Best AliExpress Flieger Pilot?

The Hruodland Pilot Turbine surprised me on several levels. The manual wind ST1901 movement, 100m WR, display casebook, excellent leather strap, sapphire crystal, and excellent legibility are just for starters. The real treat is found within the movement. What pilot watch do you gravitate to and why?
Check my online store of watches/gear for sale showcased in prior reviews.
www.realidealgear.com
Hruodland Pilot Turbine
www.aliexpress.us/item/325680...
#automaticwatches #aliexpress #pilotwatch #flieger #fieldwatch #militarywatch #survivalgear

[@robertotorres3969]

This watch is what all homages should be. It homages a watch that never went into regular production (IWC 5003 "Markus Bühler" only 10 prototypes were made) without copying it completely. I much prefer the curved turbine blades and cleaner movement on the Hruodland. Great watch, amazing quality for the price

[@Realidealgear]

Great info, thank you for sharing.

[@matthalliday4890]

I think it was 12 watches that were made for the annual Prix IFHH de l’Horlogerie in 2003, but yes I agree its the best type of homage with improvements. I enjoy mine a lot 👍

[@thesolver1970]

@@matthalliday4890 re-released in 2023, 51 only, USD$139,658.

[@alisadim81]

A great historical watch review Keep it up Tim Best Regards

[@Realidealgear]

Thank you. Have a great week.

[@probie2460]

Mine is on the way. Can't wait.

[@Realidealgear]

I’d like to get your impressions of it.

[@choond]

Great review!

[@Realidealgear]

Thanks!

[@bosco_bosco]

I work in aerodynamics for a formula one team and got this watch to style-out on the team lol. It's great.

[@Realidealgear]

That’s is awesome!! It’s a watch with a techno vibe that covers a lot interests and wearable circumstances. Thanks for watching. What team?

[@bosco_bosco]

@@Realidealgear ah as lame as it sounds, I don't like to say online. One of the top 5 though.

[@WATCHingJames]

It is an incredible watch. I’ve owned mine for a couple of years and it continues to be one of my favorite and most worn watches.

[@Realidealgear]

It’s my most accurate watch…for any price point or manufacturer. It was zeroes on the time-grapher. Thanks for stopping by! I enjoy your channel.

[@sivanstar]

Hey Tim, a few things i like to mention about it after owning it for over six months. It has a sapphire front and back and theres actually a bit of green lume behind the turbine but it fades fast. I think they still advertise it with the st3621 movement but sell it with the st3600, it suppose to be a more reliable movement. 🤷‍♂ personally i like to wear my watches a bit loose bc i crushed my wrist twice so with this one i was never comfortable with the leather strap although its quite good. I have it on an engineer bracelet and on a mesh and both look great with it. Last thing id like to mention is the crown at its end is very sharp so anyone like me wil feel it digging in. I gently softened it with fine sand paper.🙂 I really love this watch and ofc the original IWC markus buhler. If anyone is gonna get it please remember its a hand wind movement. When winding and you feel resistance STOP winding!

[@Realidealgear]

An engineer bracelet....I like that idea. I have one and I may swap it to check it out. I'm going to check the crown for any sharpness. Thank you for the heads-up. Great reminder for hand-wind movements...SLOW DOWN winding after 20-25 winds (from a stopped or zero energy condition) and be sensitive to the crown providing more resistance.

[@gavinsumner]

Currently wearing a San Martin Type-A flieger in bronze with an unbranded dial and it is absolutely stunning!

[@Realidealgear]

That was the other Flieger I was pining over. Thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend!

[@gavinsumner]

@@Realidealgear I mean one more watch never hurts right 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@Realidealgear]

Never. It's like flashlights.

[@Menruleall]

gotta say, the production value on this video is incredible. Watching James introduced me to this watch, but your video is so artful. The watch and knife in candlelight was genius. I've ordered this watch, blue no logo, because of your video depiction. One tiny, nit picking thing i see is your watch has chrome hands, and the watches they have featured on AliExpress have blue hands. The chrome looks SOOOO much better. I sent a message asking to ensure i get chrome hands, but IDK if I will. I hope so because it looks so good. That detail is very important to me. Cheers👍

[@Realidealgear]

Thank you for the compliments on the video production. This watch is one of my favorites. I believe you’ll really enjoy the watch. Let me know what you think of it when it arrives. Take care.

[@Menruleall]

@@Realidealgear sure thing.👍

[@Menruleall]

@@Realidealgear Received the watch yesterday and it is a BANGER of a beautiful piece of jewelry. I got the chrome hands I wanted and it's lovely in person. For 20 years I've had only 1 watch, a Fossil Arkitekt Diamond that is a REALLY thin dress watch that's been my EDC all that time. So in the last 6 months or so I've gotten into watches and they are so thick. I now have a Timex Weekender and an American Documents. Those are thinner than the Chinese watches I have, but not close to the Fossil. So it's taking some getting used to the heft of these modern watches.

[@Realidealgear]

It’s a good heft. Glad you like the watch. It’s a real beauty.

[@Menruleall]

​@@RealidealgearNow that I've had a month or so to live with it, it's become my favourite watch as well. I only have seven, and this one is at the top of the list for its simple, sheer beauty. I was so-so about it at first, I was disappointed at not being as dazzled at the turbine as I thought I would be. But the clarity of the crystal is the best of all my watches, and the light just shimmers and dances off the surface of the bezel, hands, indices, and chrome ring around the turbine, along with that gorgeous blue streak that flashes across the dial. I'm totally in love with it.❤❤❤

[@cabasadefogo9533]

Beautiful watch! It looks exactly like the IWC big pilot markus buhler tourbillon. That watch is an insane 134k! So this Flieger is a steal of the century.

[@Realidealgear]

Couldn't agree more!

[@johanvandersandt8904]

I like the prop/blade at 6'o clock. Looks neat. Its got the movement spirals that are on nose cones and a red dot on one of the blades for orientation. Funny thing is I know a few pilots and those that do wear watches dont have Pilots watches... Or at least don't wear them to work or for recreation. I do like them though. They remind me of a bygone era of biplanes and radial engines with bomber jackets. Nice Benchmade btw! All in all I think this is a nice watch! This wont be on my wrist in a high stress environment but in the office or just going about your business at home it works great! Its almost as cool as that mower of yours! That things looks fun haha!

[@Realidealgear]

The mower is a beast and gets the job on time! I agree, it's nostalgic and I'm a huge fan. have a great week Johan.

[@johanvandersandt8904]

@@Realidealgear Thanks Tim! Be blessed my friend!

[@MichaelTravis12c27]

This watch is very cool. I'm on a Flieger kick lately. I VERY much want a Laco Frankfurt GMT but it's tough to swallow at that price. (I'm not a GMT guy but that Laco really appeals to me) That said, Hruodland has some very compelling offerings in the Flieger style. My Berny budget titanium should be here tomorrow, but I can see another, more traditional, Flieger in my future. (Thinking bronze and full lume....)

[@Realidealgear]

Bronze fill lume combo in a Flieger…that has my attention! Let me know what you find.

[@kurthill7030]

Great watch

[@Realidealgear]

100%

[@moneymikz]

I had already ordered the exact same one blue, no logo, can’t wait to get it on wrist. Only problem is it might plug up the rotation.

[@Realidealgear]

Thank you and I understand the impact of a great looking watch on a rotation. “Watches are like fiber, the more you have, the more movements you get.” Tim Johnson, 2024. (It just occurred to me!). Take care and have a great week.

[@moneymikz]

@@Realidealgear 🤣

[@oliviersebastian1516]

Too big, but they have this amazing bronze watch, like the tudor, have you can feature that, cheers🎉

[@Realidealgear]

Thanks for watching.

[@AvidUTuber]

I still don't know what constitutes a pilot watch apart from the large crown for gloves. Does it help them navigate in any way? If anything, shouldn't gmt watches be called pilots watch as they're constantly jumping time zones? Anyway the logo'ed version is absolutely stunning, front and back. It's about to become my first pilots watch

[@Realidealgear]

I understand the pilot watch to a size of the dial, highly legible (simple layout), larger crown, and sword hands. The GMT idea makes sense although I think WWII pilot’s watches are the standard and GMT movements aren’t around then. Thanks for commenting!

[@rsinger2597]

Interesting they've changed the movement and have gone to sterile case back compared to earlier versions. Funny about misaligned rivets... originals definitely have strap rivets all over the place... not a war time priority I assume. I think some laco vintage inspired models have purposely misaligned rivets, too.

[@Realidealgear]

That's a great point on the rivets.

[@rsinger2597]

​@@RealidealgearWell I caved and ordered the same watch you have in the current sale. Hope it's not too large on me... I have an Escapement Time 40mm A dial which is nice. They make some of the best affordable Stowa style A and B dial watches.

[@Realidealgear]

I've enjoyed it. Best wishes with your purchase. Let me know how it goes and what you think of it.

[@MeanJoeLean]

Nice review. What size is your wrist?

[@Realidealgear]

Thank you for watching and commenting. I’ve not measured it…probably average sized.

[@gerrylindley7874]

Was this watch shipped from US warehouse or China?

[@Realidealgear]

China....about 2 weeks delivery time.

[@jmlaso]

Still have it? How about your thoughts after 9 months?

[@Realidealgear]

Awesome. Still within 3sec per month accuracy. It’s phenomenal watch.

[@jmlaso]

@@Realidealgear I'm looking forward to get this one and your video has been very helpful. Thanks again!

[@Realidealgear]

You’re welcome, keep me in the loop on your impressions. Take care.

[@ScoobieDoobie197474]

Any idea of the name of the movement

[@Realidealgear]

ST3620

[@goutham4678]

why do they have to make it that big :(

[@Realidealgear]

Historical dimensions were 50mm dials....easier to read under combat situations and more precise calculations with larger dial meant more accurate flight paths...if the watch was used for navigation (hour angle calculations).

[@thofMay]

@@Realidealgear Also, the size of the movement dictates the size of the case...

[@Realidealgear]

yes, excellent point...if one is trying to keep things small and compact.

[@zillsburyy1]

X1 would have made this a killer

[@Realidealgear]

Absolutely.... the lume is really good

[@zillsburyy1]

yes but its big

[@Realidealgear]

You're right. It's on the Larger side of many watches....doable. Take care.

[@Ajisaurus]

@@Realidealgear What's the lug to lug measurement sir? I have a 6.25 inch wrist is it gonna fit too big for my wrist?