The Vario 1918 Pilot is a modern hand-wound watch inspired by First World War-era trench watches, not a surviving 1918 artifact. Vario currently lists it in 37 mm and 40 mm sizes, with steel and brass case options. Its angled dial and bund strap also invite a flight-history reading: Time+Tide connects those details to early transatlantic flights in 1919.
What the Vario 1918 Pilot is
Vario describes the 1918 Pilot as a reimagined First World War trench watch and a tribute to the early twentieth-century emergence of wristwatches. That is the manufacturer’s design framing; the watch is a contemporary product, not a documented period original. Vario’s product page lists several dial and case variants.
Time+Tide offers a complementary interpretation of its distinctive styling: “Although it’s called the Vario 1918 Pilot, its jaunty angle and bund strap reference the first transatlantic flights made in 1919.” That is the publication’s design reading, rather than a claim that the watch itself dates to those flights. Time+Tide’s Micro Mondays article introduced the model with a 40 mm case and said Vario planned a 37 mm version if the first batch succeeded. Vario’s current listing now shows both sizes.
Sizes, materials and variants
Vario’s listing gives a choice of 37 mm or 40 mm case diameter. The smaller case has a 45 mm lug-to-lug length and 18 mm lug width; the larger is 48 mm lug-to-lug and 20 mm wide at the lugs. Those measurements are useful for comparing the watch with one you already wear, though case diameter alone does not determine fit.
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| Listed option | Case diameter | Lug-to-lug | Lug width | Case material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 mm | 37 mm | 45 mm | 18 mm | 316L stainless steel or brass, depending on variant |
| 40 mm | 40 mm | 48 mm | 20 mm | 316L stainless steel or brass, depending on variant |
Vario lists steel versions and a brass version with a cream dial and orange lume. The manufacturer says the brass case develops a patina over time and can be polished back to a golden finish; this is Vario’s description, not an independently verified material test. Consult the live listing to confirm the exact dial, lume, case and strap combination for the variant you want.
Movement and timekeeping specifications
The listed movement is the Miyota 8N33, a hand-wound nickel movement with 17 jewels and non-hacking seconds—so the seconds hand does not stop when the crown is pulled to set the time. Vario states that the power reserve is more than 40 hours. Its product page displays the beat-rate notation “21.6kpbh”; Time+Tide describes the movement as 3 Hz and gives a 42-hour reserve. The descriptions point to a similar frequency and approximate reserve, but the figures are reported differently by the two sources. Vario’s current specifications and Time+Tide’s launch-era article are the sources for those respective figures.
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- Silver-Tone Stainless Steel
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- 200 Meters Water Resistant and 5 Year Limited Warranty
Case, dial and strap details
Vario specifies a 10 mm case, enamel dial, 2 mm double-domed sapphire crystal with an inner anti-reflective coating, sapphire exhibition caseback and push-pull crown. The listing also specifies C3 lume and describes it as non-radioactive. Water resistance is listed as 5 ATM; that rating alone does not establish suitability for a particular swimming activity.
The included strap is described as oiled leather with a bund pad. For a replacement, match the lug width—18 mm on the 37 mm case or 20 mm on the 40 mm case—and verify that the strap can be fitted to the watch’s wired lugs. Vario’s product page does not establish compatibility for any particular third-party strap.
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- Modern, pilot-inspired Promaster timepieces equipped for professional use to discover the world from high above.
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Price, availability and purchase terms
At the time the product page was retrieved in 2026, Vario displayed “Sale price $388.00 USD” alongside “Regular price $368.00 USD,” an internally unusual presentation. Check the live page for the current price, selected variant and stock before ordering; the displayed values should not be treated as a confirmed discount. The page describes production as limited but gives no production quantity.
Vario’s page states a 24-month watch warranty, a 14-day return policy and free worldwide express shipping to most countries. It also says customers are responsible for duties and taxes, with tax-inclusive treatment listed for certain countries. Availability and commercial terms can change, so confirm the conditions shown for your destination and order at checkout.
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- 6 Hand, Chronograph, High Performance Quartz
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Rank #4
- Modern, pilot-inspired Promaster timepieces equipped for professional use to discover the world from high above.
- Synchronized to Atomic Time Clock for Superior Accuracy, Atomic Timekeeping Technology with Synchronized Time Adjustment Available in 24 Time Zones, 1 Second Chronograph Measures up to 60 Minutes, Perpetual Calendar, 12/24 Hour Time, Alarm, Power Reserve Indicator, Day / Date
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- Sapphire Crystal
- 200 Meters Water Resistant and 5 Year Limited Warranty
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
