A Vintage Pilot's Watch: Dan Henry 1963 Review

[@dultanur]

Yep, I was also on the fence about this watch, after watching your review ordered one immediately. Thank you for a very thorough and informative review.

[@johntoolan2011]

Thanks for the great review, I've just gone and bought one! I like the idea of a watch enthusiast just going and making his own watches...

[@Tartanwallet]

Armand, thanks for your really detailed and informative review. I can't count the number of times I have watched this review as I cautiously evaluate whether to buy the DH 1963 to add to my collection. My instinct is to stick with automatics or mechanical but I'm also a fan of vintage watches and this model seems to represent the best of vintage aesthetic and modern quartz reliability and accuracy. I also considered which of the two finishes I liked the most and found that the brushed bezel version is my preferred. So, after some prevarication I have just ordered this to celebrate an upcoming 'significant' birthday. Thanks again for your review which has been pivotal for me.

[@nadgeemark]

Thanks Armand, I love your reviews and have just ordered the 1963 Pilot on the basis of both your review and the information I read on Dan Henry’s website. 😊

[@imbubbajones]

Amazing watch. So glad I bought it. Punches well above its price tag.

[@neilus0]

I enjoy your videos. They are informative and entertaining. Regardless of the trolls (why watch something then complain, just switch off and go away) please keep on doing them

[@HarryFlashmanVC]

The integrated spring bar in the nato is like the woven cammo nato that comes with the Tudor Heritage Ranger, although of course, the ranger dosent have the Quick release pins

[@grahamlawton6250]

Great review. Well done. 42mm is why I haven't picked one up. UNDONE has one (Kickstarter) with lots of choices, vintage look PLUS it 40mm. I want this one but it's just a bit too big.

[@alanterrar8862]

Ordered one yesterday, then found this Video which has made me look forward to delivery even more. Nice Video, Nice Watch. I have a Breitling Navitimer, but at c£6k that's for special occasions, bought this as an everyday watch, to make me put the Apple Watch back in its box.

[@Lee_K_5555]

Thank you, Armand! Your excellent, thorough review of the Dany Henry 1963 has motivated me to order one of these with the same stainless steel bezel. It is quite a handsome timepiece and the low price is a pleasant surprise considering the quality provided.

[@mrsrhardy]

Lots to like, not least of all the price, fit'n'finish and extra's included

[@oldschool5037]

I don’t know if it was just me but the nato strap that dan Henry supplied with my 63 didn’t com as described in this review, mine didn’t have any spring bars and wasn’t the same .

[@andrewkelly3520]

Hi Armand, What about a review/recommendation of an automatic watch winder? My Dan Henry 1970 is on its way am really looking forward to it. Also what are your views on the satellite watches from Seiko and Citizen?

[@KevG1962]

great review and great looking watch. as a lover of vintage watches I'm really hoping someone one day will tick all the boxes. for me that's an auto movement, under 40mm, drilled lugs, panda or reverse panda dial. I know this would increase the price but would be worth it.

[@maccabeus3843]

I would agree

[@FREDDY-xm5dx]

No im broke and it the perfect watch for me

[@joemagnanti275]

Slightly late, but check out the Baltic Bicompax 001

[@grimmer2005]

The bezel does not seem to be centered correctly?

[@dennishudnall9009]

Excellent review and I ordered this piece yesterday!

[@johnarrigo-nelson2353]

I'm definitely not going to dismiss this piece out of hand simply because it is a quartz microbrand. The attention to construction and design detail -- that case, the balanced sandwich dial, hand set, tactile response pushers, etc etc etc -- has me very interested in this limited edition piece.

[@PiersLortPhillips]

Your review finally got me over the line. Ordered today. Cheers

[@niallmurray9725]

Piers Lort-Phillips I’m very tempted myself! Either this or the ‘39’ 👌

[@Smoothtlknwhtboi]

How long did it take to receive after your purchase?

[@bikefreak5787]

+Smoothtlknwhtboi For me, five days (Denmark)

[@jackdillon4467]

Great review! I just ordered this model!

[@A-Wall]

I've just ordered this exact watch, can't wait for it to arrive! Do you still own this watch? I know you don't consider the watches sent in for review as part of your collection but it seemed you really liked this one. Keep up the great watch content!

[@yannick2738]

it looks like the marking on the bezel don't line up perfectly with the dial, can you confirm?

[@ArmandTheWatchGuy]

+homer power: Thank you for the comment, I do not believe that the bezel is misaligned but at some angles, the crystal can make the dial appear out of alignment with the bezel.

[@crossbones8956]

Great review. I've watched three of your Dan Henry reviews and I think I am ready to pull the trigger on the 1970, however, I am considering getting one of the others (1940) and this one even though those two are quartz. Thanks again for the review.

[@tazlanomada6663]

They should make these with the seagull St1901 movement, it would be much better as a mechanical chronograph and it would be more in line with the aesthetic of the watch.

[@ArmandTheWatchGuy]

+Taz La Nomada: That is a very good idea, it would be excellent to see a mechanical chronograph in this watch. However, I feel that the ST1901 does need a bit of refinement as it (in my experience) is quite fragile.

[@tazlanomada6663]

I think that it would be possible for them to negotiate a higher grade version with seagull or have it improved by a watchmaker then have the watch sell at $500 which would still be incredible value for a mechanical chronograph.

[@keithkonior3901]

I like how diplomatic you are. The ST1901 isn't "fragile," it's just a piece of shit.

[@sbsb4995]

Taz La Nomada mechanical movement can't keep proper time and it's not reliable.

[@jrgdrumsandwatches]

@@sbsb4995 Well my St1901 in the Baltic Bicompax keeps excellent time. The movement is good, just Seagulls QC isn't. The french Baltic assemble, test and regulate them in France, the result is great. +5 sec. in a week! I have several quartz watches that can't keep time like that.

[@pgsahlman]

Holst's "The Planets" - excellent choice. beautiful Dan Henry as well.

[@space.cowboyyyyy]

Which you like better, 1970 or 1963?

[@garytru563]

1964 /Evil Panda. James Bond Aston Martin on the back!

[@BiffTannenBTTF]

Did anyone mention that the minute counter doesn't really count minutes????

[@DaOneJoel]

If they included killer lume in to their range, they would be a absolute homerun. I own a 1970, and wear it on a super engineer bracelet, and I absolutely love it. Only downside is the weak lume, otherwise it's pretty much perfect for the money. Great review as always Armand. good stuff!

[@DaOneJoel]

Just imagine a 1970 style watch with flat tritium tubes. I would be all over that.

[@bastieniezzi6539]

Great idea of using the super engineer👍

[@markplayford5836]

Wow I cannot believe my luck as I have just bought this watch in Random Robs Sunday Sale. I knew nothing about it, I just loved the look and the thick leather strap which IMHO looks so right (a perfect match). Then to find you have given it such a glowing review Armand is almost giving the purchase a blessing. Thankyou SO much, a complete and utter impulse buy seems like it’s the right one (for a change)! 😁

[@hc2300]

What color is the lume at night?

[@inekemateman273]

green

[@bikefreak5787]

Great video - Thanks to you, I just bought the 1963 model. Why? Because I myself is a 1963 model 😎 It is a beautiful watch - I really like it. Perhaps I should bye the 1964 model with a blue strap for my wife. Guess the year of her birth 🙂 Greetings from Denmark.

[@sanjursan]

Odd that the subsecond register is graduated in 2.5 second units. WTF?

[@727coolstuff]

Just ordered this great review

[@sbsb4995]

Thank God it is a quartz movement.

[@dirt2595]

It’s dope... only issue I have is that it doesn’t have a date window...

[@MrPoopooguy]

What is the intro song?

[@oldschooldrumcorps]

"Mercury" from "The Planets" by Gustav Holst

[@oldschooldrumcorps]

"Mercury"from "The Planets" by Gustav Holst

[@oldschooldrumcorps]

Correction - the intro is not "mercury", it is "Jupiter" from Gustav Holst's "The Planets"

[@RickDeckardMemories]

Wikipedia tells me SR-71 made its maiden flight in 1964. The crono minutes subdial marks are 2.5 minutes. Same for seconds subdial, 2.5 seconds. And I am still going to buy it)))))))

[@ziparis]

I have a 1968 "dragster" which I love, but yea, that same nato strap really protrudes at the springbar.... I found it too odd, and sort've unwieldy... I don't use it, even though the nato "aesthetic" works on the watch.

[@Barnaby_bo]

"Packaging not too elaborate or interesting"? How many watch companies at this price provide a roll and the plastic tube?

[@Kydos37]

He only said the plastic tube is not too elaborate or interesting.

[@LordArioh]

if it was sapphire crystal, automatic (some cheap Japanese movement) and maybe as a choice black and white inverted, and maybe tachometer on a bezel, I'd pay 3 times the price. Now I like the look, but specs are not convincing. So I'm looking towards Orient NEO 70's Panda. Or maybe I just want it to look like Daytona))

[@mrsrandommademedoit3387]

Great looking watch, dial and the build quality is great for the price! But the SIZE is TOO big 42.5mm for a vintage inspired chrono WHAT!?. And a Quartz movement!?!? Make it 39mm with a seagull St19 Mechanical Movement or a Seiko Chrono Movement and up the price abit. And it would sell SO well TRUST ME!.. Dan Henry makes a 44mm Diver with a Automatic Seiko Movement in it for 250$ which is just great value for money so it CAN be done for a chronograph!

[@Irishsilverstack]

thanks Armand

[@ChuckMarteau]

Nice watch, my only complaint is the bezel feeling a bit lightweight / cheap.

[@elysiumcore]

Sold ! Thanks for review mate

[@joev6049]

I think the design and build quality of these watches for the price is fantastic. I hope that in the near future, DH moves toward more mechanical movements,sapphire crystals, and I’ll gladly pay the higher price as long as it stays reasonable.

[@neuromancerXL]

I do not like this design as much as the '70 "diver" you reviewed from Dan Henry earlier. I've seen this style as you said with Breitling, just not a fan. For me, the dial would have been more attractive without the arabic numeral 12 marker and with AR coating. The SR-71 embossment on the caseback is fantastic looking though, Dan Henry does well to pay the caseback such attention.

[@itsKibbleTalksWatches]

Thanks for the review. Heard very mixed things from this brand, not sure what to make it personally...

[@scott3133]

Nice review 👍as a older guy it’s good to see you are maturing I must watch some of your moe recent reviews 👍keep up the good work

[@shambam6442]

This is based on a Breguet Type XX not a breitling or heuer

[@ArmandTheWatchGuy]

+shambam: Thank you for your comment, I would agree that the bezel is very reminiscent of the Breguet Type XX, however, I would encourage you to search the Breitling Co-Pilot to see what I mean.

[@shambam6442]

You have a good eye... I think maybe the co-pilot was also based on the Type XX

[@ArmandTheWatchGuy]

+shambam: Quite right! That is a very interesting idea!

[@tpcam78]

Nope, it’s a replica of a Breitling 765 AVI. The model known as the “Racquel Welch”.

[@SunsetSheen]

Beautiful timepiece. Shame about the quartz. If Dan made these slightly smaller (40mm) with an automatic movement (Seagull), I’m sure he’d sell a ton more of them, even at an increased price.

[@AB-qc6pf]

Wish it was automatic

[@aceace1323]

nice watch...

[@dirt2595]

If it had a date window, it would be a winner...💯

[@Jorge-lm4bg]

I don't mind quartz, but that slow moving seconds hands kills me.

[@oysterman962]

I like the design of this as I love the Breguet Type XX which I can not afford. BUT what turns me off is quartz movement. They should perhaps give 3 options - quartz, Japanese mechanical or Swiss Selita movement. You probably find enthusiasts will pay the extra money for mechanical. Otherwise U would not buy it in quartz because this watch is no different to any other no name homage. I'm also not keen on having Dan Henry labelled on it. It becomes a cheap knock off.

[@109v5]

Great video, as usual, but you should always wear gloves.

[@38khenry]

The worst customer service in the world. I don't know how they stay in business.

[@grimmer2005]

Too bad its too big and too thick.

[@chasrmartel4777]

Sorry can't go with the quartz fashion watch thing. The '70 diver isn't terrible but I'll pass on the brand.

[@ArmandTheWatchGuy]

+Chas R Martel: Thank you for the comment, I value your opinion and thoughts. However, I would appreciate if you could explain why these are fashion watches as they are clearly aimed at those who know their watches?

[@chasrmartel4777]

I agree they are compelling from a visual point of view but I don't buy watches just for their looks. I would be much more interested if, for example, they had built the chronograph with even a Chinese or Russian mechanical movement that they had assembled, oiled and regulated rather than a quartz movement. There's no soul in quartz.

[@goranpavletic2145]

Fashion watch? You obviesly don't know what a fashion watch is.

[@tpcam78]

It’s a replica of a Breitling pilots’ watch from 1963. These are really aimed at watch fans that don’t want to wear a 50+ year old watch daily and/or drop the $20k required to get the real thing.