ReviewTake To The Skies With The Graham Chronofighter Vintage Aircraft Flying Tigers
Renowned author and filmmaker Michael Crichton once said, "If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree." And the Graham Chronofighter Vintage Aircraft Flying Tigers honours the very history that shaped and changed our world forever. Find out how
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War…War never changes. Ever since our primitive ancestors could grasp sticks and stones, conflict has prevailed. Bloodshed has always been a corollary to battle. Be it a simple street fight or an all-out war, the primal urge to fight is seeded deep within us. Hardwired into us, this fighter’s instinct has catapulted the advancement of technology several times in the past. From tactics and strategies to weapons and vehicles, the onset of war has rapidly evolved several parts of our lives. Always in a race for arms, nations were driven to be technologically superior to their rivals, which led to the creation of machines and alliances that decided the fate of countries at war.
One such squadron that played an important part in America’s history was the first American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Chinese Air Force in 1941–42. Nicknamed the ‘Flying Tigers’, this elite band of brothers was founded by one Claire L Chennault, a retired US Army Air Corps officer. He managed a total of 100 pilots, a ground crew of 200, and also oversaw the purchase of 100 Curtiss P-40 fighter aircraft. The Flying Tigers proved to be a formidable force against the Japanese, and although its stint was short lived, several tributes to them ensure that their legend lives on.
One brand that has always taken its military inspirations with utmost seriousness is Graham. The brand’s distinctive left-hand-side chronograph trigger mechanism harks back to early stopwatches used by World War II flying officers, which were just large pocket watches strapped over bomber jackets. The idea here is to make sure that this trigger system, is easily accessible to the thumb (for right-handed users), generally considered to be the fastest of all fingers. Actuating the trigger starts and stops the chronograph, resulting in precise timing.
This 44mm watch exudes a mature appeal that’ll rope in aficionados who have an affinity towards wartime history. The aged steel case design is inspired by a World War II-era instrument that measured time lapses between bomb drops. Despite its larger proportions, it sits well on the wrist, while the chronograph trigger mechanism is placed in such a way that it doesn’t poke against your arm. A larger case means a larger dial, evidently leading to greater legibility.
Graham’s choice of colour for the dial is militaristic—a green grained dial with a radial gradient. On it sit the two sub-dials for the chronograph function and small seconds, and two apertures for the day-date display. This is paired with white Super-LumiNova-infused hands, numerals and indexes. The two blue wings next to the Graham nomen are a nod to the brave Air Force operation. The iconic Flying Tigers emblem is seen on the 30-minute chronograph register at six o’clock. The inspiration for the tiger insignia and the AVG’s nickname is largely drawn from the status of tigers in Chinese culture as sacred animals that represent tactical prowess, and as creatures that are highly honoured and adored.
Equipped with the G1747 automatic chronograph calibre that beats at 28,800vph, the Graham Chronofighter Vintage Aircraft Flying Tigers boasts a 48-hour power reserve. The movement is also Chronofiable certified, which means that it has been put through a series of stringent tests, through which it emerged victorious. A domed sapphire crystal at the front and an aged steel caseback at the rear flank of the watch protect it from the elements. All of this is paired with a green canvas strap that completes the combative aesthetic of the watch. Limited to a mere 88 pieces, this truly is a collector’s item.
As a wise man once said, “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” This is an endless cycle with an outcome that will never mean anything, and will only decay in the face of time. Because war, war never changes. And the only thing we can do is collect memorabilia that reminds us of the trying moments that changed the world forever. The Graham Chronofighter Vintage Aircraft Flying Tigers is one such glorious thought-provoking tribute to an era when the bravest of hearts took to the skies to secure our future.
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Graham Chronofighter
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