AVI-8 Spitfire Type 300 Automatic Edition
AVI-8 is presenting its Spitfire range of timepieces, with the first model titled the Spitfire Type 300 Automatic Edition – paying tribute to the prototype Supermarine developed in 1934. Inspired by the lines, form and design of the famed World War 2 era fighter, AVI-8 delivers a unique take on a stylish timepiece that draws from one of the most famous aircraft to have ever flown.
Spitfire
This tidy, elegant fighter was a national hero and a pillar of the Royal Air Force. Its cutting edge design and superior specification gave it a fighting edge in the air against enemy aircraft during World War 2. Throughout the chapters of the air effort, pilots of the RAF skillfully moved the ever-impressive Spitfire from one battle to another.
Arguably no battle was more important than the Battle of Britain, where side by side Hurricanes and Spitfires equipped with Rolls Royce Merlin engines helped successfully defend the skies over Great Britain in what was to be a crucial and pivotal stand against the Nazi Luftwaffe.
AVI-8 Spitfire Type 300 Automatic Edition
In designing a watch that takes its cues from the Spitfire, AVI-8 has looked at both the obvious and subtle details of its design and fabrication, purposefully injecting them into this timepiece.
A 42mm diameter case is shaped to follow the elegantly elliptical form of the Spitfire. From lug to case body, from the top curve of the convex sapphire lens to the case back and flowing side profile, the Type 300 is an immediate form driven echo of the Spitfire.
The crown, with its bulbous shape, subtly references the nose of the propeller. In designing the dial, the AVI-8 team looked immediately to the cockpit of the Spitfire. Taking the clear-cut legibility of the gauges and readouts of the aircraft, the Type 300 uses the indexes, hands and layout as its primary blueprint of the dial.
Through intelligent design and spatial arrangement, the outer ring of the dial slopes down to the lower dial’s main platform where a seconds subdial site at the five o’clock position is paired with the date display window at the three o’clock position.
Taking further cues from the cockpit, the syringe like hand set has been modified based on the hands used inside the altimeter and air speed indicators inside the Spitfire. Indexes and hands are lavishly layered with high grade Swiss lume for adept readout in low light conditions.
The Type 300 employs a custom modified Japanese made, 21 Jewel movement based on the robustly reliable Miyota 8 series. The rotor is shaped after the silhouette of the Spitfire as an ever spinning reminder of the plane that has inspired the watch.
Viewed easily through the exhibition see-through case back, the rotor, the movement and inner symphony of gears and wheels are a delight to behold as they work together in harmony to power the watch.
Securely holding the case to the wrist, a gracefully brushed solid stainless steel bracelet with solid deployant clasp tapers from 22mm at the lugs to 18mm. Each watch is paired with an additional premium genuine leather strap, offering versatility to quickly and easily change your style.
More details at AV-8 online store.
Technical details
Model: AVI-8 Spitfire Type 300 Automatic Edition, Reference AV-4073
Case
316L stainless steel case
Sapphire lens with anti-reflective coating
Diameter: 42.0 mm
Thickness: 13.6 mm
Crown: Normal crown
Bezel: Fixed case bezel
See-through exhibition case-back
Water resistance: 5 ATM
Dial
Multi-layered dial
Indexes: Swiss luminous applied indexes
Hands: Swiss luminous hands
Strap
Stainless steel bracelet + extra genuine leather strap
Width (MM): 22.0 mm
Solid stainless steel fold over buckle with safety lock
Functions
Hour, minute and small second
Date display
Movement
Caliber 8218 Miyota
Automatic 2 hands with date and small second
21 Jewels
Custom rotor
Warranty
2 Years
Recommended Retail Price
AV-4073-11/ AV-4073-22: £ 335.00/$ 395.00
AV-4073-33/ AV-4073-44: £ 350.00/$ 425.00
Please visit AV-8 Watches online store for more technical details, pricing and availability.
