« An Impressive Pilot's Watch with Triple GMT or Bicompax Function »
Alarm wristwatches, space history, and early chronometers: watch connoisseurs know Fortis's legendary place in horology. To win over newcomers to its instruments as well, the Swiss manufacturer now delivers two compelling arguments: the F43 Bicompax and F43 Triple GMT from the Fortis Flieger Collection. Imposing timepieces that combine a brawny presence with maximum functionality and in-house innovations. Time to get to know this masculine duo!
Bicompax: The Mighty Fortis F43 with Chronograph Function
Introduced in 2020, the Bicompax holds special significance for the storied Grenchen brand: as the first completely redesigned model since owner and CEO Jupp Philipp took the helm in 2018, it ushers in the next chapter of the company's history. And it does so with a bang: a hefty 43 millimeters in diameter and 246 grams including the solid bracelet (alternatively replaceable with an Aviator leather strap) make the Fortis F43 a true heavyweight on the wrist.
The matte-brushed instrument deliberately forgoes polished surfaces to emphasize its rugged character and set itself clearly apart from decorative watches. The solid, bidirectional 12-hour bezel with 24 clicks also makes it clear: this chronograph is no toy, but a tool for men! Water resistance to 200 meters underscores the hardcore capabilities of the F43.
Green, Orange, and Gray: A New Color Trend?
Beneath its double-sided anti-reflective, nearly invisible sapphire crystal, the Fortis F43 presents an intelligently designed dial that makes the watch a genuine novelty and puts an end to the monotonous black-and-white play of earlier years. Two hues lend the gray chronograph refreshing accents: while the lume appears in C5 aviation green, the seconds hand, the date at six o'clock, and the ring of the 30-minute totalizer glow in Berlac Fluor Orange.
[box type="success" align="" class="" width=""]Paired with the gray case and the finely grained Black Opalin dial, the colors create strong recognition value and are already becoming hallmarks of the new Fortis Flieger generation.[/box]Two features of the F43 Bicompax deserve special mention. First, flanking the triangle at twelve o'clock are two orange lines called SYNCHROLINE, intended to help pilots flying in formation synchronize their watches. Practical use? For 99 percent of wearers, zero. Likability factor? High, because it creates a nice link to the manufacture's aviation success story. Second, BRIXTRACK greets us: a brushed, separately mounted minute track including applied 5-minute indices.
[box type="info" align="" class="" width=""]All in all, the legibility of this Fortis F43 is outstanding, thanks in large part to the eponymous bicompax layout with the 30-minute register at three and small seconds at nine o'clock.[/box]First Choice for Travelers: F43 Triple GMT
Two months after the F43 Bicompax, in October 2020, the Fortis F43 gained a brilliant addition: the Triple GMT. Identical in dimensions to the Bicompax, it replaces its sibling's stainless steel case with a noticeably lighter titanium version, whose weight (not least thanks to the matching titanium bracelet) comes to an athletic 163 instead of 246 grams. You'll look in vain for polished surfaces, but on the dial you'll be pleased to find the familiar SYNCHROLINE and BRIXTRACK features. In the center sits a 24-hour scale along with its arrow-shaped second hour hand.
Connoisseurs would call the Fortis F43 a "true" GMT watch, because the jumping hour adjustment affects the large hand (which shows the current local time when traveling and therefore takes priority), while the small arrow hand in the center indicates home time. Strictly speaking, then, the large minute hand is the GMT hand. As with the Bicompax, the dial comes in Black Opalin, but features a vertically brushed rather than grained texture. All other characteristics, from the crystal-clear sapphire crystal and 200 meters of water resistance to the bidirectional bezel, are shared by the F43 Triple GMT with its chronograph sibling.
Major Differences in the Movement
The two Fortis Flieger editions draw their power from entirely different automatic movements. Beneath its closed caseback, the Bicompax relies on the proven UW-51 (base: Sellita SW510) with a 48-hour power reserve, whereas the Triple GMT model houses the exciting Caliber 13 from the young Geneva-based movement maker Kenissi.
[box type="note" align="" class="" width=""]Founded in 2016, the company, which belongs to Tudor SA, produces the caliber precisely to Fortis's specifications, which is why the term "manufacture movement" on the F43's spec sheet is justified.[/box]The appeal of this unconventional movement is heightened by its generous 70-hour power reserve. No question, ETA and Sellita are first-rate producers of affordable automatic movements, but bespoke movements convey a more upscale feel and strengthen the bond between a watch and its inner workings.
Pilot's Watch Prices
In line with Fortis's current goal of focusing on high-quality timepieces rather than volume while remaining within an affordable range, prices for the two flagship models sit in the mid-range.
The F43 Triple GMT (Ref. F4260000) costs €4,500, while the Bicompax comes in at €3,800 on the solid bracelet (Ref. F4240004) and €3,300 on the leather strap (Ref. F4240005).
Both versions of the Fortis F43 are available without limitation and are perfect for men who want to combine uncompromising functionality with refreshing color accents and a rich aviation heritage.
Pilot Classic, Terrestis, Aeromaster: More Reasons You Need to Know Fortis
If you've only just discovered the Swiss brand and your curiosity is piqued, look beyond the Fortis F43 and get to know the Pilot Classic collection as well. Models such as the Pilot Classic Date (Ref. F6420008) are the ideal entry into the company's world, conveying the manufacturer's functional character and high quality standards on great terms.
If you prefer something more classic, we recommend the rare Terrestis watches from Fortis (e.g., Ref. 900.20.31 L01), with their unusual lugs and an attention to detail typically found in higher price brackets. Nostalgia with grace is the motto, making the Terrestis a dress watch of an extraordinary kind. If, on the other hand, you're after peak performance in a mean, black-coated look, there's no getting around the Aeromaster Black.
As a chronograph (Ref. F4040002) with a day-date complication, it reaches its most versatile character and scores with world-class contrast on its black dial. Red color accents loosen up the serious look of this automatic instrument, which ranks among the Swiss manufacture's flagships.
