AVI-8 Spitfire Smith Automatic Watch

It is clear that the guys at AVI-8 are heavily inspired by the world of aviation and aircraft so it stands to reason that they’ve come up with a timepiece that celebrates the achievements of the man who created the iconic Spitfire Aircraft. Say hello to the Spitfire Smith Automatic Watch. It is a beautifully engineered pilot’s timepiece that has been designed to celebrate the innovative and inspirational work of Joseph Smith, who as Chief Designer at Supermarine, ultimately guided the development of the Spitfire to becoming the majestic aircraft we know today.

Priced at £275, the AVI-8 Spitfire Smith Automatic Watch is great value and delivers an impactful aesthetic on the wrist. Available in four different versions – namely, the Woolston, the Birmingham, the Salisbury and the Reading – this striking offering from AVI-8 is cleared for take off to be the next watch on your wrist in 2022. The frame of this watch is built from the brand’s iconic 42mm Spitfire inspired case, designed to reflect the renowned elliptical form of the aircraft and this adds a real air of authenticity to proceedings.

CELEBRATING AN ICON

The brushed case of the AVI-8 Spitfire Smith Automatic Watch features unique details along the side mirroring the body of the Spitfire, and a domed sapphire lens tops the case which delivers a clear view into the dial itself. The Smith Automatic leans on the Spitfire’s cockpit instruments to present an extremely legible dial that has been finished off with bold Arabic hour indexes lathered in Swiss lume for enhanced visibility in low light conditions.

There are plenty of neat little design features to the Spitfire Smith Automatic Watch from AVI-8 that set it apart from the competition. Not least the fact that is has “K9787”, the military serial for the first Spitfire delivered to a squadron, subtly stamped at the 6H position. Under the hood, this classy timepiece uses a modified NH35 Japanese automatic movement that provides an ultra-reliable timekeeping experience. An expertly designed custom rotor has been crafted to represent the clear lines of the Spitfire when viewed from above, or below.

Strapping the watch to the wrist is a vintage, hand-stitched premium leather strap which delivers the ultimate in both style and comfort. Each of the colourways of the Spitfire Smith Automatic from AVI-8 are directly inspired by locations of manufacturing plants where Spitfire’s and their components were produced over the years which is another nod to the important work they did. After a timepiece that celebrates the iconic Spitfire? They don’t come much better than this.

Leo Davie