AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane Clowes Automatic Review (AV-4097) - Perth WAtch

[@richardshaw1968]

The 8 in Avi-8 is for the size of wrist the watch looks good on…which will do me fine!

[@PerthWAtch]

You might be onto something there 😆

[@alexsdg3441]

Yup. very classy review as usual, Ivan. I love the dial and layout design, but as you said, it has some major issues. The size is too big and kind of thick also. since they are using manual movement, I am sure that they can get down below 13mm or even 12mm. And again, I am not familiar with the NH manual movement. No hacking and especially - 20 sec per day?! that is bit too slow for people like me (OCD people, ha ha). If I were them, I would have regulated the watch a bit for the range of + 2 to + 15 maximum. The company got many things right, especially the dial design, but it has few other major issues in my opinion. Anyway, Love the design. Thanks for the review, Ivan. PS: by the way, the person who designed the dial was quite meticulous. As the second hand goes around, the 2nd hand red plane's back wing was landing exactly at the bull's eye "O" of JXOB.

[@PerthWAtch]

Thanks Alex, wow well spotted re: the plane landing on the bullseye, sure looks like someone paid some attention to that little detail! Yeah I'm sure they can get close to 12mm or even below, although not sure how that would feel on the 46mm piece - probably still alright I reckon. They definitely should've regulated the watch better, maybe I can given them benefit of doubt that the box went through some serious tumble on the way to me...?? Haha!

[@pavo45]

56mm lug to lug is huge, but love the watch, I couldn't carry that size off either similar wrist size 😜

[@PerthWAtch]

Yeah 56mm is too big for most guys I know

[@nusbacher]

No 1 (Fighter) Sqn RAF flew Hurricanes until mid-1942, and they did fly from RAF Kenley for a bit. 'Darky' Clowes was a Hurricane ace who flew with No 1 Sqn as a sergeant pilot.

[@PerthWAtch]

Nice one!! You have specific interest in RAF history?

[@nusbacher]

@@PerthWAtch A bit. Also, Clowes's most celebrated action happened pretty much above my house.

[@PerthWAtch]

That is awesome! Where is that?

[@nusbacher]

@@PerthWAtch Southeastern England. The fight was over Guildford, and the German plane came down near Petworth.

[@TransportBaz]

@@PerthWAtch I live close enough to Kenley to see the gliders at the weekends. I regularly pay my respects at the War Graves in St Luke's Church. I bought one of these for that reason. A famous Sector Station, close to RAF Croydon and RAF Biggin Hill

[@WATCHingJames]

I think it looks great. Love the detail on the dial. But too big for me unfortunately. Thanks for the review.

[@PerthWAtch]

You and me both!

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

IWC big pilot homage

[@PerthWAtch]

Yep, what I said ;)

[@3rdstone1]

Late comment on this review, but here we go. AVI-8 always seems to have quite a bit of a quirky tone on their aviator designs. Even here with the classic Type B Flieger layout on the dial, those big three dimensional numerals and the relief on the dial etc, sets it apart from most Flieger/aviator watches. Have to say those features are personally border line for me here as being too much. OTOH I appreciate they're doing their own thing and trying to differ from most classic aviator designs, and I'm certain many will love this dial. That cheaper version of the 7S26 shouldn't be there at this price point though, and of course that size is an issue for many people. It's way too big for me, but will look great on ~eight inch wrists and of course we all know old Fliegers had sizes like this, since they were more instruments than watches back then. Also still thinks the price is a bit steep here. Great review as usual, Ivan.

[@PerthWAtch]

Thanks for the comment mate! Is it a version of the 7S26?? That’s news to me. This one hand winds. Do you have a reliable source to confirm this?

[@3rdstone1]

@@PerthWAtch Ah, did it hind wind, I missed that. I stand corrected, then I'm wrong.

[@philspencelayh5464]

Immense, as well the diameter, it's as thick as a serious dive watch and the strap is really thick too. A niche watch. Looks ok, from a distance

[@PerthWAtch]

Yeah agree, certainly for a niche audience. Classic looks and design, so yeah it looks good

[@TheNinjaPicker]

Nice review, They are on sale right now under $200 US, even with the budget movement a sapphire crystal on this watch is a pretty good deal compared to other fliegers. Like you said though the size is a bit too much for this 7.5 inch wrist. I do love the style though, cheers

[@PerthWAtch]

Thanks for the comment mate!

[@Box_13]

Less could have been more with this dial. Even if the movement isn't the best, good on them for trying something different.

[@PerthWAtch]

I think there are plenty of plain Big Pilots around… so I like how they tried something different

[@mcmoose64]

I thought that the small secret that you refered to was the miniscule (womens watch sized) movement that powers it.

[@PerthWAtch]

Don’t post fake news mate… keep it real ;)

[@climbmaintain]

@@PerthWAtchhe’s 100% correct. This uses a tiny NH15 movement

[@PerthWAtch]

Right… and what is the smallest size watch do you think you can make with the NH15? Like I said… fake news.

[@youngjohn9696]

Hope I can meet ya when I’m back in Perth mate!

[@PerthWAtch]

Hello Young John - are you new to the channel?

[@subramanianannamalai8333]

They make a beautiful watch and make it insanely large. Majority of the people will not have a 7.5 inch wrist. Come on AVI-8, give us something a little smaller for us to enjoy it.

[@PerthWAtch]

Probably just influenced by IWC and other Big Pilot makers… most of their pieces are smaller

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

Look at the crown. It's an IWC big pilot homage. People buy the big pilot so there's a demographic for this watch

[@karlsenula9495]

Agree that they got a lot right but also wish there was 1-2mm thinner and a slightly better movement especially at this price. My wrist is 7.5inch so I don't have a huge issue with size (just thickness) after all the OG fliegers were supposed to be large.

[@PerthWAtch]

Yeah agreed, they could’ve and should’ve made it thinner

[@jonatansterling397]

I think the crown is too big ....

[@PerthWAtch]

It’s a big watch :)