AVI-8 Celebrates the “Flying Shamrock” with the Spitfire Smith 24-Hour Automatic

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, AVI-8 has introduced the Spitfire Smith 24 Hour Automatic Paddy Limited Edition, a new aviation-inspired watch created to honor Paddy Finucane, the highest-scoring Irish fighter pilot of the Second World War.

For the unfamiliar, Finucane quickly established himself as one of the Royal Air Force’s most respected pilots, known for both his skill and leadership at a remarkably young age. His Spitfire carried a shamrock marking alongside his initials, a personal emblem that earned the aircraft the nickname “The Flying Shamrock.” Both the legacy of Finucane and the Spitfire aircraft both inform several elements of the watch’s design.

As you may have guessed, the dial is finished in green, referencing the markings carried on Finucane’s aircraft. Applied indices and large numerals follow the clear, functional layout associated with aviation instruments, keeping the focus on readability. To complete the special nods to Finucane, a shamrock motif appears on the dial and again on the exhibition caseback.

The watch features a 42mm stainless steel case measuring 14.5mm thick and topped with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal. Inside is a Japanese 24-hour automatic movement, a format long associated with aviation timekeeping and extended missions, reinforcing the watch’s connection to Finucane and the aviation history behind the design.

The Spitfire Smith Paddy Limited Edition is paired with a green leather strap that complements the dial and overall aviation Shamrock-inspired palette. Each watch is individually numbered and presented in a dedicated commemorative box created specifically for the release.

The Spitfire Smith 24 Hour Automatic Paddy Limited Edition is available now via the AVI-8 website, with a pricetag of $425.