Avi-8 Watches Review
When it comes to buying a wristwatch, everyone has different needs and tastes. Some people like a time-only piece that’s useful at work. Others like fancy, bling-laden watches with precious metals and gemstones. Some want complications and elaborate mechanical complications. Still others like utility, or the appearance of utility.
If you fall into the last group, you may find Avi-8 watches to be right up your alley. The watches are made in Britain and are inspired by British aircraft of World War II. They’re all essentially pilot’s watches in appearance, though not necessarily in function. Some models have additional complications that will be useful to pilots, and others are time-only.
All of them, however, have the look of a classic pilot’s watch, and they’re sold at an affordable price point, too.
Read on for the full Avi-8 watches review.
Build Quality
Movements
Innovation
Styling and Features
Care and Maintenance
Warranty
Prices
Where to Buy
Summary
Avi-8 Watches Build Quality
The build quality is more than adequate. The company uses 316L stainless steel for their cases, and leather or stainless steel for their straps and bracelets. The watch face is protected by mineral crystal, and most (perhaps all) models are rated at 50 meters of water resistance.
This is adequate for swimming, though you won’t want to go diving with them. Then again, if you have a model with a leather strap, you likely wouldn’t want to do that anyway.
While the timepieces are made in Great Britain, they’re assembled using movements sourced from Miyota in Japan. Miyota is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of watch movements, and they have a history of making accurate, reliable timepieces.
You’ll find that their watches offer both electronic quartz movements as well as automatic mechanical movements, so there’s likely to be something for everyone in the product line.
Click here to shop for Avi-8 watches at Amazon.
The innovation found in this brand is mostly about styling, rather than cutting-edge features. All watches in the product line have a pilot watch look that’s inspired by the military. Many have day/date complications, but you won’t necessarily find them displayed in the usual way. The Hawker Hunter model, for instance, displays the day and date via a rotating turbine, just to add some distinction to what is ordinarily a routine display of numbers.
As we have already mentioned, you’ll find that all of these timepieces all have a military or aviation look to them. As far as we know, the company only makes watches for men, that is, there aren’t any models specifically listed as women’s watches. Of course, anyone can wear any watch they like, though the cases sizes tend to the large size, in the 40-45mm range.
A few models, such as the aforementioned Hawker Hunter have non-round cases; in the case of the Hawker Hunter, it’s octagonal. A number of models are time-only, but others include a day/date complication, chronograph features, or a tachymeter around the bezel.
The chronograph models tend to be powered by quartz movements; most of the watches with automatic movements are time-only, though some have a separate dial to indicate seconds.
You won’t find a lot of color here; they’re mostly silver, black and brown, and band/straps are available in those colors, as well.
Care and maintenance of Avi-8 watches is straightforward, especially if you buy a model with a quartz movement. In that case, you’ll just need to replace the battery every few years. Mechanical models may need occasional cleaning every few years, though we didn’t see any specific recommendations about that on the company Website.
As with all timepieces, you should store watch away from extremes of temperature and strong magnetic fields, as both can damage the movement. With proper care, your watch should run well for years to come.
When you buy Avi-8 watches, you’ll receive the industry standard warranty. Your purchase is warranted against defects in materials and craftsmanship for two years from the date of purchase. These watches are tested well at the factory, so defects are likely quite rare. The warranty differs slightly for buyers in the UK.
As designer watches go, the prices for Avi-8 watches are reasonable. While they’re not “cheap;” per se, they are relatively inexpensive in a world where one can spend upwards of $100,000 for a watch. They range in price from about $100 to about $500, with the average falling in between at about $300 or so.
That’s a fair price for a quality watch that doesn’t include gold, platinum, or diamonds.
You can find the brand for sale at a number of retailers, both online and off. A few high end department stores carry them, and you’ll likely find a few for sale at a well-stocked watch specialist. They’re also available at a number of online retailers, including Amazon.
Shopping online may be your best bet, as you’ll likely find a better selection online. You’ll also find that shopping online gives you the best opportunity to buy them at a discount. Keep in mind that not every retailer is likely to have the full product line, but most should have a good representative sample.
Avi-8 Watches Summary
If you like aviation-themed watches but you don’t want to spend a fortune, Avi-8 watches offer a good timepiece at a good price point. On the plus side, the watches are well-built, offer a nice choice of features and will also give you the option of a mechanical or a quartz movement.
On the downside, the watches are all rather large in size, and all of the models are designed for men.
Avi-8 watches offer good water resistance, reliable movements for both the quartz and mechanical models, and are sold at a price that won’t break your bank.
If you like aviation watches, you definitely should give Avi-8 watches a look.