Once upon a time, tool watches relied on a specific design language for practical purposes. Take the pilot watch for example—their large legible numerals (for easy reading), oversized crowns (for handling with gloves), and extra long straps (to wear over thick leather jackets) were all explicitly chosen to serve the airmen that wore them.

By Roberta Naas Celebrating its long-standing relationship with aviation, Zenith watches unveils two new limited-edition series of its more famed watches: the Pilot Type 20 GMT and the Pilot Type 20 Extra Special. Each watch is being offered in a run of just 50 pieces, and each is available only in the American and Canadian markets. Even better, just in time for the Fourth of July, these watches sport deep blue dials that are incredibly appealing to the American watch lover. While these watches were first shown at the Couture Time show in Las Vegas

IWC Schaffhausen has delighted fans of pilot watches with special editions dedicated to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, but has kept the best for last...