Jewellery & Watch News
The recently revived Flieger collection marked a new direction for Swiss watch manufacturer Fortis after they were taken under the wing of Jupp Phillip in 2018. Following it’s launch, the series saw the release of some fantastic tool watches beautifully reviving the brand’s long-term connections with the aviation and space exploration industries. Alongside the likes of the F-43 Bicompax watch, a Triple GMT and duo of Automatic time-and-date models, the Fortis Flieger family now welcomes a new pairing of Fortis Flieger Midnight Blue watches, the F39 with a 39mm case and the F41 with a 41mm case.
Before we go into what’s new, let’s quickly discuss all the essential Fortis Flieger elements that remain within the new Midnight Blue F39 and F41 watches. As their name suggests, the 39mm and 41mm case sizes are ideal proportions for the average wrist size with the 39mm model suiting those of a classic taste and the 41mm temping wrists suited to slightly bulkier cases. Their profiles are identical in shape, retaining the familiar blocky aesthetic, angular lugs and robust 200 metre water resistant rating of previous Flieger models. The water resistance in particular is always a pleasant surprise for us, despite it being offering in similar models, since it is such a rare sight in a pilots watch.
For the first time in the Flieger series, the Flieger Midnight Blue F39 & F41 watches are engineered from brushed recycled stainless steel and the Indigo leather straps are crafted from sustainable resources, olive leaf tanned and handmade in Germany. It’s always a nice touch when large names like Fortis acknowledge the need for more sustainable watchmaking materials. The same recycled steel is used on the screw down crown, the case back and the bezel. The bezel is bi-directional and graduated, detailed with a black 12-hour scale which could be used as a timer or a dual-time display, and offers exactly 24 clicks.
The bezel frames sapphire crystal glass which is coated on both sides by anti-reflective treatment to provide easily legibility and protection of the new coloured dials beneath. Dressed in a gorgeous dark blue, the dials preserve all the utilitarian properties of Fortis’ iconic Flieger with generous helpings of white Superluminova, vivid fluor orange accents and large sword-shaped hands. Like the other redefined Fortis Flieger watches launched since 2018, the new Midnight Blue F39 and F41 editions also come with two unique functions. The first is named “Synchroline” and is the five-second orange-coloured visual indicator at 12 o’clock designed to help pilots sync up in flight. The second is “BRIXTRACK”, a luminous compound named after it’s brick-shape used on the indexes for high contrast legibility in all conditions.
Completing the Fortis Flieger Midnight Blue F39 and F41 watches is the UW-30 automatic winding movement which is kept hidden behind the screwed and engraved case back. Based on the Sellita SW 200-1, the movement is the very same that powers the two black-dialled F-41 and F-39 Automatic watches and delivers identical functions for the hours, minutes, seconds and date. We are also promised a power reserve of 38 hours and a solid frequency of 28,800bph.
If you’d like to learn more about the Fortis Flieger Midnight Blue F39 and F41 watches, head over to the C W Sellors website here. Alternatively, get in touch with our talented team of luxury watch experts by calling 01335 453453 or message sales@cwsellors.com.
Specifications: Fortis Flieger Midnight Blue F39 & F41 Watches (F4220011, F4220013)
- Case Size: 39mm or 41mm
- Case Material: Recycled stainless steel
- Bezel: Fixed, 12 hour scale with 24 clicks
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides
- Crown: Screw down
- Case Back: Closed
- Water Resistance: 200 metres
- Movement: UW-30 automatic winding movement
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Jewels: 26
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Midnight blue with Superluminova and Brixtrack markers, orange accents and Synchroline at 12H
- Strap: Indigo leather in grey-blue, olive leaf tanned, genuine cow leather from sustainable production
- Buckle: Pin
- RRP: £1,750
