Best Watches For Under 2K - Fortis Flieger F-39

October 12, 2018

This is not a pilot watch. You will find these words on the Fortis website next to the Flieger F-39. Wait, what?! I look at it and think, Pilots watch with all-round abilities and a sporty, contemporary look. That s probably the direction Fortis wants to steer the target audience that won t consist of pilots exclusively. Never mind the idea or the concept, the watch s price is right. It sits just under $2K with its list price of $1,950. And thats just one of the reasons why the Fortis Flieger F-39 Automatic on a black leather strap is my pick for this installment of our series Finding The Best Watches Under $2,000 Today.If I were to actually get a Flieger F-39 Automatic, it wouldnt be my first Fortis rodeo. I already have two Fortis watches in my possession - a titanium B-42 Official Cosmonauts Chronograph and an artsy Fortis IQ Blackboard watch designed by Rolf Sachs. The new F-39 that I picked is a direct descendant of the B-42. After Fortis got into big trouble in 2017, it was Fortis fan and private investor Jupp Philipp who took over the historic brand a year later. What happened since is both very positive and impressive. Under its new owner, Fortis made a leap forward both in quality and design. And the Flieger F-39 Automatic is one of the latest examples of the new and improved Fortis. It sits much higher on the evolutionary ladder than the B-42 in terms of build quality, finishing, and design.The best watches under $2,000 today - My pick is a colorful Fortis Flieger F-39When I visited Fortis last year summer, I had a chance to see and handle most of the new stuff. That included, of course, the F-41 and my champion today, the F-39. The 41mm version is a tad too big for me, but the F-39 Flieger is spot on. On a leather strap, that is. Yes, on a metal Block bracelet it looks more instrumental, but there are three things that stop me from opting for that version. The first is simple in light of this story: with its $2,400 price, its simply too expensive.The second reason is that theres just too much metal for my taste. On its three-link bracelet, the F-39 literally becomes a heavy metal watch. Visually, theres also not enough contrast for me when you put it on the wrist; thats the third reason. However, on a grained, vegetable-tanned, natural black leather Aviator strap with pin buckle, the F-39 Automatic blossoms.Show some restraintI use the word blossom because the Fortis F-39 Flieger Automatic is a colorful critter. You simply cant miss the bright Berlac Fluor Orange paint on the black background of the dial. And theres also the luminous Brixtrack - three-dimensional blocks of luminous material placed on a track - on the outside of the dial that brings more light and freshness. On top of that, there are hands treated with Super-LumiNova X1 that complement the dial text and the minute track extremely well. And because the dial is vivid, the 12-hour, 24-click bidirectional steel bezel is nice understated touch. Why? Because it shows that Fortis knows when to stop. Putting a black bezel would/could be the obvious choice, but it would also steal the attention from the dynamic dial. Fortiss restraint clearly paid off.A tool with flair and a twistAs a tool watch, the F-39 shines because of its clear legibility, both above and under the water thanks to its 200m depth rating. And that same functionality is also what gives the F-39 its charismatic dose of flair. The movement is not that special, I must admit. On the other hand, the Fortis UW-30 self-winding movement - which is, in essence, a Sellita SW200-1 - does what it has to do without blinking an eye. The 26-jewel caliber has a quick-set date function - I didnt mention the orange-lined date window at 3 o clock before - and a 38-hour power reserve. Overall, the Fortis Flieger F-39 Automatic is a capable sports watch with a no-nonsense brushed steel case, lively dial markings, a touch of fluorescent color, and a balanced mix of instrumentality and contemporary design.Another challenge accepted!Since I have $50 left to spend, I will also get two NATO straps for the watch to get through the summer. I ll give the sustainably produced cow-leather strap a break and make it last longer. However, I will also have to keep in mind that I will be looking for an odd 21mm-wide strap. That seems like a wide strap for a 39mm watch, but in reality, it doesnt look weird at all. Getting a black 21mm NATO for the F-39 wont be that hard, but finding a fitting and color-matching Berlac Fluor Orange strap might prove a bit of a challenge. Oh well, that s another challenge accepted!For more information about the F-39 Flieger Automatic, please visit the official Fortis website.Find and follow me at?Lex Stolk ? Instagram