Following the successful relaunch of the legendary Fortis Flieger in 2020, the Swiss watch manufacturer extends the series with a new duo of Fortis Flieger Midnight Blue watches, the F39 with a 39 millimetre case and the F41 with a 41 millimetre diameter.
If you read our review on the Fortis Flieger F-43 Bicompax watch we published at the beginning of the year, you’ll know that for the past few years, Fortis went under the radar to concentrate on re-establishing their identity and create a whole new family of no-nonsense tool watches. On their return, they launched said Flieger F-43 Bicompax watch alongside a Triple GMT and duo of Automatic time-and-date models, all inspired by the German Flieger watches from WWII as well as the original Fortis Flieger watches launched back in 1987. Returning with the same tool watch aesthetic, the new Fortis Flieger Midnight Blue F39 and F41 watches focus on the classic time-and-date display with a fresh dark blue dial and a surprisingly new sustainable case and strap design.
Sustainable watchmaking is certainly not a new subject in the luxury watchmaking world, and yet it is still refreshing when large luxury watch names like Fortis mark themselves on a journey to becoming more environmentally friendly. For the Fortis Flieger Midnight Blue watches, both the 39mm and 41mm cases, are made from recycled steel while the grey-blue coloured Indigo leather straps are crafted from sustainable resources, olive leaf tanned and handmade in Germany. The same recyclable stainless steel is used for the screw down crown, closed case back and the knurled-edged 24-click bezel adorned with a 12 hour scale. Together, these elements promise a water resistance of 200 metres.
Other than its colour, the dial of the Fortis Flieger Midnight Blue F39 and F41 watches retain all the unique elements of the previous Fortis Flieger watches launched over the past twelve months. Large propeller-shaped hands for the hours and minutes are applied with glow in the dark Superluminova while the typical triangular-shaped marker at 12 o’clock delivers unmissable lume. Also at 12 o’clock is the Fortis SYNCHROLINE, a five-second orange-coloured visual indicator that is designed to help pilots sync up in flight. The rest of the indexes are fashioned from a luminous compound Fortis calls BRIXTRACK which takes the shape of a brick and delivers high contrast in all lighting conditions. Further elements of Berlac Fluor Orange can be found on the box-shaped date window at 3 o’clock, the seconds hand and on the “Automatic” lettering.
Ensuring the uninterrupted passage of the hours, minutes, seconds and date complications is the UW-30 automatic winding movement, the same Sellita-based calibre that powers the two black-dialled F-41 and F-39 Automatic watches previously launched. Its robust construction includes 26 jewels and a unidirectionally winding rotor which helps provide a power reserve of 38 hours. The Fortis Flieger Midnight Blue watches also run at a frequency of 28,800vph.
If you’d like to learn more about the Fortis Flieger Midnight Blue F39 and F41 watches, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with our talented team of luxury watch experts by calling 01335 453453 or message help@jurawatches.co.uk.
Specifications: Fortis Flieger Midnight Blue F39 & F41 Watches (F4220011, F4220013)
- Case Size: 39mm or 41mm
- Case Material: Recycled stainless steel
- Bezel: Fixed, 12 hour scale with 24 clicks
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides
- Crown: Screw down
- Case Back: Closed
- Water Resistance: 200 metres
- Movement: UW-30 automatic winding movement
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Jewels: 26
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Midnight blue with Superluminova and Brixtrack markers, orange accents and Synchroline at 12H
- Strap: Indigo leather in grey-blue, olive leaf tanned, genuine cow leather from sustainable production
- Buckle: Pin
- RRP: £1,750
