Watchlords

Hi watch lovers,

I am thinking of creating a Pilot watch. Some of you know I am the owner of the new microbrand ALATO. ALATO have a personal meaning in my family, but there is a meaning for it in italian and latin. In italian it means 'bewinged'. I got the idea to therefore make a pilot watch. I have done this before, but it was in my very early days as a microbrand. At that time I had no idea what I was doing. Today I've learned that originality and being unique, contributing with something new to the market - is the most important thing as a microbrand.

With this post, I wanted to collect your thoughts on whats important with a Pilot watch. Starting off with what type of movement do you prefer and why?

Regards,
Pierre
ALATO Watches
Sweden

Eco-Drive.

jason_recliner wrote: ↑

August 24th 2024, 1:54pm

Eco-Drive.

Agree. How did the last one go?

WISenheimer wrote: ↑

August 24th 2024, 2:22pm

jason_recliner wrote: ↑

August 24th 2024, 1:54pm

Eco-Drive.

Agree. How did the last one go?

Noted. Interesting :)
If you are asking how the Arvet model went, its in production just now, due in October. So, we are closing in on deliveries, slowly :P

ALATO wrote: ↑

August 24th 2024, 2:41pm

WISenheimer wrote: ↑

August 24th 2024, 2:22pm

jason_recliner wrote: ↑

August 24th 2024, 1:54pm

Eco-Drive.

Agree. How did the last one go?

Noted. Interesting :)
If you are asking how the Arvet model went, its in production just now, due in October. So, we are closing in on deliveries, slowly :P

What did you learn from that effort?

Claro CL-888.

ETA 2824-2 and Sellita SW200 I would prefer over an NH35 or Miyota 8-series.


But another vote for EcoDrive. No fuss, no muss. Available in a variety of calibers.

Don't listen to them ↑

If if doesn't have the Elite 679 movement, it will just yet another cheap wannabee pilot watch (one that only connoisseurs of cheap watches will covent).

WISenheimer wrote: ↑

August 24th 2024, 4:00pm

ALATO wrote: ↑

August 24th 2024, 2:41pm

WISenheimer wrote: ↑

August 24th 2024, 2:22pm

Agree. How did the last one go?

Noted. Interesting :)
If you are asking how the Arvet model went, its in production just now, due in October. So, we are closing in on deliveries, slowly :P

What did you learn from that effort?

A lot my man, a lot.. But I havent got any feedback on choice of movement, and I take that as a good sign. Seems it was the right choice for that watch. Would you agree?

conjurer wrote: ↑

August 24th 2024, 7:41pm

Claro CL-888.

Thanks, thats very specific :) I am asking more in terms of type of movement as in, automatic, hand-wound, quartz/eco drive. The Claro CL-888 is automatic with date complication, meaning you like the pilot watches fairly simple. Thanks for that! Noted.

bbattle wrote: ↑

August 25th 2024, 4:51am

ETA 2824-2 and Sellita SW200 I would prefer over an NH35 or Miyota 8-series.


But another vote for EcoDrive. No fuss, no muss. Available in a variety of calibers.

So Swiss automatics is prefered in your book. I take it rather as a 'dont go NH35 or Miyota 8-series' pointer :)
I have to agree personally those movements are a bit too affordable. I like to dance just over the line to premium movements.

May I ask why EcoDrive is sought after?

codguy wrote: ↑

August 25th 2024, 6:55am

Don't listen to them ↑

If if doesn't have the Elite 679 movement, it will just yet another cheap wannabee pilot watch (one that only connoisseurs of cheap watches will covent).

The Zenith caliber Elite 679 looks beautiful and has some impressive properties.. But hey, would you really buy an expensive watch from a new microbrand? I dont think so myself. Have to keep my prices to affordable limits I think.. my brand is not mature enough for luxury movements. Wouldnt you say?

What style of pilot watch are you interested in making? Simple like a Hamilton or Laco? Or something like the Citizen Skyhawk or the Alpina Startimer?

If your price point will be similar to that of the Arvet, why not just use Miyota 9-series again?

Any idea when the Arvet will start shipping to buyers such as myself?

Im thinking complications; sub dial seconds, power reserve and date. Numerals 1-12. In a style best compared with Alpina Startimer among your named ones.

The best would be to land around 500-600 usd for pricing..

I am happy I got your support. Thanks again for that.
We are on schedule with the production so shipping should start end of october. I dont want to give a date just yet, but I will as soon as I can. I put updates on the Kickstarter page, as well as posts in the facebook group "ALATO Watch Club". Feel free to apply to join the group, and dont hesitate to contact me on Facebook anytime.

ALATO wrote: ↑

August 25th 2024, 11:35am

bbattle wrote: ↑

August 25th 2024, 4:51am

ETA 2824-2 and Sellita SW200 I would prefer over an NH35 or Miyota 8-series.


But another vote for EcoDrive. No fuss, no muss. Available in a variety of calibers.

So Swiss automatics is prefered in your book. I take it rather as a 'dont go NH35 or Miyota 8-series' pointer :)
I have to agree personally those movements are a bit too affordable. I like to dance just over the line to premium movements.

May I ask why EcoDrive is sought after?

I am/was a mariner not an aviator, so just spitballing here.

Seems like priorities for a pilots watch intended to actually be used as such are accuracy, reliability/durability, and readability, in no particular order.

Quartz kills mechanical on accuracy and if going quartz, go solar, avoid battery BS. And Eco Drive seems to have the longest and widest history in solar quartz.


BTW, just speculating here, but seems like the one complication that might be useful to a pilot is chronograph but without a tachymeter.

Lo and behold, Citizen makes just such a ticket, the Chandler. The chrono seconds is in a subdial, the big second hand is current time. They go with mineral glass because it is more shatterproof, cosmetics be damned. 39mm case diameter, 11mm thickness, black, blue, white dial options, -300 USD MSRP but heavily discounted elsewhere.

Were I going out to touch the face of god this would be a strong contender for my timepiece. And if you are contemplating making a pilots watch optimized for a working pilots watch, look at this and ask yourself how would you improve upon it.

Now if your intent is making a connosseurial product for watch enthusiasts, and that is perfectly ok, that is an entirely different proposition.


The Citizen Chandler. This might have made its way to my wish list.

ALATO wrote: ↑

August 25th 2024, 11:35am

May I ask why EcoDrive is sought after?

There are 10,000 micro brand watches with affordable mechanical movements and they are all pretty much the same. And they're all compromised by having mechanical movements. Go for the best affordable movements available and give yourself a difference from the competition.

I don't need a new one. I like my old one.

WISenheimer and jesse_recliner made excellent points about EcoDrive; nobody on Kickstarter is making a watch with that movement.

smellody wrote: ↑

August 25th 2024, 7:32pm

I don't need a new one. I like my old one.

Wow, was that Lindbergh's watch?

jason_recliner wrote: ↑

August 25th 2024, 3:46pm

ALATO wrote: ↑

August 25th 2024, 11:35am

May I ask why EcoDrive is sought after?

There are 10,000 micro brand watches with affordable mechanical movements and they are all pretty much the same. And they're all compromised by having mechanical movements. Go for the best affordable movements available and give yourself a difference from the competition.

Of course it should be unique, totally agree with that. I rather choose movement based on design, than the other way around. I do have an idea for the concept of course.. the question is whether it should be self-winded or hand-wounded. EcoDrive is an interesting suggestion, but I cant seem to find a movement with the complications, in the right position, that I'm looking for. I'm looking for sub dial seconds at 9, power reserve at 6 and date at 3.

smellody wrote: ↑

August 25th 2024, 7:32pm

I don't need a new one. I like my old one.

Thats super cool! Worn and torn

bbattle wrote: ↑

August 26th 2024, 9:27am

WISenheimer and jesse_recliner made excellent points about EcoDrive; nobody on Kickstarter is making a watch with that movement.

Thats right. Have to agree. Choosing an EcoDrive movement would in itself be differentiating.. but there are also other movements rarely used by microbrands. But I hear you guys! :) EcoDrive is noted.

ALATO wrote: ↑

August 26th 2024, 12:01pm

I do have an idea for the concept of course.. the question is whether it should be self-winded or hand-wounded. EcoDrive is an interesting suggestion, but I cant seem to find a movement with the complications, in the right position, that I'm looking for. I'm looking for sub dial seconds at 9, power reserve at 6 and date at 3.

Sounds like you've already decided on a movement.

bbattle wrote: ↑

August 26th 2024, 9:28am

smellody wrote: ↑

August 25th 2024, 7:32pm

I don't need a new one. I like my old one.

Wow, was that Lindbergh's watch?

Robur the Conqueror’s watch more like. Got that steampunk vibe.