A Closer Look at The Perrelet Turbine Pilot Watch

Perrelet is a watchmaker that has been in business since the 1770s. With well over two centuries of dedication to their craft, the brand has evolved into one of the oldest watchmaking institutions in the world today. Founded by Abraham-Louis Perrelet, he is the genius that developed the automatic, also known as the self-winding movement. To this day, the Perrelet legacy continues with some of the most unique and well-crafted timepieces the world has seen. One such example is a whimsical example called the Perrelet Turbine Pilot watch. Granted it’s not a design that would appeal to everyone, but it does have merit that makes it deserving of a closer examination of its magnificent features. Here is everything you need to know about this classic, expensive watch.

The Perrelet Turbine Pilot Watch in review

A Blog to Watch highlights the whimsical features of the Perrelet Turbine Pilot watch with direct attention to the spinning dial of the piece. At a glance, this is the feature that first catches the eye. The design dates back to 2009 when it was first released in its original iteration as a member of the Spanish Festina Group’s influence was seen on the brand. A rebranding was taking place at the time, and Perrelet watches became a part of the parent company that granted a visual refresh to its pieces. The Perrelet Turbine Pilot is a piece that was offered in 2014, and it made a big impression, in part, due to its large size. It’s a watch for those with larger wrists, however, it sits on the wrist more comfortably than one would first imagine. To get to the heart of the matter, we now take a lot of the finer details and specifications that set this timepiece apart from the rest.

Specifications of the Perrelet Turbine Pilot watch

Perrelet maintains a solid inventory of the Turbine Pilot collection of watches, which are bespoke and customizable to suit the particular tastes of the buyer. Some generalities apply to all versions, including the rotating bezel with a circular slide rule, essentials for aviators. Notable features are the distinctive fluted pattern on the cases that give them a sporty and masculine personality, definitely a man’s watch. The bezel features a bidirectional rotating ring that is activated by a crown that is neatly positioned at the 3 o’clock area. An additional crown is placed at 9 o’clock and is used for setting the time. The case is made of premium stainless steel material with a black PVD coating. It measures a generous 48 mm in width with a thickness of 13.48 mm for a chunky profile. The neo-vintage styling gives a nod to the past while offering up a few modern twists.

The case is designed to resemble elements of a jet engine for an airplane, and this is where the whimsy comes in. The foldout crown turner is mostly for aesthetics, and it adds to the fun of the timepiece. The case back is also noteworthy as this watch is almost as much fun when you flip it over as it is from the frontal view. It features an exhibition-style case back made of genuine sapphire crystal, noted for its scratch-resistance and amazing clarity. It makes it easy to view the inner workings of the mechanical movement beneath. The dial is fun to watch with its rotor-mounted turbine spinning action. It’s an attractive watch face with a background of black with a few yellow accents. The hour markers are applied in a manner that allows a view of the quickly moving turbine rotor blades beneath. The dial is also protected with a sapphire crystal to protect it from moisture and dust contamination.

The movement

The Perrelet Turbine Pilot Watch is powered with an in-house caliber P-33 -MH automatic movement. It’s the creation of the group company Soprod. The powerplant beats at 4 Hz with a power reserve of 42 hours. The movement is COSC chronometer-certified, so you know that the time it keeps is accurate. Perrelet has made a few attractive engravings on the automatic rotor that are visible through the exhibition case on the back. It’s also worth noting that the front sapphire crystal is treated with an anti-reflective coating that reduces the glare of bright lights to enhance the overall legibility of the dial. It is also slightly domed whereas the crystal in the back is flat.

The strap

The strap of the Perrelet Turbine Pilot is constructed of black rubber material with a leather liner on the inside that makes it exceptionally comfortable against the skin. Although one could wear the rubber strap in the water, it’s not recommended. The strap would survive quite well, but the rest of the timepiece is only water-resistant up to 50 meters. It’s not worth taking the chance of submerging it in water.

Pricing and availability

The Perrelet Turbine Pilot watch is currently in stock and available directly through the official Perrelet website. You can order it with a choice of straps that range from black rubber that has the appearance of black leather alligator skin, a smooth black strap, or a sporty camo edition. The cost of the Turbine Pilot is 4,980 Euros.

Final thoughts

The Perrelet Turbine Pilot is a high-end pilot’s watch that has been taken the extra mile for delivering a unique and whimsical pilot’s watch with the slide rule and other features that make it a sporty aviator’s timepiece. It’s not just for pilots though. It’s good for everyday wear unless you plan to go diving. In that case, leave it home. It’s not terribly water resistant but it is one of the most novel pilot’s watches we’ve seen to date. Don’t let the fun dial distract you. This is a high-end watch that is suitable for wear with sporty or casual attire and for everyday use. It’s likely to catch a lot of attention from casual onlookers.

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