Skyraider 40

The Skyraider 40

The Douglas A-1 Skyraider was one of the last few propeller driven attack aircraft to enter service. It arrived late for World War 2 and during the start of the Jet era, yet it enjoyed one of the longest careers in the US Air Force. Despite being outclassed in speed and technology by the latest jetfighters, the Skyraider held its own with a heavy payload and agility.

We christened our modern take on the flieger 'Skyraider' as it was developed around the manual Marvin 700 movement. Much like the aircraft, this movement is an anachronism from the 60s and a victim of the quartz crisis.

The Skyraider 40 Skeleton has been designed with legibility in mind, with large lume filled indices and hands. Ruggedness and wearability is accomplished with a full titanium case and bracelet, hardened to 1200Hv which keeps it looking newer for longer. This sleek bracelet tapers from 20mm to 16mm, featuring polished, brushed and sandblasted finishes all in each link. The 'Arctic' model also offers a cerakote coating, a process usually reserved for firearms due to its high wear resistance.

Two unique case materials are offered with the Skyraider. Tantalum is a rare and dense metal commonly used in capacitors or medical applications. Its rarely used in timepieces and usually priced at a huge premium over titanium due to the cost of raw material and the difficulty in machining. Ti-damascus is an alloy formed by combining two different titanium alloys, resulting in an extremely strong and light material boasting wood-grain patterns. Its indivudally torched up to 400 degrees to bring out its brilliant colors.

SPECIFICATIONS

Diameter: 40mm
Lug to Lug Length: 46mm
Thickness: 8.2mm without crystal, 9.9mm with crystal
Case: Titanium 1200Hv Hardened / Ti-Damascus / Tantalum
Lug Width: 20mm
Movement: Swiss Made and Skeletonised Marvin 700
Water Resistance: 50m
Crystal: Sapphire crystal with 'Box' shape
Lume: Superluminova C3 / BGW9
Bracelet: FKM Rubber / Titanium 1200HV with updated Quick Adjust Clasp

PACKAGE INCLUDES

Travel Case
Steel Warranty Card

The Marvin 700

This is the third iteration of the Skyraider and we’ve decided to introduce it in a smaller size of 40mm, compared to the previous 42mm size. Downsizing wasn’t as easy as creating a smaller case, as the movement used previously was the ETA 6498, so a whole new movement was needed.  

Enter the Marvin 700, a Swiss movement from the 1960s that was a victim of the quartz crisis. Handwound, slim and with beautiful architecture, these 'New Old Stock' movements were heavily reworked and skeletonised to what you see here in the Skyraider 40. A black rhodium treatment was applied to the movement for contrast to its balance and wheels. A front cutout on the ratchet wheel allows for a rough gauge of power reserve, and an intricate guilloche is applied to its rear. Thanks to its handwound movement, the Skyraider comes in at only 8.2mm thick, or 9.9mm with its high ‘box’ shaped sapphire crystal.