Avi-8 P-51 Mustang Tuskegee Airman 85th Anniversary
The Tuskegee Airmen are a legend of aviation history, pioneering African American pilots that served in WWII. So, as we approach the 85th anniversary of their trailblazing legacy, the 99th Pursuit Squadron are of course being honoured in watch form by Avi-8. Using the brand’s uncompromising P-51 Mustang pilots’ watch as a base, this new limited edition drapes the chunky, 43mm instrument in the squadron’s iconic red and yellow against a utilitarian matte black dial. The result is a big, bold, good-looking watch with a ‘if you know, you know’ nod to military aviation. The star and stripes rotor is a little more on-the-nose but by the point anyone sees that, you’re likely already telling them the story behind it.
Price and Specs:
More details at AVI-8.
Ixdao Warrior
Just when I think we’re reaching integrated bracelet saturation point, yet another cool variation comes out – this time from Chinese brand Ixdao. The case and bracelet are very Laureato-adjacent, so nothing new there, but the dial is something else entirely. Made from CNC-machined mother-of-pearl, it’s intricate, iridescent and meant (successfully) to evoke ancient Chinese armour. It actually suits the svelte sports chic case to a tee and, backed by a Japanese automatic movement, is an impulse buy if ever I’ve seen one.
Price and Specs:
More details at Ixdao.
OLTO-8 Chrono Gate
Jump Hours have been in the limelight over the last 12 months, but OLTO-8’s twist on the format is an entirely different affair. Rather than one number that hops through the hours one after another, here every number jumps once, switching from showing zero to 11 to 12 to 24. In short, it’s a 24-hour display that looks like a classic 12-hour and I love it. It’s fun, genuinely inventive and finished with a classy amount of guilloche. It’s also almost frustratingly affordable.
Price and Specs:
More details at OLTO-8.
Enchant Canadian Nord
Canada is home to two amazing things: poutine and spectacular landscapes. And while I’ve yet to come across a watch channelling gravy and chips (more’s the pity), the debut collection from Canadian microbrand Enchant nails the landscapes. The Forest Green in particular is a deep, beautiful colour that works really well with the classical, small-seconds layout. At 44mm, it might be a bit bigger than you’d expect, but that just gives more space for that verdant sunburst of colour. Oh, and if the grain of the strap eludes you, that’s because it’s beaver tail. Could you get more Canadian than that?
Price and Specs:
More details at Enchant Watches.
Vario Versa 2
Watch flipping without the negative connotations, Vario’s Versa is a novel and incredibly accessible alternative to the legendary Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. A combination of Streamline Moderne good looks and a rectangular case that’s far too much fun to play around with, the Versa is now available in a couple of cool new colours. On the one hand you have a green with Eastern Arabic numerals with a gunmetal second dial on its reverse; on the other a Chinese-oriented year-of-the-horse red with some beautiful calligraphy, paired with bright silver on the other side. It’s up to you whether you want a taste of the East or something a little bit more Western.
£325, limited to 100 pieces in each colour,
