With the new AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane wristwatch, AVI-8 Time Instruments pay tribute to Group Captain Paul Ward Spencer Bulman (1896-1963), who was the chief test pilot for Hawker Aircraft.
George Bulman flew for the Royal Flying Corps (later Royal Air Force) and was awarded the Military Cross and the Air Force Cross for his bravery and service to the country. Following his retirement from active service, Bulman became a test pilot for and became a director of the Hawker Aircraft Company. He worked closely with the company’s chief designer, Sir Sidney Camm and had tested many of Camm’s prototypes, including the Hawker Hurricane.
In commemorating Bulman, Avi-8 looks to reflect and pay tribute to the behind the scenes efforts of engineers, test pilots, designers all working with the most critical of briefs, the very defense of their country, under the most trying of wartime conditions..
AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane AV-4068 Chronograph Bulman Edition
Measuring 45 mm in diameter, the watch boasts a deliberately subdued look at first glance with a bead blasted matte finish. The dial harmonizes a classic pilot watch outlook with a cockpit inspired design. Instrumentation like chronograph subdials sit at the 12 and 6 o’clock position with a raised debossed tone on tone roundel at the 9 o’clock position and date display at the 3 o’clock position.
Arabic and baton shaped hour markers frame the watch perfectly with cutaway detailing with a luminous under dial giving clarity and legibility in all lighting conditions. Classically shaped arrow or “Fleiger” style hands are suitably lumed and are precisely proportioned and balanced on the watch.
The strong bold lines belie a subtlety and layering of the dial which includes a finely distressed layer of dial work which marries well with the vintage military inspired aesthetics of the watch.
Vintage hand stitched leather is similarly distressed to create and to deliver more character with wear while offering a supple and comfortable fit on the wrist.
Water resistant to 5ATM and powered by a precision Japanese Seiko TMI module chronograph movement, the watch is as much a dependable piece of wrist instrumentation for every day wear as it is a suitable tribute to the Hurricane and one of the many unsung heroes attached to its legacy.
Please visit AV-8 online store for more details.
Technical details
Model: AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane AV-4068 Chronograph Bulman Edition
Case
Stainless steel case
Diameter: 45.0 mm
Thickness: 12.0 mm
Stainless steel case back
Front glass: Mineral Lens
Crown: Normal crown
Bezel: Fixed Case Bezel
Water resistance: 5 ATM
Dial
Distressed Finish Layered Dial
Indexes: Cutaway Luminous Indexes
Hands: Sword Shape Luminous Hands
Functions
Date display
Stopwatch 1/1 second hand
Stopwatch minute hand
Movement
Caliber VD51 – TMI
Quartz – 3 hands with date
Origin: Japan
Strap
Hand Stitched Genuine Leather Strap
Buckle: Tang buckle
Strap width: 22.0mm
Warranty
2 Years
Price
RRP (GBP): 165
Please visit AV-8 online store for more details.
