gear navigator Tissot Navigator World Time

gear navigator Tissot Navigator World TimeEvery vintage mechanical wristwatch was designed for a purpose. Sometimes it was based on style, others on function. The Tissot Navigator was blessed with both. Designed for military wearers probably pilots, because of the inclusion of the world timer bezel this Tissot Navigator T12 is a rare and interesting execution of a 24 hour mechanical watch. While many military watches included 24 hour time by supplementing the dial or bezel with additional

Every vintage mechanical wristwatch was designed for a purpose.  Sometimes it was based on style, others on function.  The Tissot Navigator was blessed with both.  

Designed for military wearers - probably pilots, because of the inclusion of the world timer bezel - this Tissot Navigator T12 is a rare and interesting execution of a 24-hour mechanical watch.  While many military watches included 24-hour time by supplementing the dial or bezel with additional numerals (adding a 13 at one o'clock, 14 at two, and so on) the Navigator went full bore, producing a 24-hour dial and movement combination.

The result is incredible. 

The 24-hour time is also ingeniously reflected in the two-tone dial design.  The top half of the dial, colored in light tan, corresponds to the most common hours of light – 0600 hours to 1800 hours, or 6 AM to 6 PM.  Conversely the bottom half, shaded in a grey-brown, corresponds to hours of darkness - 1800 hours to 0600 hours, or 6PM to 6AM.  

With a robust automatic movement set into the gorgeously big compressor-style case, complete with date and inner rotating world-timing bezel, this beaut is 2 parts function, 1 part sex.  And, with the addition of a date function, this watch goes from being wearable militaria to every day wearer.  Throw in the original Tissot-signed steel bracelet and you have a game-changing piece of vintage horology at a hell of a price.