Category: FORTIS

May 13 2022

The Fortis Stratoliner S-41 A Watch For Space Travelers

When space exploration began in the 1950s, few would have guessed that 65 years later a new phase would begin, space tourism, although today it is a reality within the reach of few, very soon it will be disseminated, and that is why Fortis has just released a trio (or a quartet to be exact) of purpose-built chronographs.

For this, Fortis redefines the Stratoliner Collection and with it also debuts its new Caliber WERK17, which has been tested by the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) in the stratosphere and under severe conditions.

The new WERK 17 automatic movement features a column wheel, a custom traversing bridge that guarantees robustness in space, the highest accuracy and 60 hours of power reserve.

Moving straight to the new Stratoliner S-41, they come in a 41mm stainless steel case with slender lugs, smooth bezel, sapphire crystal on the front and case back, crown with the brand’s logo at three o’clock, two pushers buttons and 200 meters of water resistance.

The dials, in addition to the three central hands, feature a double day-date window at 3 o’clock, a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock and finally a 30-minute counter at 12 o’clock. It is in the tones of the dial that the three variants differ, with the White Dust variant featuring a white dial and counters, the Cool Gray variant with a grey dial and white counters and the Cosmic Gray variant with a grey cool dial and with the counters in black.

The dials of all variants come with some details in sky blue, which in addition are filled with Super-LumiNova X1 also in shades of blue, which is the case of the central chronograph seconds hand, the first 30 seconds of the minute scale (representing 90 seconds), the first 15 minutes and 1 1/2 hours of the respective counters, in a clear allusion to the different phases of Virgin Galactic’s stratospheric flight. Finally, the engraving of the quote “Der Himmel ist nicht das Ende der Welt” on the sapphire crystal of the case back, means “Sky is no limit”.

The watches are offered with a block bracelet with a slide clasp or on an aviator strap.

As I mentioned above, this initial trio towards the end of the year will become a quartet as these three variants will be joined by the special edition “Blue Japan” which, as you can guess from the name, will come with a navy blue dial and counters in white and small details in red and grey, let’s wait.

Our Opinion

Fortis’ connection to the world of aviation and space began a long time ago, and since then it has produced high-quality watches whose recognition is often overshadowed by the limelight of other brands.

That’s why we’re not surprised that this launch comes at a good time when space exploration from a tourist point of view is gaining more and more importance.

The new Stratoliner S-41 not only surprises from the outside, above all for the details filled with lume that promise to steal the attention of its owners at night but also from the inside for its new “heart” WERK 17.

Of the three (four) variants that I liked the most so far is the white one, the white uniformity of the dial with the black and sky blue details seem to match perfectly. And if here a few years ago I was allergic to white dials, more and more I’m starting to develop a special appetite for them… I suppose it’s due to age.

Introducing the New Fortis Marinemaster

Ricardo Amaral FORTIS, NEW RELEASES 0

A few months ago at the time of the launch of the Flieger F-39 and F-41 “Midnight Blue” models, Fortis made an environmental commitment to start producing more and more watches from sustainable materials, and today with the launch of the reborn Marinemaster collection confirms this pact with the watch cases being produced from recyclable steel. No wonder why the new Marinemaster is all about “nature” and despite not being a diving watch even though it could be a lot due to a generous 300 and 500 meters of water resistance, it invites outdoor activities like fishing, windsurfing, hiking, or camping.

The new Fortis Marinemaster comes in two models in different sizes, the M-40 offered in 4 variants and the M-44 offered in a single variant, let’s move on to the features that define each of the models.

As the nomenclature indicates the M-40 comes with a 40 mm recycled steel case, black stainless steel gear bezel, 3 o’clock crown with crown guards, hidden lugs, sapphire crystal glass, screw-in case back, and 300 meters of water resistance. As we have already mentioned, the M-40 is offered in four color variants on the dial – Rockstone gray, woodpecker green, serenity blue, and snow white. The textured dial with the repeating “O” pattern of the Fortis logo comes with a chapter ring in the same color as the dial, applied hour markers and baton hours and minutes hands all filled with Super-LumiNova, center lollipop seconds hand and a date window at 3 o’clock. Inside is equipped with automatic Caliber UW30 movement based on the Sellita SW 200-1 that offers up to 38 hours of power reserve. All variants are offered with a stainless steel bracelet or a horizon rubber strap in the same color as the chosen variant and which comes with the same embossed “O” pattern as the dial. Prices range from € 2,950 to € 3,300 if accompanied by a rubber strap or a stainless steel bracelet respectively.

The Marinemaster M-44, in addition to coming with a generous 44 mm recycled steel case, is much more than a simple variant of larger dimensions, adding some interesting new features compared to the standard M-40. Starting with the case that features an extra crown at 10 o’clock, which allows you to turn the bezel in both directions through the new patented Fortis Lock System and which also comes with a powerful 500 m of water resistance that is the envy of many diver watches.

The black dial features exactly the same textured pattern with the “O” of the Fortis logo of the M-40 model, but the chapter ring features amber-orange accompanied in color by the minute hand and the rubber strap if you choose this option. Inside lives another novelty, the new and powerful Caliber Werk-11 produced by Kenissi that offers up to 72 hours of power reserve and is Chronometer Certified by COSC.

Prices range from €4,250 to €4,600 if accompanied by a rubber strap or a stainless steel bracelet respectively.

Our Opinion

It seems to us a good addition to the options available from Fortis filling some gap that existed at the field watch level, if from an aesthetic point of view the serenity blue variant was the one that most seduced us, from a technical point of view the M-44 is the which impresses us most with the powerful Caliber Werk-11 and the amazing 500 m of water resistance.

Introducing the Fortis Flieger Redefined: F-41 and F-39 in Midnight Blue

Ricardo Amaral FORTIS, NEW RELEASES 0

The search for a sustainable planet must be increasingly commonplace, where we all paddle synchronously in one direction, so when we often open the email and are bombarded with news about the launch of new watches, we can’t help but be grateful to all brands, and here we take the opportunity to introduce a disclaimer proudly saying that there are already some, that make an effort to contribute to a greener world.

Today Fortis introduced us to the most recent variants of its Flieger collection, the new F-41, and F-39 Midnight Blue Models.

As you may already suspect, the two new Fliegers not only feature a color variation on the dial but also material changes related to sustainable solutions, now sporting a recycled steel case and a bracelet handmade from olive leaf tanned.

Regarding the other specifications, the new F-41 and F-39 Midnight Blue do change little compared to the two previous variants in black, 41 and 39mm diameter case respectively, bidirectional bezel with 12-hour scale with 24 clicks, screw-in crown engraved with the brand logo at 3 o’clock, the case back also in recycled steel with ultra engraved, anti-reflective sapphire glass on both sides and 200 meters water resistance.

The midnight blue matte dial features a ‘Brixtrack’ minute scale, stick-shaped hour indices and central hands all filled with Super-LumiNova X1 with blue afterglow (the black variants came with green afterglow). As with all the other models in the collection, the two new F-41 and F-39 come with the usual triangle with two dots below marking 12 o’clock and on top with the double-five second ‘Synchroline’ painted with Berlac Fluor Orange, which also extends to the second hand and date window frame at 3 o’clock.

Inside, all the same, both watches come equipped with the UW-30 automatic movement that offers 38 hours of power reserve. The watch is offered with a gray olive leaf tanned strap and both models are available for €2,050.

First Impressions

Back in September of last year, a limited edition Flieger F-39-J of just 50 pieces was sold exclusively to the Japanese market and featured a dark blue dial that left water in the mouth. Although different, this new variant is presented with a more open blue and with Berlac Fluor Orange that makes all the difference on the dial, we find this edition more interesting and more suitable for a Flieger. As we have already mentioned, we applaud all that are sustainable materials and the new F-41 and F-39 are just that, however, we cannot leave one recommendation here, an upgrade to a movement with greater power reserve, it seems to us that 38 hours of power reserve are short for current days and for a €2,000 watch.

Fortis presents “The Hook Strap”

MRSTATELESS FORTIS, NEW RELEASES 0

Fortis has now launched “The Hook Strap”, an elastic band that uses a “Hook and Loop” closure system.

Manufactured by Nick Mankey in California, a leather designer and craftsman whose motto is “Original Items for Original People”. If you want to know more about Nick Mankey, we leave the link here.

These straps are made of 1.5 mm thick twill-woven polyester elastic webbing and the 316L stainless steel hook. Making them super comfortable on the wrist, breathable, resistant to water and shock.

Available for watches with a lug width of 20 or 21 mm and in three sizes (small, medium and large).

For now, they are available in three colors, light gray, moody green and orange. The orange color is the only one with a black coating hook. All feature the printed Fortis brand and distinct designs.

They are already available from 65 €.

April 20 2021

AMADEE-20 the New Fortis Cosmonauts Chronograph for Mars

Ricardo Amaral FORTIS, NEW RELEASES 0

Let’s go to another Pitch Watch.

Amadee is a research program of the Austrian Space Forum, whose main objective is to prepare future planetary missions by recreating similar environments where Analog Astronauts (who are true astronauts) test all aspects of future missions.

In October, in the Negev desert (Israel), the Austrian Space Forum in partnership with the Israel Space Agency will simulate the exploration of Mars (the next giant leap) with a strong focus on detecting life.

Fortis decided to join this mission and make a watch, the AMADEE-20, which will equip the entire crew involved, which includes the field astronauts and the station crew.

So, let’s take a look at this big watch, although its size comes with interesting details.

The 44 mm case is made of titanium with a sandblasted finish, which extends across the bracelet with a slide clasp. The new “Misson Control Bezel” (MCB) in the case, comes with two markers, the usual 12 o’clock marker when aligned with the cardinal points of the North and a second marker at 2 o’clock, the space between the two markers cover 10 minutes, which represent the average delay time for communications between Mars and Earth in both directions. The solid case-back is engraved with space orbits, where the Earth, the Moon and Mars are also represented and the inscription “The Next Giant Leap” at the top.

The silver dial is engraved with lines on the right side to symbolize the orbit of Mars, applied large numerals and hands injected with SuperLuminova X1, 30-minute counter at 12 o’clock, day-date window at 3 o’clock, small-seconds at 9 o’clock and applied mission patch at 6 o’clock.

Inside, the automatic movement Caliber UW-50 based on the Valjoux 7750 operates, offering up to 48 hours of power reserve.

The watch is now available in stores and can be purchased for the price of € 3,800.

General Specifications:

Brand: Fortis

Model: Official Cosmonauts Chronograph Amadee-20

Reference: F2040007

Dial: Stardust gray

Lume: Super-LumiNova

Case Material: Titanium

Case Dimensions: 44 mm Diameter

Crystal: Sapphire Glass

Case Back: Titanium

Water Resistance: 200 Meters

Strap: Titanium with slide clasp

Calibre: UW-50 (Valjoux 7750 base)

Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, day-date, chronograph

Winding: Automatic

Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 Vph)

Jewels: 25

Power Reserve: 48 Hours

Price: € 3,800

October 14 2020

Introducing the Fortis Flieger F-43 Triple-GMT

Ricardo Amaral FORTIS, NEW RELEASES 0

Fortis has just launched another new watch within its Flieger line that has been renewed since the beginning of this year and 2 months after the launch of the F-43 Bicompax which we had the opportunity to review here and which you can read about via the link, the F-43 Triple-GMT now arrives and, as the name implies, its main function is the simultaneous reading of hours in three different locations or if we prefer the reading of local time and the additional reading of two other zones. And if anyone at this moment is wondering how it works, we reveal it here, as it is no secret and we are convinced that most people already have this knowledge. The local time or the first zone is given to us by reading the central hands and here there is really no surprise, the hours of the second zone are given to us by the GMT hand through the small central display and here the reading is also quite simple, because just hit the hand with the time of the zone we want and follow it since it marks the 24 hours and so just follow, the hours of the third zone, it is already a little more complicated or at least it forces us to be a little more attentive, because it works according to the local time provided by the central dial, and how it works, by rotating the bezel, advance or delay the 12 o’clock marker on the bezel, according to the time difference, if for example, the zone where we want to obtain the time is 2 hours longer than our local time, therefore, we must turn the bezel to the left so that its 12 o’clock marker is aligned at the 10 o’clock position on the dial, but if for example the time of zone we intend to obtain has a delay of 5 hours from our local time, therefore, we must turn the bezel to the right so that its 12 o’clock marker is aligned at the 5 o’clock position on the dial and then just do the math, it seems complicated but in practice it is much simpler.

On the watch, it features the same design as previous Flieger line launches, that is, extremely appealing design with almost perfect luminosity provided by the green ‘Brixtrack’ and the Berlack Fluor Orange. As well as the F-43 Bicompax the F-43 Triple-GMT comes equipped with Synchroline, an essential function for pilots which we also had the opportunity to talk about in the article mentioned above. This watch, however, presents a novelty with regard to the dial as it has some texture on the black opalin dial which translates into an extra refinement to the watch. With regard to dimensions, the watch has a diameter of 43 mm, but with a thinner thickness of 15.5 mm, however, the great novelty is even in terms of the material of the case and the bracelet since, unlike the F-43 Bicompax made in stainless steel this GMT model has the titanium as the main material which gives it a reduced weight, 1/3 less than the weight of the F-43 Bicompax equipped with a bracelet. Inside it comes equipped with the automatic movement Werk 13 produced by Kenissi, which equips several brands including Tudor, it has a chronometer-certified by COSC and it has 70 hours of power reserve.

Final considerations, as we have already had the opportunity to say, Fortis has been doing an excellent job with the launch of watches of indisputable quality and currently more attractive in terms of design, we are fans of the brand and we will continue to pay attention to its work.

General Specifications:

Brand: Fortis

Model: Flieger F-43 Triple-GMT

Reference: F.426.0000

Dial: Black Opalin

Indexes: ‘Brixtrack’

Lume: Yes

Case Material: Titanium

Case Dimensions: 43mm Diameter

Crystal: Sapphire Glass

Case Back: Solid in titanium

Caliber: WERK 13

Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, GMT, 12 hours bezel

Winding: Automatic

Jewels: 27

Chronometer Certified: COSC

Power Reserve: 70 Hours

Water Resistance: 200 Meters

Strap: Titanium bracelet with a slide clasp

Price: € 4,500

Availability: Now

August 22 2020

Introducing the Fortis Flieger F-43 Bicompax

Ricardo Amaral FORTIS, NEW RELEASES 0

Fortis is a Swiss watchmaking company founded in 1912 in Gretchen Switzerland by Walter Vogt, the factory where the first Fortis was produced is still the same one that today produces modern Fortis and although over time the brand has been underestimated the company’s history is remarkable. So, let’s take a quick look back, in 1926 Fortis started producing the world’s first automatic wristwatch, the result of an alliance with the British John Harwood, the father of the automatic movement, in 1940 the brand launched the first, or at least one of the first waterproof watches, the ‘Fortissimo’. The impressive milestones of success do not end here, in 1962 Fortis begins the space journey and builds its first space watch, the Spacematic AR (All Risks), an automatic watch tested to the limits by the US space mission, in 1994 the Russian Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City chose Fortis as the official cosmonaut’s chronograph and since then, it has never stopped supplying, often as exclusive supplier, for space missions but also for air forces from several countries.

Now it’s time to stop time travel and go back to the present, Fortis has launched in recent days a modern version of its award-winning 1987 Flieger, the Flieger F-43 Bicompax, despite being a true watch tool it is a beautiful watch, almost anyone can remain indifferent to the colour palette of their dial, with special emphasis on the double-colour luminescence, after all, we are talking about a pilot watch where is no room for failure and the watch can be the last resort if all else fails.

The Flieger F-43 comes in a 43mm diameter stainless steel case, with a 12-hour concave bidirectional bezel, the dial comes in matte black with a ‘Brixtrack’ minute scale (as Fortis calls it) with large hour indexes with green luminescence, such as the minute and hour hands, the 12 o’clock are marked with the traditional pilot triangle with the two dots, where we can find a double five-second ‘Synchroline’ painted with Berlac Fluor Orange. The same Berlac can also be found in various details of this F-43, in the central second-hand part of the Bicompax, around the 30-minute subdial at 3 o’clock, around the window day at 6 o’clock, on the 13th day, a precious detail, and finally the inscription ‘Bicompax’ just above the window day. On the dial, we can also find a seconds subdial at 9 o’clock.

On the outside of the case, we can find a central screw-in crown and two shaped pushers that control the Bicompax, a sapphire-crystal glass with anti-reflective coating on both sides and 200 meters of water resistance.

On the movement that equips this Flieger, an automatic self-winding movement Caliber UW-51 with 48 hours of power reserve.

The Fortis Flieger F-43 is available in two options, with a stainless-steel bracelet with slide-clasp priced at € 3,800 or with a vegetable-tanned genuine cow leather strap priced at € 3,300.

Two clarifications, first, Flieger is a German word and means pilot, and second, ‘Synchroline’ is described by Fortis as an important and essential instrument used in the squadron of aircraft in its alignment by teammates.

Finally, it seems to us that Fortis is doing a great job with this new release and turning to the classic models that made its history, and here we have to give credit to the new direction led by Philipp.

General Specifications:

Brand: Fortis

Model: Flieger F-43 Bicompax

Dial: Black Opalin

Indexes: ‘Brixtrack’

Lume: Yes

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Dimensions: 43mm Diameter

Crystal: Sapphire Glass

Case Back: Solid in Stainless Steel

Caliber: Fortis UW-51

Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, 30 minutes counter chronograph

Winding: Automatic Self-Winding

Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph)

Power Reserve: 48 Hours

Water Resistance: 200 Meters

Strap: Stainless steel bracelet or leather strap

Price: €3,300 (leather strap), €3,800 (bracelet)

Availability: Now

Category: FORTIS

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