Grenchen-based watchmaker Fortis launched a new “Flieger” aviator chronograph in stainless steel this week.

The Flieger F-43 Bicompax is a pilot’s watch with a bicompax two-register layout with a dial that’s been designed to be easy to read — like all Flieger or B-Uhr watches.

Under new ownership since 2018, Fortis has a history tied to aviation and even space, and this is presumably one of the first new aesthetical changes to come following the takeover.

At 43 mm by an estimated 16 mm in thickness, the watch is relatively large and has a flat retro-style steel crown along with shaped pushers with an anti-slip pattern at the end of each.

The symmetry of the matte black dial, thanks to dual registers and a date window right down the middle at 6 o’clock, along with the generous use of lume and orange accent colors, creates a distinctive look that’s both attractive and easy to read.

A stainless steel bi-directional bezel with 24-clicks and 12-hour graduations engraved and filled with black can perform a number of calculations, such as keeping track of an additional timezone. Uniquely — although difficult to see in most of the images — the bezel is very tall and slopes downward from the outer edge inwards at a very significant angle. This protects the sapphire glass on the dial side but also makes the watch very thick on the wrist.

The Flieger F-43 Bicompax uses an outsourced Swiss-made automatic SW510 Sellita chronograph movement that beats at 4Hz, has 27 jewels, and a power reserve of 48-hours. The watch displays hours, minutes, seconds, and a 30-minute chronograph.

A vegetable-tanned cowhide leather strap version is available for approximately $3,150 and the stainless steel bracelet variant retails for approximately $3,600.

 

Photos by Fortis.