The Sinn U1000

Today I'd like to introduce you to another maker of fine aviation watches that we think you'll like: Fortis. Meaning "strong" in Latin, Fortis was founded in 1912 by Walter Vogt in Switzerland, and has made a strong resurgence since 1987. Specializing in flight and space watches, Fortis is the official supplier to the Russian space program and the International Space Station. They have a strong design aesthetic of clear faces, instrument-themed hands, and high-contrast dials. Very functional, and with their ETA/Valjoux movements, quite reliable as well. I'd like to pick a few out of their lineup to go over in detail. I really like the rubber-coated black crown, and the face is legible and uncluttered. The cosmonaut rating adds a nice story to the watch, and lets you enjoy a little bit of the Walter Mitty that all watch geeks seem to have. (Wait till I get my Omega X-33 review posted!)There are a couple of nits I do have to pick with Fortis. Like some other old-guard companies, they won't sell over the net, so you can't find official prices or click-to-buy from an authorized dealer over the internet. I hope they see the light on this one, as this is annoying and a tad bit off-putting in my opinion. Secondly, the ETA movements they use are available in five grades, and from what I've seen, they're using the base grades. Still very good, but unspectacular as far as quality goes.