Jewellery & Watch News
As a new brand to the W Hamond watch family, we wanted to take a look at one of AVI-8’s latest releases in more detail: the AVI-8 Flyboy Lafayatte Chronograph AV-4076. This stunning special edition collection of quartz chronographs pays tribute to the courageous aviators of Lafayette Escadrille, a unit of 38 American volunteer fighter pilots who served under French command during 1916 before becoming the very nucleus of the U.S Army Air Service when it formed in 1918.
The AVI-8 Flyboy collection wholly commemorates warriors of the sky, named after the colloquial term “Flyboy” which was used to describe young men known to exude plenty of bravado, courage and swagger to take on the cockpit. Their new range of AVI-8 Flyboy Lafayatte Chronograph watches perfectly tributes past and present men of this stature with a vintage design inspired by the late 1910’s and 1920’s fused with practical and modern watch mechanics and high precision quartz movements.
There are four variations of the AVI-8 Flyboy Lafayette Chronograph AV-4076 to choose from, each with its own stunning dial colour in black, blue, white, or salmon pink. The central dial’s layer is subtly detailed with horizon lines inspired by the wing pattern of a Nieuport 17, an aircraft flown by many members of the Escadrille, and surrounded by Art-Deco Arabic numerals for easy legibility. The syringe-shaped hour and minute hands are decorated in luminous coating and are met with a gorgeous detailed chronograph seconds hand which includes a French Air Force roundel. It is small yet significant details like this that reveal the commitment of AVI-8 to reflect history and narrative into their timepieces.
Each AVI-8 Flyboy Lafayette Chronograph is presented in a classically styled 42mm pilot field case fitted with an onion style crown and domed hardened mineral glass treated with anti-reflective coating. The glass protects the several functions showcased on the dial including the pulsometer marked out on the tension ring, central hands for hours and minutes, an enlarged date window at 4 o’clock and three subsidiary dials for continuous seconds, 24 hour hand and 1/5 chronograph second. These complications are powered by a Japanese High Beat Meca-Quartz Sweep hand chronograph movement, the VK68-TMI calibre to be exact, which promises pin-point split time accuracy to one fifth of a second.
Continuing to commemorate the Lafayette Escadrille unit, the AVI-8 Flyboy Lafayette Chronograph AV-4076 collection features closed case backs engraved with the famed Indian head insignia of the Escadrille. This image was found on the Spad VIIs and other aircraft flown by them. The watch’s appearance is completed by a Jubilee solid stainless steel bracelet, a style that although would not have been fashioned on a pilot watch in the 1920’s, completes the watch perfectly both functionally and aesthetically.
As official stockists of AVI-8 watches, you can find the entire AVI-8 Flyboy Lafayette Chronograph watch collection on the W Hamond website alongside all their other latest releases. For assistance with your purchase, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our talented team of luxury watch specialists on 01947 60330 or send us a message at info@whamond.com!
Specifications: AVI-8 Flyboy Lafayette Chronograph AV-4076 Watches
- Case Size: 42mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Hardened mineral crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Onion-style
- Case Back: Screw down
- Water Resistance: 50 metres
- Movement: Japanese quartz
- Functions: Hours, minutes, date, small seconds, 24 hour counter, 1/5 chronograph second
- Dial: Available in black, white, blue or salmon pink
- Strap: Steel bracelet
- Buckle: Folding
- RRP: £225
- Release Date: Available now
