Archimede Pilot 42 H Bronze BL.B with blue dial

Archimede have transferred the classic pilot’s watch style to a colourful dial, in two case versions, stainless steel and bronze. I love the combination of blue dial, brushed bronze case with narrow bezel, and light brown strap: a strong, attractive, youthful look. The Archimede Pilot 42 H Bronze BL.B is 42 mm in diameter, slim enough at 9.9 mm, with a water resistance of 5 atm. Dial markings are coated with SuperLuminova, and the watch has a flat watchglass in sapphire crystal.

Archimede Pilot 42 H Bronze BL.B

A living case

The bronze version has a case made by Ickler, part of the group owning Archimede, in CuSn8, an alloy of copper and tin. This is a remarkable material, because it is corrosion-resistant – and therefore used for underwater applications such as ship propellers – and develops a darkish patina over time that gives the watch a tough, rugged look. The watch acquires its own life and personality depending on how you use it. The bronze versions have a caseback surround in stainless steel to avoid the bronze staining the skin.

Archimede Pilot 42 H Bronze BL.B

Swiss automatic movement

The movement is the Swiss-made ETA 2824-2, self-winding, 38 hours power reserve. The crown has the distinctive conical shape, and it provides the stop-second function: stopping the balance when pulled out to the time-setting position.

Archimede Pilot 42 H Bronze BL.B caseback

Prices

The Archimede Pilot 42 H Bronze BL.B is available in a range of options. The piece shown here, with bronze case and blue, grey, black or light brown strap, costs €900 inclusive of tax. With a stainless steel case it costs €660. It is also available with a branded dial (with the texts Archimede and Automatic) and a date window, at the same prices. Versions with red or white dials are available, and you can personalize the watches with engravings on the caseback surround, a solid caseback, a domed watchglass, the addition of the traditional “FL23883” engraving on the caseband, and a more elaborate Archimede oscillating weight. See the Archimede website for more details. More pilot’s watch reviews here.

Archimede Pilot 42

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