F86-A17 ANNIVERSARY A17 PILOT "Dragon Lady" - UNIQUE PIECE

Regular price CHF 1,450.00
Sale price CHF 1,450.00 Regular price
Tax included.

MIL-W-6433 compliant
Automatic mechanical
Soprod M100 Swiss made movement

40mm diameter
316L Stainless steel black DLC coated
Domed sapphire crystal
Screw-in crown and case-back
10ATM | 330ft | 100m water-resistant
White X1 grade Superluminova® luminous
Military green synthetic tactical strap
77th Anniversary F86-A17 engraving
Swiss made

Net price

Free delivery. VAT and duties included

5 Years

International warranty

14 days

Right of return

Secure

100% secure payment

THE ANNIVERSARY ENGRAVING

Since the very beginning the A17 case-back features the US Army military procuerement data on the case back. A very appreciated singularity by watch enthusiasts all over the world.

For this 77th Anniversary edition the mention "77 Years F86-A16" has been specially engraved.

Only this Waltham A17 PILOT "Dragon Lady" watch will ever carry this engraving.

PILOT WATCH

Designed specifically for pilots by Waltham, high precision and a perfect dial legibility through graphical rigor and highly contrasting colors define the A17 PILOT. Developed in the 1940s as a navigational instrument for jet pilots, it has since become the archetype for aviation tool watch design.

The U2 pilot's watch

The A17 became the U2 pilot's ordnance watch in the 1950's. The 24h military time scale was especially important to time their observation missions. This special A17 model is inspired by this first, all black, stealth aircraft nicknamed "Dragon Lady".

MIL-W-6433

On December 31, 1948  the USAF Equipment Laboratory Engineering Division, sent out a letter to the Waltham Watch Company and other watch brands asking for their comments on Specification n° 21277. This specification would later be known as MIL-W-6433. 

A tender issued to the Elgin National Watch Company, the Hamilton Watch Company, the Bulova Watch Company, the Gruen Watch Company and, the Longines-Wittnauer Watch Company. In the end the United States Air Force chose to exclusively use the Waltham Watch Company for their new Type A17 Pilot’s watch.

A legend was born on March 23, 1951 when Mil Spec MIL-W-6433 was approved for the Waltham Type A17.  

LOLLIPOP

The counterweight of the central seconds hand of the A-17 had a distinctive shape which came to be called the lollipop hand. The A-17 was the first military watch to feature this particular hand design.

24H military time

In the military world, a slight confusion about time interpretation can be fatal. Therefore, the military had to improvise a time system that reduces any chances of ambiguity. This brought the adoption of the military time system also known as the 24 hour clock system.

When on March 23, 1951 Mil Spec MIL-W-6433 was adopted by the USAF for the Waltham A-17 it did in fact feature a 24 hour dial. This watch was intended as a navigation timepiece for pilots.

symmetry

The A17 was a resolutely utilitarian tool watch for pilots. However,  It featured one very sophisticated design element. The knurled bezel and the knurled case-back profile were perfectly symmetrical.This interesting design element has been mantained in the A17NG.

Why should you own this watch?

1st American Pilot Watch

The A17 became the first American pilot watch when it entered into service in 1951. This makes it a historically significant and collectible watch.

MILSPEC

The watch is specified according to 1948 MIL-W-6433 by the munitions board of the U.S. Department of defence. American technological heritage at its best.

Symmetrical design

Unlike any other watch, the A17NG has a unique symmetrically shaped case where the bezel and the case-back have exactly the same shape and proportions.

Slim Movement

The A17NG's W100 automatic 3 hands movement is just 3.60mm high and is regulated for very high precision with a middle rate of +4s/-4s per day.

The movement

Movement
Swiss made Soprod M100 
R4 regulation level: +4s/-4s per day and a maximum divergence in all positions of 15s/day.
Movement height 3.60mm
Swiss made

Functions
Hours, minutes, central seconds

Jewels
25

Winding
Mechanical, self-winding, 28’800 bhp/4Hz

Power Reserve
42 hours

Specifications

Type of Production

Swiss made
In-house production

Production quality level

Top grade

Case Size

40mm

Case Features
  • 316L (1.4404) stainless steel 
  • Symmetric threaded bezel and case-back
  • Domed scratch-proof sapphire crystal
  • Triple layer anti-reflective coating underneath the crystal
  • Engraved case-back 
Finishes

Polished lugs, vertical brushed case-body, polished bezel with sanblasted indents, polished crown with sandblasted indents

Dial
  • Matt dial
  • Thick painted (1.5mm) X1 grade Superluminova®  luminous print on numerals, hour indexes, H/M/S hands
Strap

Military Cordura® tactical strap with polished 316L (1.4404) stainless steel pin buckle

Strap width

20-20mm

Water Resistance

10 ATM | 333ft | 100m