The altimeter on your wrist

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Aquilon & Co ALTI Prestige Edition Pilot's Watch

Starting from 995 €

The Aquilon & Co ALTI Prestige Edition is a French pilot's watch inspired by mechanical cockpit altimeters. Designed and assembled in France by a young brand founded opposite the Versoud aerodrome, it pairs a 39mm steel case, a matte black dial with white markings and an in-house complication called the Marshals' Wheel, which plays out over seven days the catapult sequence of flight deck officers. Available in two versions, Prestige Black and Prestige Brown, it stands out for its gold-plated aeroplane-shaped seconds hand and hand-stitched alligator strap. An aviation-themed dress watch, designed for enthusiasts who already own several watches and are looking for something different.

Aquilon & Co ALTI Prestige Edition pilot's watch

Aquilon & Co is a young French watchmaking house that claims to design and hand-assemble its watches in its Grenoble workshop, with quality control carried out in France. The brand was founded opposite the Versoud aerodrome, and that direct proximity to light aviation runs through its entire catalogue. Its founder, Gaspar, explains that he wanted to create watches with character inspired by flight instruments, aimed at those who appreciate objects that carry a story rather than interchangeable timepieces.

The brand's Pilote Collection comprises twelve references across three lines. HORIZON covers the sporty register with a 40mm case, SPEED plays the titanium card with a 36mm case and a fighter jet tachymeter, while ALTI is the top line of the catalogue. The brand sums up its own positioning in a simple formula: more dressy with ALTI, more sporty with HORIZON.

The ALTI pays tribute to the mechanical altimeters found in fighter jet cockpits. Its matte black dial and highly legible white markings echo the graphic rigour of flight instruments, with sharp contrasts and instant readability. But its real trump card is the Marshals' Wheel, an animated display that depicts the Yellow Shirts, the flight deck officers aboard aircraft carriers whose precise gestures govern every catapult launch. Over seven days, the full sequence unfolds, from setup to take-off. This storytelling mechanism, exclusive to the brand, makes the ALTI a watch that is talked about as much as it is worn.

Technical specifications Aquilon & Co ALTI Prestige Edition

Brand: Aquilon & Co
Model: ALTI, Prestige Edition
Indicative price: 995 €
Movement: Automatic
Calibre: Base NH36A
Diameter: 39 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Water resistance: 3 ATM
Materials: 316L stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Dial: Matte black
Strap: Hand-stitched alligator
Warranty: 2 years

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The Aquilon & Co ALTI Prestige Edition pilot's watch

The ALTI Prestige Edition adopts a measured format that sets it apart from oversized aviation watches. Its 316L stainless steel case measures 39mm in diameter for a 13mm thickness, a compact silhouette in diameter but one that owns its height, a direct consequence of the complication housed in the dial. The 20mm lug width corresponds to a widely used standard, making strap changes easy for those who want to vary the character of the piece. Legibility remains this watch's first priority. The matte black dial and its white markings follow the visual logic of cockpit altimeters: sharp contrasts, clear hierarchy, no flourishes that could get in the way of the information.

Montre Aquilon &amp; Co ALTI 7

The date has been repositioned vertically at 6 o'clock, on the axis, as on a genuine flight instrument, which preserves the dial's symmetry. The sculpted, aeroplane-shaped seconds hand, gold-plated, adds a touch of fantasy that contrasts with the overall rigour. On the protection side, the brand has chosen materials expected at this price point. A sapphire crystal covers the front of the case, and the open caseback also receives a sapphire glass that reveals the movement. The 3 ATM water resistance makes the intended use clear: this is an aviation-themed dress watch, protected against splashes, but not designed for immersion or water-based activities.

Two Prestige editions and an exclusive complication

The ALTI Prestige Edition comes in two versions at the same price of 995 €. The Prestige Black features a hand-stitched black alligator strap, while the Prestige Brown adopts the same strap in brown alligator. Apart from this strap difference, the two editions share exactly the same specifications and the same matte black dial: the choice therefore comes down to style, stricter for the first, warmer for the second. In both cases, the steel buckle and the length of around 20cm remain identical, and the leather was selected for its suppleness and its ability to develop a patina unique to each wearer. The heart of the model remains its in-house complication.

Montre Aquilon &amp; Co ALTI 25

The animated display at 9 o'clock, named the Marshals' Wheel, pays tribute to the flight deck officers aboard aircraft carriers nicknamed the Yellow Shirts. Over seven days, it plays out the full catapult sequence, from the aircraft being positioned through to take-off. To integrate it and move the date to 6 o'clock, the brand states it reworked in its workshop an automatic movement whose base it discloses: NH36A. With its 41-hour power reserve and 24 jewels, this modified calibre favours the reliability of a proven architecture over technical showmanship. The brand's messaging embraces this positioning: the ALTI is aimed at those who already own several watches and are looking for something different, a piece they won't see on every wrist.

Aquilon & Co ALTI Édition Prestige pilot's watch: the flight instrument reinterpreted

The ALTI Édition Prestige combines a 39mm 316L steel case with a 13mm thickness, a sapphire crystal on both the front and the back, and a matte black dial with white markings directly inspired by cockpit altimeters. Its automatic movement, based on an NH36A calibre reworked in-house, offers 41 hours of power reserve and drives the Marshals' Wheel, an exclusive complication placed at 9 o'clock. The vertical date at 6 o'clock and the gold-plated aeroplane-shaped seconds hand complete the visual signature. Water-resistant to 3 ATM, delivered on a hand-stitched alligator strap in black or brown, it comes with a two-year warranty and is assembled in France.

Movement

The ALTI Prestige Edition is powered by an automatic movement whose base the brand discloses: an NH36A calibre reworked in its workshop to integrate the in-house complication and move the date to 6 o'clock, on the dial's axis. It beats at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour, has 24 jewels and offers a 41-hour power reserve. The displayed functions are hours, minutes, seconds, the vertical date and the animated Marshals' Wheel display, which plays out the take-off sequence over seven days.

Diameter and materials

The case is made of 316L stainless steel and measures 39mm in diameter for a 13mm thickness, with a 20mm lug width. The front is fitted with a sapphire crystal, and the open caseback is likewise closed by a sapphire glass that reveals the movement. The matte black dial with white markings ensures instant legibility, punctuated by the aeroplane-shaped seconds hand, gold-plated. Both editions, Prestige Black and Prestige Brown, share this same dial and differ only in the strap colour.

Water resistance

The ALTI Édition Prestige is rated to 3 ATM water resistance, equivalent to 30 metres. The brand states in its warranty policy that this level covers splashes and water spray, but excludes any immersion. It should therefore be considered an aviation-themed dress watch rather than an instrument designed for water: showering, swimming and water sports should be avoided. The open sapphire crystal caseback and the alligator strap confirm this orientation, as they do not cope well with repeated contact with moisture.

Accessories

The watch is delivered on a hand-stitched alligator strap, black on the Prestige Black edition and brown on the Prestige Brown edition, closed with a steel buckle. Its length is around 20cm and its lug width matches the 20mm lug spacing, a standard that easily allows other strap fittings. The leather was chosen for its suppleness and its ability to develop a patina unique to each wearer. The brand has not published a detailed box contents list on its product page.

Warranty

Aquilon & Co grants a 2-year commercial warranty from the date of purchase, covering the movement, hands, hour markers and dial. This comes in addition to the statutory warranties applicable in France to any purchase. The brand also sells direct from its website, with free worldwide delivery, payment in three instalments and free returns within 14 days. Assembly and quality control are carried out in France, which makes after-sales support easier.