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 its Cosmonauts series, Fortis has a long history of air and space travel.
The F-43 Triple-GMT is a well-proportioned, four-hander that shares its design cues with the rest of Fortis’s Flieger lineup. As with all of the Fliegers, it boasts a 200m water resistance rating, a bi-directional turning twelve-hour bezel with 24-positions, and a sapphire top crystal. Additionally, the Triple-GMT features a small central hour hand for dual-time functionality. Unique to this Flieger model is the titanium material used in its construction, for a lighter antimagnetic package. Other features include the brushed “Brixtrack'' ring that circles the dial exterior and the “Synchroline'' marker between eleven and one: whether simply for orientation or for synchronizing the F-43 Triple-GMT with other pilots, it’s a welcome touch of color that adds utility to this tool watch.
Under the dial beats a Fortis WERK 13 automatic movement, a COSC certified GMT. This Swiss movement features a date at three o’clock and an integrated GMT complication with the additional small jumping hour hand. The WERK 13 also features a traversing balance bridge with a two-point fixture to provide improved shock and vibration resistance. Other features include a 27-jewel count, frequency of 28,800 bph, and 70-hour power reserve. Much like the brand, this movement is sure to be a reliable companion whether traveling through land, air, or space.