Glycine Airman? You missed one of the most iconic (and affordable) watches of the 1950s! As a professional Military/Airline pilot for 45+ years I've worn my Rolex GMT for 36 of them... However my Glycine Airman is now my "go to" daily working watch (B777). The "Airman" is on my list of the five most iconic aviation watches of the 1950s (Navitimer 806, Airman, Breguet Type XX, Rolex GMT and Speedmaster) plus, it's the only watch on the list under $4K!

I've been a WWII buff all my life and a fighter mechanic for 14 years in both the military and civilian sector and I've always said if I ever become crazy rich I'm buying a P-51. Even if I can't fly it myself, it'd be awesome to restore, maintain and tinker with.

When this vid first came out I was on the road so watched it on my cell phone. I'm now back home and watched again, this time wearing my Fortis B42 Black Mars Chronograph. Excellent stuff, Sir!

I swear you are tracking my feed. The last couple days I’ve been eyeballing the Laco Pilot watches then this video pops up. My SNK805 is sort of piloty with its type B dial. It’s the closest watch i have currently. I still enjoy watching, learning, and scheming what i will get next. Onwards and upwards my friend.

I love Fortis as a brand. My Cosmonaut chronograph is equal in quality to my Omega, imo. Thanks for the thoughtful video!

This video's level of coolness is off the charts! Great variety of pilot watches. The Bell & Ross and the IWC would get my preference. Looking forward to the next one. Regards, Koen

This has got to be the BEST video I have ever seen you in.

You have opened up a Whole New world! Or should I say reminded me that we used to wear watches 😃 its over twenty years without a time piece for me and I have ordered a Seiko 5 😉👍 Just want to say thanks!!!! Great channel by the way All the Best, Smith

I’m so pleased you included so much race/plane footage. Well done coverage and tying it all to the brands! Thanks as ever!

Another great video. Who would have imagined anyone could have so much fun reviewing watches. Keep pushing the envelope with your reviews and venues. All the best -

Good evening TGV, Aviation watches are, beside divers, my favorite type of watches, so I really was looking forward to this video. I was not disappointed 😉 Great story and great background information on watches an aircrafts. I guess you must have a great time in Reno. Have a good day !

Oh boy! A combines video of watches and planes! That's pretty much what I use RU-vid for. Respect.

Great segment TGV, you are correct, nothing beats the vintage planes. Welcome to the West. I've been to several Reno Airshows, definitely a special time of my life as a child and as an adult as well. I will never forget. I had family that crewed on the Thunderbirds, I went to several Thunderbird shows, simply remarkable and awe-inspiring. One of my favorite segments you have produced TGV. Thorough and complete as always. Oh! The watch segment was good too. Fortis 👍 More Air Show!!! Thank you, Sir! O/U and all the best Sir. 🥃

TGV, I must say, so nice to see you keep your style of episode we all love after teaming up with watchbox. I love you channel and eagerly wait for my notifications when a new episode comes out! You're a classy guy, best of luck in the future. -A loyal Canadian Follower

Great collection…! I like very much your vision on the richness of the “understated”. I can say that the Bell&Ross it’s amazing with its sharpness and legibility. 😉

Rolex GMT Master 2 5-digit-model

You really captured the essence of the Reno Air Show , no doubts ! The wrist watch content equally as thought provoking.

Fantastic Video TGV, Looks like you had a blast👍 we had an air show here in town and wow good watches and aviation enthusiast go hand and hand. Haha so much eye candy👍😊

wow 😲 🛩 welcome to the westside hehe cool on location episode 👍🏼

Thank you, Tristano, for doing this episode. I love this video very much; it is one of the best you've done. I really appreciate your focusing on higher end pilot watches as they don't often get the focus like divers or luxury dress watches. I REALLY like Bell & Ross a lot, but all of your selections are outstanding. Edit: By the way, I really like your longer videos such as this one. I enjoy when you take your time through the video. It feels more like a lovely visit with a good friend, which you are. Cheers!🙂♥️

I love that you've been focusing so much on Fortis lately. Fortis and Oris are two of my favorite brands because of their independence from the big groups. I just picked up a Fortis Aeromaster Dawn chronograph for an absolute steal, and I have barely taken it off in the month or so that I've had it. My next purchase will be a Spacematic. Excellent video!

Oh interesting! Oh, I was always wondering why Bell & Ross has so much similarity to Sinn and a few identical models in the past. I thought they riped Sinn off but turns out it was Bell & Ross by Sinn.

Love this video!! Flying a plane, I think would be the next best thing to riding a sport bike!! Some beautiful watches too! Cheers!

Nice, TGV. Nice aviation theme... nice watches... EXCELLENT video!! 🖒😎 My grandfather flew P-51s in WW2; my dad flew AH-1G Cobras in the Nam; and I crewed UH-60A Blackhawks at the tail end of the Cold War... Aviation is in my blood-- and, therefore, so are Pilot's watches... 🚁

Thanks for covering two of my favorite hobbies - flying/flight and watches. I've enjoyed the heck out my visits to the air races and glad to see you were having such a good time there.

This is absolutely beautiful. Thanks fo showing us thebraxe in Reno. Video showing aircraft event while talking watches must be the 1st in RU-vid!!

Man I sure do miss going to the Air races. Great video! Keep up the great work.

The best Pilot watch within that price range has to be the IWC pilot watches, it has good heritage and craftsmanship with a deep rooted history of building watches for both the German and British military. The history of pilot watches in this video was well researched and eloquently presented.

No love for my Hamilton X-Wind?! Ha ha, great video. One of your very best.

TGV your visit to Reno was so close to us in Las Vegas, next time take your adventures to southern Nevada & join our horology party! Great vid yet again, cheers mate.

No one, just no one has a watch channel that looks this Good! 💥

I mean, few people who dislike your vids can just be haters! great work keep going

Actually I’m saving for the Oris Big Crown pointer date. I fell in love months ago and I can’t think of any other watch to buy before that one hahahaha

Absolutely fantastic close ups of these pieces. It’s as if I’m holding the watches myself. Well done.

Very cool watches.Hopefully you cover more Fortis and Bell & Ross in the future. Keep up the good work.

Terrific presentation as per usual. I do like the dial color of the Oris. It definitely makes a statement.

Magnificent presentation TGV! Multiple Bravos to you and your team!!!

Great video. Much better than the sitcom rerun on Netflix I was about to watch. Loved the planes. Loved the watches. I'll probably buy one of those watches long before I buy a plane.

I'd love to see a video about the German Fliegeruhren next. Laco, stowa, etc

I watched the air races on YT all week. It was super fun to see.

Fortis is beyond cool

Stunning footage! Well made video, masterfully done TGV!

I am a simple man. I get a TGV notification, I like, I watch, I enjoy.

My favourites are the Tutima NATO, Bell&Ross Space 3 Ti, Damasko DC56 and Sinn 142 ST (and that is why I bought them :-) )

This is awesome, looks like an amazing time! Great show.

I learned about the lucky penny, Mustang airframe with no RR Merlin based engines and I finally started to get interested into IWC... Great video brilliantly professional!

Legitimately cool episode. Do more of these!

Great intro TGV, i love airshows! Apologies for the lack of commenting lately. Ive been out in the Australian Outback for a few months then home to Scotland for my sisters wedding. Your new video formats are great! Kev

T, superb intro..... Can't wait to watch the rest later. Best as always. Matthew

Great video about watches and an event I was not even aware of. Good video and good job on both the airplanes and the watches.

Good video. I enjoyed it. My son and i just attended Miramar Air Show in San Diego. Probably one of the best Air Shows in the U.S. I have a Fortis Flieger Cockpit that i like very much.

I really enjoyed this video. Keep up the good work, TGV.

Great to see you talk a bit about Santos Dumont! Cheers from Brazil! 🇧🇷

Hi TGV, Nice video. I’m on the waiting list for a new 39mm Explorer I. l know it’s not an aviation watch but I’m excited like a little child on christmas 😊😊😊 Grazie per tutto ciò che fai! Il tuo canale è il migliore su youtube 👍

The Oris big crown is spectacular in that red wine colour with the brown strap. May have found a new pilot watch

Thanks for the video , always entertaining and welcome break . Cheers 🍷

Pan-Am and the GMT. It don’t get more glamorous than that

Great watch review. I was hoping for a little bit more from the air show. Do you have enough footage for a part two? SEIKO IS KING

Fascinating how the Flieger watches cover such a huge varity of cases and complications, sometimes almost resembling divers, sometimes being elegant enough to replace a dress watch. The Oris is the most attractive in this selection IMHO, combining functionality and timeless classiness.

Breitling, Breitling, and then more Breitling! Navitimer rules! Love the video. I also enjoy the quartz Zeppelins for a far less expensive alternative.

Very cool video entry, I love air shows and airplane watches.

Your research is so cool. Santos Dumont had many more inventions. Wristwatches was one great ideia. Thanks TGV.

Love the Oris dial colour. Thank you for the video

Ótimo vídeo. Parabéns pelo trabalho, ficou excelente a correlação entre os relógios e a aviação. Fiquei muito feliz pela citação feita ao brasileiro Santos Dumont.......👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Excelente, Magnifico, muy educativo, always great Videos, great content, simply the best. congrats TGV

I know this may not make sense to everyone but the name fortis reminds me of a famous Hospital and Orient of appliance maker like Fans/coolers etc.

I've really been interested in the IWC Pilot 36 for a while. It's a shame to see such underwhelming lume on it. I have a feeling I might just forgive such a thing once I get to see the dark blue dial version in the metal. Another great video TGV, keep it positive!

I have several flight watches, 2 Stowa's one bought like in 2008, COSC certified 36mm no date or logo 36mm Classic and a 40mm with date and Stowa Logo ijn 40kmm,my 3rd should arrive in a few weeks a 43mm Baumuster B, Have a few others, Seiko Flightmaster, and two Citizen ecco''s Atomic Clock a Blue Angel and Nighthawk, I'm sure I'll hmbs for them being quartz based. I am a USAf veteran and was stationed in Germany. Because of Tim and you, ordered a Omega Seamaster 42mm new version pre owned with 300m water resistance and helium escape valve with like over 5 years left on the Omega warranty and 15months for all else from Watchbox. Bought like new pre owned and saved some money, have box, papers and warranty card. Always wanted an Omega, did lean towards flightmasters, this changed my mind, certified chronometer aomd anti magnetic coaxil movement. Yes, I'm excited my first luxury watch. Could I have got a better deal, probably but trust Govberg and Watchbox. Going to Philadelphia Weds and going to have a cigar at Holts and have my Seamasters bracelet sized. WHat I did find odd, is Watchbox wanted information from me, Linkin which I don't have, but they did take my Facebook page with shows I'm in the Stowa and Gkycine groups. I giuess it's a policy to help deter flippers. Which I doubt happens much with Omega. I remember either from you or Tim, to spend the $100 or so up front and get the bracelet. Can always buy a good quality strap, and not have to pay $300 for the bracelet at a later time. Sorry to bore all of you. But just wanted to check in.BTW wearing my Seiko Alpinist at prsent.

Although pilot watches don’t appeal to me but it was great to watch and enjoy the world of aviation...I truly missed Hamilton in this episode. Nice work👍🏼

Hi Tristano, Very interesting video. Of course, as a German I miss the brands Heuer, Laco, etc. and the more modern watches from Sinn (keyword: TESTAF). But, I know, you can not put everything into a single video. I feel well entertained anyway. I also like Fortis very well. A few days ago I saw a white dial B-42, this model will probably be my 4th clock from Fortis. Incidentally, there are also a number of divers watches, which were used by various air forces as pilot watches. That might also be an issue for a video. Have fun René

Great video as usual tgv.top notch top notch!!....

Great video as always! Just a side note, I would have loved to see hamilton xpilot or x-wind in there. they are great watches that are often overlooked around 1k

Just started watching, but I had to comment on the mechanical versus Quartz.I love the analogy, because the new planes are faster,better in Almost every way. That’s how I feel about “watch’s Can’t wait to see the rest of the video. Seiko is king

Thanks for the great video TGV. You have me planning a trip state side to go to Reno next year. Just have to convince the wife now! :)

Chock-a-block episodes are what I live for!

Great video 👍 I’m a big fan of Fortis!

2:49 “WW2 Mitchell Bomber” - That’s a PV-2 Harpoon, built by Lockheed.

That is top notch videos....Love them !!!

thanks to light us on this brands (IWC, Fortis, Bell And Ross). I still love the (old) Breitling products and will have may be one Oris Pilot watch one day ;)

Wonderful show T! I bet you had loads of fun making this one. Well done! Were you poorly when you did this? Only you cant tell when watching it. Best Regards Stuart

Did they have a Spitfire? One of my favorite aircraft. My father used to speak about them when I was a kid. He lived in England during WW2. BTW, my most favorite watches that I own are the Zenith Type 20, Omega Speedmaster, and my trusty Casio GPW 2000 Gravitymaster. Great Video!

Well, I enjoyed it, found it usefull... I guess you will catch me in the next one! ok, ciao!

Great job as usual TGB. BTW it's pronounced STED not steed, Old Man. Looking forward to the next one. Cheers.

Absolutely excellent review of Swiss pilot watches! Bravo! I've owned the Omega Speedmaster Moon watch, circa 1976, and the 2003 Rolex GMT Master II. I'm a great fan of Sinn in the modern era and absolutely love Fortis as well. However, now I must descend so to speak, from the lofty historical and mechanically technical elite brands, which we all love and lust after, to say that today's Air Force and Navy pilots flying stealth F22 and F35 fighter jets are in reality using Casio g shock squares and Timex Ironman watches to nearly the exclusion of all others. These timepieces are shock resistant, 200 meters water resistant, have world time, 24 hour chronographs and countdown timers, solar powered batteries, atomic time keeping, can withstand freezing, boiling, being dropped from thousands of feet and as you know are practically indestructible. But, what they SERIOUSLY lack is that style, aura and sense of aeronautical history, pedigree and beauty that only the watches in the video, and of course the German Sinn, offer the wearer. I appreciate my Casio for it's capability, but I LOVE the Flieger and the mechanical chrono for it's looks, style, beauty, heritage and the way they feel on the wrist. Thanks again for all the wonderful content, both informative and entertaining. May I also say delivered with more style and panache than any other watch reviewer on RU-vid. Thanks again.

TGV, did you ever see the Red Arrows? I'm in Bournemouth so I see them ever year, but lots of people haven't.

35:54 Thats one reason I enjoy my 36mm Stowa Klassik Flieger. I have the same wrist size as you, roughly 6.25", and the 36mm flieger fits perfectly on my wrist. One interesting feature with a 36mm flieger is that due to the face size, it wears more like a 38mm.

My favourite watch is the Oris. The wine red dial is Beautiful!

I love your Breitling, its killer with the white stiching strap

Very nice video, well done !!!

Quality Video!!!!! Absolute pure Class!!!!!! BMJ ENGLAND 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Shame they couldn't get RR Merlin's in those warbirds! I'm fortunate to live near Duxford so regularly hear these beautiful motors overhead 👍👍

Bravo! Great video!

Loved the air race footage TGV. Hope you got to ride in a plane at some point? That would have been amazing. Great selection of watches too 👍