Introducing The Fratello × Fortis Flieger F-43 Bicompax

The new Fratello × Fortis Flieger F-43 Bicompax is a 43mm thick pilot's chronograph with a 55mm lug-to-lug, measuring 15mm. It's got 200m of water resistance so if you decide to go for a swim instead of up in the sky, you're covered there too. The brown dial features a brushed grain texture, finished with a bold outer minute track with luminous material at five-minute intervals, running seconds at nine o'clock and 30-minute totalizer at three o'clock. There's also a coin-edge, bidirectional 12-hour rotating bezel with 24 clicks to track a second 12-hour time zone.

The watch has a Fortis UW-51 Performance (Sellita SW510 base) movement with ~48 hours of power reserve. All-in, the watch costs €2,980 excluding VAT. And the best part is that if you're the kind of person who regrets missing out on something three months after the release, you're covered. There are 25 pieces of the Fratello × Fortis Flieger F-43 Bicompax Umber Brown Capsule Edition available to ship immediately. After that, another 25 further pieces will be available within 1 to 2 weeks and the next batch of 50 will take around 6 months to build and ship, meaning the capsule collection will continue to be available.

While I haven't gotten a chance to see this watch in person, it certainly looks like it does the "Flieger" design to a "T." It's big, bold, and legible, which is pretty much the key to a good flight chronograph.

I have strong views about pilot watches and one of my key points is that they have to have a chronograph to be useful in the cockpit. God forbid you get stuck in a situation where you have no visual point of reference but have to calculate speed, distance, and measure your turns. You at least need a chronograph. This one looks plenty legible in the pictures and the lume seems bold enough that I would feel comfortable in a pinch if I had to rely on it.

The brushed wood-texture dial adds to the feeling that this ins't a vintage watch but a watch that appreciates a vintage era. My only qualm is that by being large in diameter, I would have hoped it would be a bit thinner. It's very thick at 15mm, though maybe it wears better on the wrist. Either way, it's a fun and relatively affordable release from our friends at Fratello. 

Brand: Fortis
Model: Fratello × Fortis Flieger F-43 Bicompax

Diameter: 43mm with 55mm lug-to-lug
Thickness: 15mm
Case Material: Recycled Stainless Steel
Dial Color: Umber brown with vertical brushed texture
Lume: Unknown
Water Resistance: 200m
Strap/Bracelet: Brown Hybrid FKM/fabric strap with pin buckle with 21mm lug width

Caliber: Fortis UW-51 Performance (Sellita SW510 base)
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph, date
Power Reserve: Approximately 48 hours
Winding: Automatic

Price: €2,980, excluding VAT
Availability: Permanently in the Fratello Shop
Limited Edition: 25 pieces of the Fratello × Fortis Flieger F-43 Bicompax Umber Brown Capsule Edition are available to ship immediately, with another 25 further pieces available within 1 to 2 weeks. Further batches of 50 watches will take around 6 months to build and ship.

For more, click here.