Louis Chevrolet Frontenac Flight Date Watch Frontenac LC9

Many watches come with a date indicator; usually it doesn’t exactly stand out. It’s a small window; there’s a small section in there that you can barely make out. That’s it. Louis Chevrolet, on the other hand, has made the humble date indicator the centerpiece of their new project: the Frontenac Flying Date.

Their approach to the humble date indicator is different than most. Instead of a simple number plate with a window cut into the dial, it takes up the majority of the watch face. The concept is easy to understand, but difficult to put into practice: a static date is arranged around the edge of the watch, and the indicator “flies” 360 degrees around the dial, highlighting the appropriate number.

It’s a fresh, easy-to-read way to display the date, and more importantly, it turns a frequently seen complication into a real feature of the watch. It adds to the technical look of the black and white dial and makes the most of the solid stainless steel case.

At night, however, is when the Louis Chevrolet Flying Date really shines. Each number is covered in a bright luminous glow, as is the date indicator, giving the watch a green glow in low-light conditions. The less light, the brighter the dial.

The watch is available with either the LC11 quartz movement or the LC9 automatic movement, the latter with a 38-beat power reserve. Both are based on a solid ETA movement, modified by Louis Chevrolet, and come with a new patent-pending flying date.

In terms of color, the stainless steel case is available in rose gold, black, or blue PVD coating. Regardless of which you choose, though, it comes with a leather racing strap (perforated) and a NATO-style nylon number with a quick-release spring bar. It’s a nice touch for an otherwise innovative watch.

Now, don’t take out your wallet and try to buy the Frontenac Flying Date; it’s currently going through its Kickstarter campaign. But if you want to make sure the watch becomes a reality – and score yourself a nice discount on the watch that’s already available.

Price and specs:

Model name: Louis Chevrolet Frontenac Flying Date Model
: Frontenac LC9 (automatic); Frontenac LC11 (quartz) Case/dial: Stainless steel Water resistance: 50m (5 ATM) Movement: Caliber ETA 2824/2 (LC9); Ronda 515 Quartz (LC11) Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds, flying date Power reserve: 38h (LC9); 45h (LC11) Strap: Perforated leather Price: From CHF 358 (£295)