Bell & Ross has just caught my eye with one of the more interesting aviation watches I've seen in some time: the Instrument BR 01-92 Compass.

As you can see, the design is inspired by a traditional aviation compass. Rather than hands that move around a dial, the movement contains two disks — one for hours and one for minutes — that rotate beneath a stationary vertical line. The time is read through the top window while the other side of the disks are visible through the tinted bottom crystal. Very unique.

Here are the facts:

• Automatic ETA 2892 movement.
• Hours and minutes (no date or seconds).
• Stainless steel 46mm PVD-finished case.
• Screwdown crown.
• Water-resistant to 100 meters (about 330 feet).
• Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating (darkened on the lower portion).
• Leather and rubber strap.
• Limited to 500 pieces.

Nice looking piece, in my opinion. I don't know how long it would take to adjust to telling time using rotating disks rather than hands, but I suspect one would adapt pretty quickly.

No work on pricing or availability as of yet.

By Christian Cantrell

Casio G-Shocks play many roles: fashion icons, hardcore tool watches, respectable divers, etc. Today, we look at something of a new phase for the G-Shock line in the form of a “multi role fighter.” The Casio G-Shock GW-2000 sports aviation styling while retaining the GMT features of many of its older siblings. The GW-2000 combines the radio controlled technology which Casio is now famous for with a refreshed style more reminiscent of the MR-G series.

Let's take a look at the details:

• Mineral glass crystal.
• 47mm at the widest point (wears more like 43mm).
• 15m thick.
• Radio controlled atomic calibrated module.
• Solar powered.
• Stopwatch with a resolution of 1/20^th of a second.
• 24-hour countdown timer.
• Alarm.
• Multiple timezones.
• Perpetual calendar (with day and date).
• Water-resistant to 200 meters (about 650 feet).
• Neobright luminous paint.

If you like analog-digital watches, today's review might just make your day. This is the limited-edition Luminox SR-71 Blackbird, model #9052. Limited to 999 pieces, this seems to be their version of the Omega X-33. Let's start out with the specifications:

• 44mm across, 50mm at the widest point, 15mm thick.
• PVD-finished stainless steel case and bracelet.
• Bracelet is three-link, solid, with solid end links, fliplock, and 23mm lugs.
• Domed sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating.
• Inner dive bezel, operated by a screw-down crown at ten o'clock.
• Tritium tubes on hours, bezel, and hands.
• Reverse LCD display.
• In an interesting twist: it also has an electronic compass.
• Like the X-33, the caseback is a soundboard to increase the volume of the alarm.
• Also like the X-33, the crown is actually a push button; rotating it has no effect.
• 45 month battery.
• ISA quartz movement.
• Water resistant to 100m (330ft).
• Three time zones, countdown timer, alarm, stopwatch, and my favorite: seconds-only mode.

Please read on for the full review.

Up for review today is the second watch from Prometheus, and it's quite a bit different from the Ocean Diver. The Recon 5 is an handwinding aviator, with the characteristic re-think we've come to expect from Prometheus. Let's get started with some specifications:

• Stainless steel case: 44mm by 10.5mm.
• Sapphire crystal and caseback.
• SuperLuminova hands and indicies.
• Brown leather strap with thorn buckle.
• 22mm lugs.
• Non-screwdown large crown for easy winding and setting.
• Unitas 6497-1 movement: non-hacking, handwinding, 42 hour power reserve, decorated with Geneva stripes, blued screws, and a bit of perlage.
• Water resistant to 50m (165ft).
• List price 269 Euros, or about $366 as of this writing.

Please read on for the full review.

We've reviewed several Luminox watches and clocks here at Watch Report, and today we're happy to review another: the new F-22 Raptor, model 9282. The brand is clearly moving into more upscale models, and this is a nice example of what they can do.

Let's start with the specs:

• Titanium case, bracelet, and bezel; ion-plated buttons and crown.
• Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
• Ronda 5050 quartz movement with big date, day, 12-hour chronograph, and subseconds.
• 60-click titanium bezel with acrylic inset.
• Water resistant to 200m (660ft).
• Tritium lights on the hour and minute hand, hour markers, and bezel pip (with a contrasting orange tube at 12 o'clock).
• Five-link titanium bracelet (non-tapered) with solid links, solid end links, signed fliplock, and 3 micro-adjustments.
• Signed screw-down crown in ion-plated metal.
• Ion-plated chronograph buttons using a neat pivot design.
• Screwn-down caseback with F-22 engraving.
• 47.8mm across (including the crown) by 15mm thick; 24mm lugs; 140g with all links in the bracelet.
• List price: $1,200.

Please read on for the full review.

It's very rare to come across a watch designed with a singular style and aesthetic, but the example we have in today reflects a tradition of Swiss aviation watches. The AirNautic AN-24 Pilot is an automatic pilots watch that features a time-proven design and the backing of a familiar brand.

The AirNautic brand was founded by Mitch Feig of OCEAN7 Watch Co in order to preserve the aesthetic created by Yantar watches. Their distinctive 24-hour dial and bright contrasting colors have carried over under Mitch's guidance, and has allowed a new audience to enjoy a very cool design. We jumped at the opportunity to review the AN-24 Pilot, and here's why:

• ETA 2893-2 24-hour timekeeping. (The dial is based on 24-hours rather than 12.)
• 41.5mm wide and 11.75 mm tall.
• Flat sapphire crystal with internal AR coating.
• Screw down crown.
• 100m (330ft) water resistance.
• 20mm lugs.
• Black leather strap with signed buckle.
• Date window at 4 o'clock position.

Today I review the Praesto Modern Fliegeruhr, a brand new take on the classic pilot's watch and the first product from newcomer Praesto.

Specifications to get us started:

• Automatic mechanical, based on the Miyota 8245, handwinding but non-hacking. 21,600vph, 21 jewels.
• Water resistant to 200m (660ft).
• 316L stainless steel case, bead-blasted to satin finish.
• Signed screw-down crown and caseback.
• Flat sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating.
• Functions: hours, minutes, and subseconds at 4:30.
• 44mm by 12.5mm, 105g.
• 24mm lugs, contrast-stitched leather strap which starts at a beefy 5.6mm and thins out to 4.2mm at the end.
• SuperLuminova lume on hands and dial.
• $360 for pre-order (still visible on their website -- soon to rise to $480).

Please read on for the full review.

Up for review today is the other watch from newcomer Abingdon, the Amelia model. Let's dive right in with some specifications:

• 40mm stainless steel case, 12mm thick, 65g.
• Color-matched leather strap, thorn buckle.
• Water resistant to 50m (165ft).
• Miyota 6M17 quartz movement with GMT, sweep second and date functions.
• Inner E6B bezel for flight calculations.
• Etched screwdown caseback.
• Mineral crystal.
• Brass dial.
• Luminous hands and markers.

Please read on for the full review.

Today we review a watch from newcomer Abingdon Watches, a company founded by a female pilot who couldn't find a watch that she liked for flying. Solving a personal problem is often the source of great ideas, so we were delighted to review their designs. First off is the Jackie model:

• Miyota FS20 Quartz chronograph with date.
• Internal-bezel E6B, operated by the crown at 8 o'clock.
• Lumed hands and indices.
• Water resistant to 50m (165ft).
• 64 cubic zirconia stones on the bezel.
• Mother of pearl dial, available in pink, green or white.
• Oyster-style bracelet, polished center links, hollow end links, snap-lock clasp with fliplock, and 4 micro-adjustments.
• 41.5mm across by 12mm thick; 125g with all bracelet links.
• Stainless steel case.
• Mineral crystal.

Please read on for the full review and pictures.

Throughout the watch collecting world, one often hears of the "grail watch." These are generally watches that an enthusiast has been lusting after for some time and plans to one-day own, but due to cost, rarity, or both, immediate ownership is not possible. Most watch collectors have not only a grail watch, but a list of grails. For me, these include such pieces as the Ernst Benz Great Circle Chronoscope, any titanium Panerai Luminor, Fortis Marine Master Chrono, Breitling SuperOcean Chrono, etc. It's a long list.

Occasionally, I come across a watch that is not in the normal grail price range, but has many of the features or styling that draws me to some of my grail watches. A good example of this is the Citizen BL5250-02L: a handsome titanium chronograph with military and aviation styling not generally found in its price range. I have been interested in a BL5250 (the 02L designates a leather strap, where as the 53L is the titanium bracelet) for a couple of years, but only recently found myself ready to give one a try. I will admit -- I had very high hopes for this watch, and it has not let me down. Here are the specs:

• 42.5 x 13mm all titanium case.
• Mineral crystal.
• Lug width of 20mm.
• Blue dial.
• Solar Eco-Drive movement.
• 270 day power reserve.
• 1/20 second chronograph (max 60 minute).
• Perpetual calendar.
• Dive style countdown bezel.
• 24 hr register.
• Alarm.
• 200m water resistant.