FIVE WAYS HI-FIDELITY LTD

FORTIS
Founded in 1912. Made the first series produced automatic wrist watch in the 1920s. Now specializes in instrument/pilots' watches. Fortis has always been an innovative and forward thinking manufacturer. In recent years the company has developed watches for use in extreme conditions, notably those of high altitude aeronautics and space. Supplies the Russian space program. Fortis offers many different models but the differences are often of detail.

Fortis has a web site at www.fortis-watch.com where all the models are described.(If you view the warning about Fortis watches being sold on line please remember we are a shop and an authorized agent. We are not an "on line" trader). Again all the models may be ordered from us and our selection is given below.

Flieger Automatic. Now has sapphire crystal. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 200m. Luminous. Date. Matt stainless steel case. D= 40mm. H= 11mm. Base movement: 2824-2. 595-10-41 with leather strap (illustrated). £495 595-10-41M with stainless steel bracelet £545
The Flieger Chronograph. Now with sapphire crystal and heavy duty pushers (not shown in the picture). Day and date. Automatic. Water resistant to 100m. Luminous. Matt stainless steel case. D= 40mm. H= 15mm. Base movement: Valjoux 7750.. 597-10-11 with leather strap (illustrated). £1070 597-10-11M with stainless steel bracelet £1135
The Official Cosmonauts' Chronograph "Cosmonaut". This is a high specification watch. This watch was the first Fortis model to be adopted for use in space (1994) having been tested successfully under extreme conditions. Day and date. Water resistant to 200m. Luminous. Matt stainless steel case. Screw down crown and pushers. Sapphire crystal, anti reflective both sides. Tachymeter bezel. At D= 38mm. & H= 13.5mm. this watch is smaller than it looks in the pictures and noticeably smaller than the Flieger model. Base movement: Valjoux 7750. Excellent compact chronograph. 630-10-11 with leather strap (illustrated). £1290 630-10-11M with stainless steel bracelet £1355
The Official Cosmonauts' "Day/Date". Automatic. Matt stainless steel case. Unidirectional rotating bezel. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 200m. Sapphire anti-reflective crystal. Luminous. D= 39mm. H= 13mm. A lot of watch for the money. Base movement: ETA 2836-2. 610-10-11 with leather strap £540 610-10-11M with stainless steel bracelet £605
The Official Cosmonauts' "GMT". Automatic. Matt stainless steel case. Bidirectional bezel in minutes (countdown). Second time zone. Screw down crown. Water resistant to 200m. Sapphire anti-reflective crystal. Luminous. D= 39mm. H= 13mm. Base movement: ETA 2893-2. 611-11-11 with leather strap £715 611-11-11M with stainless steel bracelet £765
B-42 Professional Chronograph. Automatic. Matt stainless steel case. Black dial (shown right). Double gasket water seal and pusher protection. Mineral glass back as standard. Sapphire crystal anti-reflective both sides. Strap mounting with four screws. Luminous. Water resistant to 200m. D= 42mm. H=15mm. Base movement: Valjoux 7750. A substantial watch which is very much in proportion and carries its size well. Modern design. This model is generally of higher specification than the Flieger Chronograph (597). A popular model and deservedly so. 635.10-11 with leather strap £1310 635.10-11M with stainless steel bracelet £1475
The above model (635.10-11) is now available with a black bezel marked O - 60: B-42 Cosmonaut Chronograph 638.10-11 with leather strap £1390 638.10-11M with stainless steel bracelet £1555
B-42 Flieger Chronograph. As 635.10-11 above but with white dial. 635.10-12 with leather strap £1390 635.10-12M with stainless steel bracelet £1555
The above model (635.10-12) is now available with a blue bezel marked 0-60: B-42 Diver Chronograph 640.10-12K with silicone diver strap £1640 640.10-12M with stainless steel bracelet £1715 640.10-12L with leatgher strap £1550

B-42 Flieger Chronograph GMT (also available with black dial as "Pilot Professional"). Like the basic B-42 but with an independant additional time zone. 637.10.12 White dial with black or brown leather strap £2030 637.10.12M White dial with stainless steel bracelet £2195 637.22.11 Black dial with black or brown leather strap £1930 637.22.11M Black dial with stainless steel bracelet £2095
The above model (637.10.12) is now available with a blue bezel marked 0-60: B-42 Diver Chronograph GMT 643.10-12 with leather strap £2000 643.10-12M with stainless steel bracelet £2145
This is like 637.22-11 but with a black bezel marked 0-60: B-42 Cosmonaut Chronograph GMT 642.22-11 with leather strap £1925 642.22-11M with stainless steel bracelet £2070
B-42 Pilot Professional Alarm (also available with white dial as "Flieger Alarm"). This is a very special watch. As far as we know only Fortis makes an automatic mechanical wristwatch which is a chronograph with an alarm. The movement is the patented Fortis caliber F2001. D= 42mm. H= 18mm. 636.22.11 Black dial with black or brown leather strap £3970 636.22.11M Black dial with stainless steel bracelet £4135 636.10.12C White dial with special croco leather strap £4365 636.10.12M White dial with stainless steel bracelet £4150 636.10.12 White dial with leather strap £3985

B-42 Flieger Day/date. This was a new model range for 2005 based on the existing B-42 but without the chronograph features. Shown here (right) is the basic model with white dial. Stainless steel case (brushed). Sapphire crystal anti-reflective both sides. Glass back. Double gasket water seal. Water resistant to 200m. Luminous. D= 42mm. H= 12.1mm. Base movement: ETA 2836-2.

645.10.12 (leather strap) £725 (shown right)
with bracelet £890.

645.10.11 (as above but black dial) £680 (1)
with bracelet £845

Other models in the series:

647.10.11 with 0-60 bezel, black dial, strap £690
with bracelet £855 (2)
648.10.12 with 0-60 bezel, white dial, strap £800 (3)
with bracelet £965
649.10.11 GMT with 0-24 bezel, black dial, strap £920
with bracelet £1085 (4)
650.10.12 GMT with 0-24 bezel, white dial, strap £980
with bracelet £1145(6)

B-42 MARINEMASTER is a recent and very attractive addition to the range. It is similar to 647.10.11 but has bolder numerals. Shown at (5) below.

647.10.41 leather strap £690
647.10.41M bracelet £855
647.10.41K rubber diver strap £780

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COMMENT
The Fortis range is still quite large but most of the activity now is on the B-42 models. These are very well designed and made. They are medium to large watches but carry their size very well as they are very much in proportion and well contoured. As a bonus the time/date models also have "day".

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