What is the general consensus on AVI-8 watches?

5 months ago by JakeSparkleChicken to c/watches

I'm looking to pick up my first automatic wristwatch after wearing a Casio AE-1000W for the last several years. I have a Dalvin manual wind pocket watch and bought my wife a Seiko Presage automatic, and I feel like making the leap for myself.

I'm looking for something that is more utilitarian, with a strap instead of a bracelet, and the same size or smaller compared to the Casio. The quality of the movement is most important to me, closely followed by build quality and durability. I have it narrowed down to a Timex Expedition Capstone, a Timex Expedition Field Post Titanium, a Seiko Automatic 5 Sports, and an AVI-8 Flyboy Wingman Worldtimer. I don't know anything about the AVI-8 brand, and any help would be appreciated!

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roserose56 2 points 5 months ago

AVI-8 sells mostly pilot watches, which in my opinion are beautiful ones. Most of the watches have mechanisms on them(from what I have seen), which means are no different from other watches in that market(micro-brand).

Be careful because they also sell quartz ones . I just checked and I do see Airmaster GMT Automatic, 3775A Automatic and Wingman Worldtimer GMT Automatic.

Any particular watch from AVI-8 that you like?

Fratelo has done a hands on ln 2775A automatic. https://www.fratellowatches.com/...

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JakeSparkleChicken 2 points 5 months ago

Thank you! The Wingman Worldtimer is the one that I'm looking at, but I think I'm leaning more towards the titanium Timex. Shock resistance is an added benefit, as is the tougher construction. Not that I do anything too adventurous, but I am one hell of a klutz. The AVI-8 sure is a pretty watch, though!

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roserose56 3 points 5 months ago

So let's do a bit of a dive, because beauty can be one factor, but mechanism does the job.

The wingman has a Seiko instruments NH34 mechanisms, with 41 power reserve, anti shock, Central hours, Central minutes, Central sweeping seconds, GMT and a date window at 3:00 o'clock.

The miyota caliber 8215, has 42 hours power reserve, and shock system.

See here for more information. https://calibercorner.com/seiko-caliber-nh34/ https://calibercorner.com/miyota-caliber-8215/

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JakeSparkleChicken 2 points 5 months ago

That is an amazing site! Thank you so much for the links!

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