Introducing the Archimede Pilot 42GMT

By offering classic designs coupled with solid German build quality and Swiss movements, Archimede is a brand that offers a pretty clear value proposition. The firm’s latest—dubbed the Pilot 42GMT—is a play on the classic flieger template, and as the name suggests it features a GMT/dual-time zone complication.

Click here to read our review of the Archimede Pilot 42H Bronze.

Measuring 42mm in diameter, 9.5mm thick, and 51mm lug-to-lug, the Ickler-made case features a brushed finish and a large diamond-shaped crown at three. Sandwiching the mid-case is a sapphire crystal with antireflective coating at the top and a screw-down case back with a mineral viewing glass at the back. A solid case back is also an option should you want it. The case is rated to 5 atm.

The dial then is matte black with a white printed minute/second track and numerals. For the primary handset, you have a classic pair of flieger-style swords with black trim. The GMT function is tracked via a separate 24-hour index closer to the center of the dial, with a red sword hand as the indicator. A date window with a matching wheel is positioned at six within this index. It’s relatively discreet and well-integrated into the design.

Overall, the design looks like a balanced implementation of the complication. Granted, this is not the first time we’ve seen a flieger-styled watch with a GMT function—check out our review of the Sinn 856 UTC—but it is one of the few versions of this style of watch to feature a more traditional flieger design. Personally, I find the red hand a touch intrusive on the dial (I much prefer Sinn’s yellow-tipped, but otherwise stealthy GMT hand), but I do like that the shape matches the hour hand.

Powering the watch is an elaboré ETA 2893-2 automatic movement very lightly decorated with the brand’s logo on the rotor. (To read more about the 28xx-movement family, click here).

As they have with past watches, Archimede is offering a number of options for customizing the watch at extra cost, among them engraving the case back or case, a crystal with AR on both sides, and numerous strap and bracelet options.
The Archimede Pilot 42GMT sells for €1,080 on strap (€907.56 without VAT, which is about $1,022) and for €1,200 on bracelet (€1,008.40 without VAT, which is about $1,352). To purchase, visit Archimede.