Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Fashion & Style

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Best Aviator Watches for Men to Buy Now

Beau Hayhoe
By

A watch, one could argue, is an overlooked wardrobe essential that doesn’t get the love it deserves, and that even goes for the best aviator watches. Like other menswear staples you might have in your wardrobe, aviator watches were developed out of purpose, featuring more bells and whistles than the average watch, a more complicated dial, and more functionality to help pilots navigate the skies. Today, rugged aviator watches are still purpose-driven, highly useful, and always stylish.

What we’re trying to say is this: If you love collecting and scouring the globe (or just your Web browser) for the absolute best watches, then you certainly need an aviator watch (even if you’re not a pilot). These types of watches are especially handy if you travel frequently, and they’ll also keep you up to speed if your schedule is packed with a more simple yet still speedy commute. A watch with this much functionality can be worn in plenty of different style situations, too. After all, the best variations of the style use sharp detailing and classic looks that can even be paired with your favorite suit. To get you started on your journey, here are the best aviator watches to buy now.

Best Overall Aviator Watch: Jack Mason Avigator Aviator Watch

Best overall aviator watch for men.
Jack Mason

For not a whole lot of cash, you’re getting a crisp and classically designed aviator watch from the hard-working team at Texas-based Jack Mason. Reach for this timepiece when you next hit the road.

Related

Best Classic Aviator Watch: Hamilton Khaki Aviator Pilot Pioneer Watch

Best classic pilot's watch for men.
Nordstrom

Hamilton makes watches trusted by generations, and that ethos doesn’t let up with this classic homage to the old-school pilot’s watch. Note the distinctive dial design and rugged fabric strap.

Best Luxury Aviator Watch: Longines Aviation BigEye Chronograph

Best luxury aviator watch for men.
Nordstrom

Longines delivers the ultimate in luxury watches, including this bold and visually striking timepiece. Trust us when we say it’s worth the investment.

Best Stainless Steel Pilot’s Watch: Oris Big Crown ProPilot Watch

Most rugged pilot's watch to buy now.
MR. PORTER

Oris combines accessible luxury with top-notch performance, and this durable stainless steel pilot’s watch is as prime an example of that as any.

Most Functional Aviator Watch: Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Nighthawk Watch

Best functional aviator watch for men.
Amazon

This Citizen Eco-Drive watch is both iconic and yet highly functional, like adding another dimension of utility to your watch collection. It’s packed with features that perfectly suit the best pilot’s watches on the market.

Other Aviator Watches We Love

Alpina Swiss Startimer Pilot Watch

Best stainless steel aviator watch to shop now.
Macy's

With a crisp and simply designed face, this Alpina watch is more than meets the eye. The Swiss construction and subtle style points, plus an ideal blend of functionality, make this one a winner in our book.

BOSS Chronograph Pilot Brown Leather Watch

Best brown leather pilot's watch.
Macy's

Set on a handsome brown leather strap, this rugged yet refined pilot’s watch is the type of aviator watch you can wear with a classic navy suit for truly timeless style.

Timex Chronograph Quartz Watch

Rugged, affordable aviator watch for men.
Amazon

Timex makes some of the most dependable, reliable men’s watches on the market, and this chronograph watch is no different. It’s a downright steal packed with the best functionality you need in an aviator watch.

Torgoen T9 Black GMT Pilot Watch

Best GMT pilot watch for guys.
Amazon

Built on a durable black strap and featuring an easy-to-read face, this pilot’s watch delivers plenty of bang for your buck. It’s a high-quality timepiece through and through.

Seiko Chronograph Pilot’s Watch

Best chronograph pilot's watch to buy now.
Amazon

Part of the utility in pilot’s watches comes from the fact that they’re built for anything. This Seiko watch is packed with specs that make travel a breeze in any time zone.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Beau Hayhoe
Beau Hayhoe
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Beau Hayhoe is a freelance men's style writer, consultant and PR pro based in Brooklyn. Beau's menswear and gear writing has…
The 6 best men’s watches you can buy for under $200
Don't break the bank trying to upgrade your watch selection with these reasonably priced options

Though dozens of very expensive watches are great investments, not all timepieces are astronomically priced. Plenty of elegant watches are both well-made and affordable, and these days, you can give a great watch as a gift at just about any price.

While we’ve previously focused on more expensive watches (check out our guide for the best men’s watch gift), we’re taking it one step further now with our guide to the absolute best men’s watches under $200. Some of these picks fall into more vintage silhouettes, while others are more modern, but the one thing they all have in common is that they won’t break the bank.

Read more
The best men’s athleisure brands in 2023 for year-round style and comfort
Alo yoga brand.

Regardless of how you feel on the matter, here are the days to stay where apparel leans more towards the way of comfort rather than tailoring. We are in an age where comfort is generally outweighed as opposed to style when people choose most of their outfits. Long gone are the days of the 1950s when men wore suits every time they stepped foot outside the house. The rise of athleisure - athletic apparel designed specifically for leisure activities - over the past decade was solidified into our fashion zeitgeist by the Great Quarantine. It is a fundamental part of every fashion subset from streetwear to formalwear. Luckily, some brands are getting this right.

Clothes that were originally designed for playing sports, exploring the great outdoors, or working out are now worn for grocery shopping, grabbing a casual drink with friends, or the more popular than ever, travelwear.. So to help you make the most of the age of athleisure, we put together a list of the best athleisure brands to shop year round. It seems like every brand has gotten in on the trend so we narrowed it down to the best of the best for you.

Read more
The best loafers for men: These shoes offer a modern twist on a classic design
Pick up these flawless slip ons to elevate your shoe wardrobe

We know what you're thinking; loafers are grandpa's shoes. Well, not anymore, the best men's loafers have come back with a vengeance, and they are some of the most amazing shoes you can own. These low, laceless slip-ons look great with just about anything. But what are loafers to be worn with exactly? They are to be partnered with selvedge denim jeans, white T-shirts, oxford shirts, and more; they're about as classic as it gets.

We mean that literally—loafers have a rich history that dates back almost a century, with roots in 20th-century Ivy League style. Although today these shoes are synonymous with bourgeois leisure (and Wall Street bankers), they were initially worn by fishermen in Norway. The easy-to-wear silhouette made its way through Europe and eventually to America in the 1930s.

Read more