Founded in 1912, Fortis has been producing a variety of timepieces from some of the first mass-produced automatic wristwatches, to fliegers and most notably “space” watches. As the official supplier for the Russian Federal Space Agency since 1994 with it’s Cosmonauts series, Fortis has a long history of air and space travel.
This Fortis F-41 is a special edition variant made to celebrate the participants of the annual Reno Air Race whose self-made moniker is the “September Family.” From the double-dotted triangle at twelve to the sword hands and brushed “Brixtrack” ring’s rectangular hour and minute markings, its likenesses to any Flieger begin and end there. Though meant for air, this Flieger’s case boasts a 200m water resistance rating. Additionally, it comes equipped with a 24-position 12-hour, bi-directional bezel perfect for tracking a second time zone sans any additional complication. Lastly is the “Synchroline” marker between 11:00 and 1:00, whether simply for orientation or for synchronizing the F-41 with other pilots, it’s a welcome touch of color that adds utility to this tool watch.
Under the dial beats a Fortis UW-30 automatic movement, based on the Sellita SW-200. This Swiss movement features a date at the three o’clock position and a central seconds hand finished in a matched orange tone to the date window, Synchroline marker, and “AUTOMATIC” text at six o’clock. Other features include a 26-jewel count, frequency of 28,800 bph, and a 38-hour power reserve. Much like the brand, this movement is sure to be a reliable companion whether traveling through land, air, or space.