The Raven Airfield soars with value, legibility, and personal touches.
It’s hard to put a new spin on field watches. By definition, these timepieces are basic and clean, prizing legibility above flashy dials. Nighttime visibility should be effortless, and water resistance is a must.
Pilot watches face a similar roadblock. In addition to managing pressure and temperature changes, their hands and numerals should be readable at a glance. Make a change to either formula, and you’re likely to ruffle some feathers.
But what if someone lifted the best elements of the two and brought their features together? Raven Watches, a company out of Overland Park, Kan., is attempting just that. One of its most popular models is the Airfield ($550), “a blend of pilot and field watches” into which it’s incorporated more than 12 years of experience.
I’ve had my eye on these birds for a while now and managed to secure not one, but two examples from the maker: A classic day/date green version and one of Raven’s new, date-free grey models. Here’s how they fared through a week-long perch on my arm.
In short: The Raven Airfield is an exercise in sincerity. The watch is perfectly sized, beautifully balanced, and as capable as it is comfortable. Its classical appearance is elevated by the care of the people behind the brand, who time-test and regulate each piece before it reaches their customers. Despite utilizing a basic clasp, overall performance and personal touches justify the $550 price.
Raven Airfield Watch Review
![Raven Airfield watches Raven Airfield watches](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/09/Raven-Airfield-watches.jpg)
Specs (From Raven)
- Diameter: 40 mm
- Lug distance: 48 mm
- Thickness: 13 mm
- Crystal: Sapphire, single dome, AR inside
- Water resistance: 200 m
- Lume: Super-LumiNova
- Movement: Automatic NH36 / NH38
- Weight: 76 g head, 160 g on bracelet
I’ll admit, $500-600 is a weird price range for watches. It’s between the $200-ish you’d pay for a solid, entry-level automatic, but well below the overtures to luxury you encounter around $1,000.
Brands like Hamilton and Spinnaker are popular in this strata, along with the ubiquitous Seiko.
![Airfield - Super-LumiNova Airfield - Super-LumiNova](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/09/Airfield-Super-LumiNova.jpg)
![Raven Airfield - watch review Raven Airfield - watch review](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/09/Raven-Airfield-watch-review.jpg)
![raven airfield - green raven airfield - green](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/09/raven-airfield-screw-down-crown.jpg)
Attention to Detail
The Sole Sticking Point
![Raven Airfield - clasp Raven Airfield - clasp](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/09/Raven-Airfield-clasp.jpg)
Conclusion: The Raven Airfield Review
![Raven Airfield watch Raven Airfield - green design](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/09/Raven-Airfield-green-design.jpg)