Avi-8 Flyboy Engineer Automatic Review - This is what VALUE Looks Like
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The perfect budget pilot watch…does it exist? Probably not. Nevertheless, the watch featured in this post gets pretty close, as far as I’m concerned.
So, let’s turn back the clock to early 2020. The UK has just been plunged into lockdown and the cabin fever had already begun. A parcel shows up. I take a look inside and it turns out to be a new watch from Avi-8. Several weeks later, that Spitfire Type 300 went on to receive some high praise from me; as it seemed like a very solid, albeit experimental watch.
A couple of months down the line, I took a look a look at another one of the brands under the same ‘Dartmouth Brands’ umbrella – Spinnaker. That review wasn’t quite as positive. Although the build quality was there, the aesthetics certainly weren’t. I felt like the design was a bit of a mess. I wouldn’t have spent my own money on that one.
They got back in touch more recently, for a third bite of the cherry. This time boasting an Avi-8 watch that, from the product renderings, looked even better than the Spitfire I looked at previously. This one looked a little more like a traditional Flieger, with more subtle touches of aviation heritage sprinkled in there.
That takes us to today. I’ve had this new Avi-8 Flyboy Engineer automatic for a few weeks now and I’ve been giving it a shot to see how it compares to those previous offerings. Here’s the rundown.
Packaging
The watch came in the same cool, canvas-look box as most other Avi-8 models. This looks great but isn’t flashy enough to make me think money has been needlessly wasted on the packaging, rather than the watch itself.
Watch Dimensions
What surprised me is that the size is virtually identical to that Spitfire, despite feeling noticeably smaller. You have a 41.9mm diameter, 13.4mm depth and 50mm lug to lug; which are fairly traditional proportions for a Pilot’s watch. I imagine it’s a combination of the colour, dial width and sleeker case design that give me that impression. It’s a shame I have such thin wrists, because outside of the size, this piece is very comfortable and really doesn’t wobble around when fitted.
This model is available in 3 colours at the time of recording and they shipped me the appropriately named ‘Mitchell’ – which is the blue dial variant. As you might expect, the case is constructed of 316L stainless steel, which is displayed in a primarily brushed finish with the signature Avi-8 glossy bevelled edges approaching the lugs. Overall, the case just looks leaner than its predecessor, which had a certain bulk to it.
Case and Crown
The notched case-back provides an adequate 50m of water resistance, though given the thickness of the rear, I’m somewhat disappointed that the performance isn’t a little stronger. Nevertheless, I love the embossed Flyboy icon; which features the classic 20th century fighter pilot imagery that the brand is known for. Very cool indeed.
Keeping on-theme is the large antique-style, conical crown; akin to that on vintage aviation watches from the period. Unsurprisingly, this is a dream when it comes to usage. It’s very grippy and responsive, though does jut out substantially and the lack of crown guards mean it could be exposed to heavy impacts. Regardless, it definitely suits the watch well and even features the same target insignia that reappears on the second hand. If you’re interested in purchasing the AVI-8 Flyboy, then please feel free to use my discount code of ‘BENJAMINARTHUR20’ for 20% off your next purchase.
Bracelet
A standout feature of this Flyboy is the stainless-steel bracelet. If you’ve read multiple Ben’s Watch Club articles, you’ll know that affordable watches tend to cut some corners; a typical area being the strap. I have to say, Avi-8 have showcased once more that they go against the grain, providing us with an absolutely fantastic Engineer bracelet, that not only looks the part but feels absolutely solid too.
This one is comprised of solid links throughout and has a fully brushed finish, matching that of the main case. The milled clasp has three micro-adjustments and is among the sturdiest I have come across, with a very firm mechanism, which definitely won’t come loose when secured. Even the solid end links integrate beautifully with the lugs, featuring the same directional brushing and curvature. For a watch under £250, this is as good as it gets. Most other brands would just chuck a rubbish strap on this watch and then sell this as a £50 extra, however, Avi-8 have provided you with the perfect companion to the watch right off the bat. Great work.
I wouldn’t blame you for guessing that the rest of the watch must have suffered as a consequence of spending more on the bracelet. Fortunately, I can tell you that it doesn’t seem to be the case. In fact, the fun continues.
Watch Dial
Over the dial, there is a piece of domed, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, with an anti-reflective coating. The blue tinge that you get with that coating also compliments the piece very nicely, considering the colourway. Distortion is very obvious as you tilt the watch, just like that on the Spitfire. This is just the stuff I look for, so it’s bang on the money.
Well, well, well, is this dial a shift from the Spinnaker. That watch was ugly, this one looks lovely. I’m really pleased they sent me this colourway, as I reckon this is the best-looking model, though I like the green option too.
You have a base colour of deep blue at the centre, which transitions into a matte black towards the circumference. The macro texture carries over from the Spinnaker I reviewed, but looks more at home here, as it is complimented by the white text and details. I really enjoy the way this face plays with the light, as the blue portion really comes through in brighter environments.
Towards the centre, you have a slim crosshair, the inspiration for which is fairly obvious. The raised minute track is very simple, with thick rectangular markers at each hour; the legibility of which is matched by the bold, raised integers that help showcase the time. There’s also an inner 24-hour ring and some subtle Flyboy branding above the 6 o’clock position. On paper it sounds like there is a lot going on, but I’m pleased at how well it has come together. For me, it doesn’t look too cluttered or overbearing, in fact far from it.
I also like the dark date window. It perhaps sits more centrally than some other watches, though it occupies the area that would have been taken up by both number rings. While the look is not perfectly symmetrical, the date wheel still blends in very well with the grey/black dial edges.
Inhabiting the central stem is a fairly typical Flieger handset, with the black centre and highly visible white filling. While perhaps not quite as easy to read as the Spitfire, you are still not going to have any problems reading this. That also extends to low-light situations, as this Flyboy Engineer has fairly good luminescence across the markers and hands. It’s very strong at first, though its strength does fade rather quickly.
You’ll also see an unusual second hand beating along. This is a little like a lollipop hand, but features a target icon within the circle; the tip then extends right out to the markers, which is nice to see.
Movement
This is powered by the Seiko NH35 movement within, which is a fairly standard workhorse movement that is great for a watch at this price range, considering the rest of the package. It features hacking and hand winding, not found in the lower-end 7S26, whilst maintaining a similar overall accuracy per day. This has a beat-rate of 21,600 per hour or 6 beats per second; which does give a semblance of smoothness to the tick. I’m sure you can google the movement to find other specifics if you’re interested.
Summary
If someone said to me ‘military-themed aviation watch’, this Avi-8 is about what I would hope they were thinking of. With this watch, you get hints of the aeronautical theming without it dominating the overall aesthetic and you’re left with a watch that is very wearable as an everyday watch; whether you have an interest in flight or not. This strikes the balance even better than the previous watch I looked at, which was far from bad itself. It’s an interesting take on the classic Flieger design, which is certainly worth considering. If you’re interested in the Flyboy, please use my personal discount code of ‘BENJAMINARTHUR20’ for 20% off your next purchase with AVI-8.
