As the world became more connected through new travel and transport options in the early 20th century, Fortis rose to the challenge. We focused on crafting watches that were not just robust, but also highly legible, meeting the demands of this new era of exploration.
Lady Grace Drummond-Hay, a British journalist, wore the world’s first automatic watch – the Harwood by Fortis – on the first global circumnavigation aboard a Zeppelin LZ 127. The flight took place in several stages from August 1 to September 4, 1929 in an easterly direction.
Lady Drummond-Hay’s journey inspired Walter Vogt to create pilot’s watches in the following decades.
Twenty-five years after the first automatic watch left the Fortis factory, we introduced the anniversary model, our first pilot-inspired watch.
Characteristic of the pilot’s watches of the time was the simple, functional dial designed for practicality.
Inspired by the functional designs of the WWII B-Uhr (“Beobachtungsuhr” or “Observation Watch”), Fortis launched the Quartz Sky-Watch. This was quickly followed by an automatic version based on the same design, setting a trend for B-Uhr inspired watches.
Precision is non-negotiable, especially when the air gets thinner. For decades, we’ve been committed to equipping pilots around the world with Flieger watches that epitomize robustness, ultimate readability, design elegance, and unparalleled accuracy.
Some of the world’s best military and aerobatic pilots, as well as elite squadrons, have chosen Fortis watches as their official timekeeping instruments for their unparalleled reliability and robustness. Further elevating our commitment, several models have been inspired, designed, and developed in close collaboration with these professionals to meet their specific needs and requirements.
Dynamism – Elegance – Precision.
For more than three decades now, the PC-7 TEAM has stood for dynamism, elegance and precision, showing the population the high level of training and performance of the Swiss Armed Forces .
The PC-7 TEAM is the aerobatic display team of the Swiss Air Force for more than three decades. The team performs precision formations and manoeuvres at air shows and public events throughout Switzerland and other countries.
The members of the team are all experienced pilots from the Swiss Air Force, carefully selected for their flying skills and professionalism.
The PC-7 TEAM‘s displays showcase the skills and professionalism of Swiss AirForce pilots, as well as the capabilities of the aircraft they fly.
Fortis Watches is collaborating with the PC-7 TEAM to showcase their shared dedication to precision, craftsmanship, and high-performance, as both the elite aerobatic team and Fortis embody these qualities in their respective fields.
The partnership between Fortis and the PC-7 TEAM has spanned 25 years, and this latest release is a testament to their enduring collaboration.
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