Launched in collaboration with the Royal British Legion, the new AVI-8 Flyboy Royal British Legion Tri-Service Chronograph Limited Edition commemorates and celebrates the three branches of the British Armed Forces: the Royal Navy, the British Army and the Royal Air Force.
The RBL provides a lifeline for serving personnel, veterans and their families, supporting them in the face of hardships, injuries and bereavements. The money raised from the sale of the AVI-8 Flyboy will help the charity continue this vital work supporting the Armed Forces community throughout their lives.
The AVI-8 Flyboy Royal British Legion Tri-Service Chronograph houses the VK67 Calibre made by Time Module Inc., a subsidiary of Seiko. This TMI VK series Meca-quartz hybrid chronograph movement incorporates the pinpoint accuracy of a quartz movement with the charm, character and hand feel of a mechanical chronograph.
The choice of movement is of particular interest given the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence issue of a watch from Seiko to its military forces in the 1980s to update previous watch selections from British or Swiss watch companies. It was that timepiece featuring the 7A28 movement from Seiko that in fact made it the first analogue quartz chronograph movement to be delivered as a bonafide piece of military equipment.
The AVI-8 Flyboy Royal British Legion Tri-Service Chronograph aims to capture the same no-nonsense legibility and aesthetics of these 1980s era military issue timepieces but with the details and style that mark it as a timepiece all its own.
This timepiece comes with a solid marine grade stainless steel case measuring 42mm in diameter. It also boasts tidy but well-designed piston like chronograph pushers, while a hardened mineral lens delivers clear cut visibility to the dial and hands. Topping the crown is the Royal British Legion’s red two petal poppy enclosed in epoxy.
An inner bi-directional turning bezel adds instrument like functionality, while a choice of NATO, nylon embroidered strap or genuine supple yet tough leather strap ensures comfort and durability throughout.
In the night, the dial comes alive with a luminous field of poppies, adding an important and visually compelling reminder of those who have sacrificed and served.
The watch is available in a choice of 4 colourways. Each model is limited to 500 pieces. With each timepiece, the brand provides a vibrant blue and red canvas gift box, inspired by the Royal British Legion’s colours.
The retail price of AVI-8 Flyboy Royal British Legion Tri-Service Chronograph is approximately $350 (£370).
Proceeds from the sale (15 GBP per timepiece sold) are contributed to the RBL. Since its partnership with the Royal British Legion since May 2021, AVI-8 has raised over £50,000 for the charity.
Please visit AVI-8 watches website for more details.
Technical details
Model: AVI-8 Flyboy Royal British Legion Tri-Service Chronograph Limited Edition
Versions
- AV 4102 RBL 01: HIGH WYCOMBE
- AV 4102 RBL 02: PORTSMOUTH
- AV 4102 RBL 03: MARLBOROUGH LINES
- AV 4102 RBL 04: NAIROBI
Case
Stainless steel case
Case diameter: 42mm
Thickness: 13mm
Lug width: 22mm
Mineral lens with anti-reflective coating
Bidirectional inner bezel with 60-minute scale
Pull out crown with two Petal Poppy
Stainless steel case-back with engraved RBL logo
Water resistance: 5 ATM
Movement
Calibre reference M-SII-VK67-D3BKW
Meca-Quartz Chronograph with Date
Dial
4 Options: Black, Blue, Green, Cream
Multi-layered Dial with Swiss Luminous Poppies
Swiss luminous applied indexes
Swiss luminous hands
Strap
Genuine Leather Strap
Nylon NATO Strap with Ink-Filled Two Petal Poppy
Warranty
2 Years
Recommended retail price
USD $350 / GBP £370
More details at AVI-8 watches website.
