Home » Fortis Watches » Fortis F-43 Flieger Chronograph GMT C.O.S.C. Watch
The creation of Fortis F-43 Flieger Chronograph GMT C.O.S.C. timepiece is the company’s attempt to join the big league of horology. It is the most complex product by the brand and therefore unsurprisingly also the one with the highest price in the collection (the watch costs $20,850). This exceptional timepiece is the unique in the world of watches, because it is the first ever and the only mechanical chronograph with a chronometer certification, GMT time zone and two power reserve indicators. Launched in the year when Fortis celebrates a century in the industry, the model produced in two variations and limited editions is meant to show-off the watchmaking capabilities and skills of the brand.
This masterpiece of micro-mechanics is very complex and includes more than 500 components. Since it is a flagship model by the brand, it includes an impressive set of functions. It is supplied with a chronograph, a date display, AM/PM indication, an alarm and includes two separate indications of power reserve, for the remaining power of the movement and its alarm. This was possible due to the inclusion of a Fortis Chronograph Alarm GMT F-2012 mechanical manually-wound movement. The caliber that can be considered a high point of Fortis collection has the high frequency of 28,800 semi-vibrations per hour. Besides, it has Incabloc shock absorber for additional resistance and incorporates 39 jewels. The movement also includes two spring barrels, which enables the presence of separate indications for movement and alarm’s power reserve.
The chunky and rather thick two-part case was necessary in order to fit the amazing and complicated beating heart of this timepiece. It is made with the diameter of 43 mm, and constructed from brushed or highly polished stainless steel. In order to regulate the many functions of the model, Fortis included two crowns and three pushers. The crowns and the pushers are oversized, which was probably done for the aesthetic reasons, because they make the case appear smaller.
Fortis F-43 Flieger Chronograph GMT C.O.S.C. has a stationary bezel, while its face is guarded with sapphire crystal with double glare-proof treatment. The back of the case is screwed and transparent, revealing the work of the movement and its special rotor engraved with the Fortis’s distinctive blue stars design. The construction of the timepiece allows water resistance to 50 meters (165 feet) below the surface.
Two Limited Editions of 100 Pieces
This model includes a relief dial. On its flange, we can notice an alarm scale, while the top of the dial displays time in the second time zone. The watch also includes three sub-dials (chrono 30-minutes, 12-hour counters and small seconds indications), while the power reserve displays lay at four to five and at seven to eight o’clock positions. However, this is not the whole deal. The dial also includes AM/PM indication, arrows at the three o’clock place that illustrate the direction of the way the crown rotates, which is necessary for quick adjustments, a date display and alarm on/off indication. The watch has lovely sword-shaped hour and minute hands, a sweeping seconds hand and an additional arrow-shaped hand that is used to adjust the alarm time. Arabic numerals are also present. This model is paired with a padded croco leather strap that fastens with a buckle that has engravings with the company’s logo and inscription “limited edition”. The watch comes in a leather box and has a two year warranty.
The most complex and expensive watch in the brand’s collection is made in two variations. The first of them, with the reference number 703.20.92, has a polished case, a silver opaline dial, its numerals and indices are embossed and blue, while the color of the strap is blue. The other version is made with a casing with brushed finish, includes a black dial with luminous white numerals, indices and hands. As expected, the color of the strap of this version is black, like its dial. Each of the variations is constructed in the limited edition that consists of 100 pieces and it is supplied with engravings that indicate the individual number of the specific model and its place in the series.
