The Detroit Watch Company's Tribute to the B-24

Detroit manufacturing played a huge role in the Allied victory in World War II: more than a third of the equipment in America's "arsenal of democracy" (as FDR called it) was built in the Detroit area. Edsel Ford played a leading role in developing his company's aviation capabilities and the company's Willow Run plant was capable of turning out one B-24 plane per hour at the war effort's peak.

The Detroit Watch Company is a local enterprise that designs and assembles its watches in Detroit, one of the small companies making an effort to revive the great city's economy and bring back the design and craftsmanship that helped build the American economy in the 20th century.

On March 1st, they'll begin taking orders for two aviator watch models inspired by the B-24. The B24 Liberator is available as a 44mm watch that retails for $1850 and a 39mm watch that retails for $1100. That's expensive if you're used to buying Timex or Seiko off the rack at Walmart but it's a more-than-reasonable price if you're used to buying high-end mechanical timepieces.

Check out full details on each watch below. Both watches have limited availability, so, if you know someone with an appreciation for WWII history or the B-24, make plans to order soon.

The B24 44mm watch features:

• Swiss Automatic Movement


• Self-Winding and Manual Winding


• Sellita Caliber SW500/Eta 7750 Automatic & Manual Winding. Display by means of hands; hour, minute, second. Date display in window. Chronograph. Shock-absorber-Incabloc.


• 28800 Vibrations Per Hour, 4Hz.


• 48-hour power reserve


• 30 min subdial counter


• Hour subdial counter


• Small second subdial


• 25 Jewels


• 14.5 mm overall height


• Engraved caseback featuring top view of the B-24 bomber


• Hands and hour markers including Lume for readability


• Aviator crown with Fleur-de-Lys


• Sapphire Crystal with Anti-reflective coating


• Calf leather band with deployment clasp


• Water Resistant 5 ATM

The B24 44mm watch features:

• Swiss Automatic Movement


• Self-Winding


• Swiss Caliber Sellita SW200-Eta 2824-2


• Date Calendar


• 28800 Vibrations Per Hour


• 38 hour power reserve


• 26 Jewels


• 11 mm overall height


• Engraved caseback featuring top view of the B-24 bomber


• Hands and hour markers including Lume for readability


• Aviator crown with Fleur-de-Lys


• Sapphire Crystal with Anti-reflective coating


• Water Resistant 5 ATM