8 Best Slide Rule Watches ($-$$$)

Slide rule watches is a category often overlooked in the world of watches. Many enthusiasts know about the Breitling Navitimer. Furthermore, many of the same enthusiasts would like to own a Navitimer (including me).

Although Breitling has been sitting on the throne of slide rule watches since the invention of the Navitimer, there are other alternatives. The other alternatives is both functional and at a better price (for the most part).

Slide rule watches were made for aviation to calculate different things such as fuel conversion, fuel consumption, speed, and more. However, slide rule watches can also be used for simple math, which is too complex for the average Joe’s brain without a calculator.

But enough about the watches, let’s see some of them!

Casio Edifice

The Casio Edifice is a budget watch with a lot of versatility. The watch has a black dial and red hands, giving it a sporty look. The black dial gives it the versatility to be worn in many different styles.

Casio is known for the G-shock series. G-shock is the product line from Casio, which is made like tanks. Obviously, the Edifice is not from the G-shock series, but Casio makes very robust watches.

Getting a Casio Edifice is a good choice if you are on a lower budget. You get a lot for the price. I mean, 100 meters water resistance, a solid quartz movement, a stainless steel case, and bracelet.

The maintenance of a quartz watch is also very minimal. Hence, the cost of owning this watch is not much. You are only looking at a battery change every 1-2 years.

Specifications of Casio Edifice EF-527D-1AVEF

Functions: luminous hands and hour markers, chronograph, and date.

Build: 46 mm case, quartz watch, stainless steel case and bracelet, mineral glass, 100 meters water resistance.

Price: ~$150

*Link will take you to Amazon

Citizen Promaster Nighthawk Eco-Drive

The Citizen Promaster Nighthawk is the crème de la crème of budget slide rule watches. Blue is a style that every big watch brand has started to introduce, and therefore the blue color is within the current trend. On top of being trendy, the dial’s legibility is superb, which makes using the slide rule easy.

Citizen Promaster Nighthawk is also a good looking watch that can be dressed up and down. Although the dial is very busy, Citizen has managed to make a design that makes the watch look claim. It’s doesn’t look busy.

If you are a pilot or do a lot of traveling, this watch must be in your collection one day. It has dual time zones (for your local time zone and your home time zone). Furthermore, you never have to worry about a dead battery. This is all thanks to Citizen’s phenomenal Eco-Drive feature.

The Eco-Drive is a solar charging feature that is hidden underneath the dial. By walking around during your business, the watch will charge itself, without the ugly classic “solar panel look.” Lastly, the water-resistance of 200 meters allows for a headache-free experience if you were to go snorkeling or diving.

Specifications of Citizen Promaster Nighthawk Eco-Drive BJ7006-56L

Functions: Luminous hands and markers, dual time zones, Eco-Drive, and date.

Build: 42mm case, quartz watch, stainless steel and bracelet, anti-reflective mineral glass, and 200 meters water resistance.

Price: ~$350

*Link will take you to Amazon

Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46

There is a big jump when it comes to pricing. This jump happens between the budget range and the luxury range. There is no in-between, sadly. Slide rule watches are not that sought after (let’s try to change that). Therefore, not a lot of watchmakers have a focus on such watches.

However, the world champion in slide rule watches is and always will be Breitling. Breitling was the first to release a slide rule attached to a watch. Traditionally, the slide rule is a linear ruler. However, Breitling patented a system that made the slide rule circular.

That said, Breitling is also a luxury watch with a mechanical movement instead of the cheaper quartz alternative. Quartz watches are much cheaper to purchase and maintain. Therefore, mechanical watches give some additional costs.

With Breitling, you will be looking at a hefty price tag. However, you get what you pay for. This is a watch you can wear with a suit, or in sweat pants. The blue dial is really popping is direct sunlight and turning almost navy when in a darker environment.

Specifications of Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46 AB0127211C1A1

Functions: Luminous hands and markers, 70-hour power reserve, chronograph, and date.

Build: 46 mm case, self-winding mechanical movement, stainless steel case and bracelet, sapphire glass with glare proofing on both sides of the glass, and 30 meters of water resistance.

Price: ~$6,300

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Breitling Navitimer Chronograph GMT 46

Now, I know I just presented another Breitling. But this is a different one, I promise. Although it looks like the same watch, same size, same functions, it’s different.

This watch has a GMT function, which gives the watch a 24 hour time telling. This 24 hour time can be set to any other place in the world. This way, you have your local time on the 12-hour markers and the travel time 24-hour markers.

The GMT function is convenient for people during a lot of travel or has overseas business. This allows you to adjust the time, so you always know what the time is at home. This way, you don’t disturb your spouse getting the kids to bed, interrupt meetings, etc.

The style of this Navitimer is very similar to the other Navitimers. However, the apparent difference is the color of the dial. The black dial makes the watch work even better with formal business. Furthermore, it’s not as flashy and, therefore, also goes well with sweat pants.

The Navitimer with a GMT function is a watch I desire to own myself someday. This is also why I put it as the “Best Overall.” The watch simply has everything you need for a slide rule watch, and a little more.

The essential function is the slide rule. However, you get both GMT, chronograph, and date. Yet, I know that it only has 30 meters of water resistance. However, for most people, this is enough. Having the watch rated at 30 meters of water resistance is enough for heavy rain.

Specifications of Breitling Navitimer Chronograph GMT 46 A24322121B2A1

Functions: Luminous hands and markers, 42 hours power reserve, GMT (second-time zone), chronograph, and date.

Build: 46 mm case, self-winding mechanical movement, stainless steel case and bracelet, sapphire glass with glare proofing on both sides of the glass, and 30 meters of water resistance.

Price: ~$5,000

*Link will take you to Jomashop

Breitling Navitimer Chronograph 41

Again, a Breitling. I’m sorry. I know it’s starting to look repetitive. But there is not that many slide rule watches and Breitling has the absolutely best slide rule watches.

However, this Breitling Navitimer is for the boys and girls that like a more modest case size. The 2 previous Navitimers were both 46 mm in diameter. This model is only 41 mm in diameter.

This makes the watch better for the average-sized human being. 46 mm watch cases is rather large for most people. Therefore, I thought this Breitling in a 41 mm model was the best option for people with a slender wrist or just like a modest size watch.

This watch has the same features as the previous models, with a water resistance of 30 meters, 42 hours of power reserve, self-winding mechanical movement, great legibility, and sapphire glass. It’s just smaller.

Specifications of Breitling Navitimer Chronograph 41 A13324121G1X3

Functions: Luminous hands and markers, 42 hours power reserve, chronograph, and date.

Build: 41 mm case, self-winding mechanical movement, stainless steel case and bracelet, sapphire glass with glare proofing on both sides of the glass, and 30 meters of water resistance.

Price: ~$4,500

*Link will take you to Jomashop

Seiko Flight Chronograph

Here is the contester to the best budget slide rule watch. The simple reason why this one lost over the Citizen Promaster Skyhawk is due to the fact that the Citizen charge from sunlight and has a slightly better design.

Seiko has made a super solid watch here. Seiko is known for making budget-friendly watches, but in a higher than expected quality. This is one of their overperforming watches (in my opinion).

This watch looks suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuper busy compared to all the other recommended watches. However, this is the true slide rule watch over all of them (if that’s a thing). You get a bezel, inner ring, and outer dial is all packed with slide rule based math.

However, due to this monstrosity of packed numbers, the watch is made for its intended use case. Whether you would like that or not is totally up to you.

Specifications of Seiko Flight Chronograph SNA411

Functions: Luminous hands and markers, alarm, date, chronograph, and a tachymeter.

Build: 42 mm case, stainless steel case and bracelet, hardlex glass (almost the same as mineral glass), 200 meters of water resistance, and a robust quartz movement.

Price: ~$300

*Link will take you to Jomashop

Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A-T

If you are into stealthy looking watches, then this Citizen is the one you should go for. The black color is both on the case and on the bracelet. Furthermore, it has some orange accents to complement the stealthy theme of the watch.

Comparing the blue Citizen Nighthawk to this Citizen Skyhawk, the Skyhawk is a “premium” version of the two. The Skyhawk is an upgraded version of the Skyhawk. First of all, it has sapphire glass instead of mineral glass. This makes the Skyhawk resistant to daily wear and tear.

The Skyhawk is also linked to atomic timekeeping. To put it simply, watches linked to the atomic clock are incredibly accurate. They will frequently self-adjust to keep extreme accuracy.

Lastly, the Skyhawk is equipped with digital screens that hold additional information, e.g., the time zones.

Specifications of Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A-T Eco-drive JY8075-51E

Functions: Robust quartz movement, synchronized to the atomic time clock, chronograph, perpetual calendar, and automatic synchronized time adjustment in 43 world cities.

Build: 46 mm case, stainless steel case and bracelet, 200 meters of water resistance, and sapphire glass.

Price: ~$550

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Richard Mille 039 Aviation

Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. Richard Mille is a flamboyant brand. Their watches are made in very limited numbers and don’t fit everyone’s taste (or wallet size).

Richard Mille is known for its over-engineering mayhem. This is no exception. The RM039 has nearly 1,000 parts. Furthermore, it’s a tourbillon. And made in titanium.

Now Richard Mille has made a pretty dope watch here. It’s certainly unique, that’s for sure. They haven’t spared any expense, to say the least. There is a date function, GMT, one of the most complex mechanical movements, chronograph, it even has a “gearbox” between the 4 and 5 o’clock. Selecting between W (Winding) – N (Neutral) – H (Hands) – U (GMT, setting the GMT hand).

However, you have to find a fat wallet if you want to acquire this unique piece.

Specifications of Richard Mille 039 Tourbillon Aviation E6-B

Functions: Luminous hands and markers, date, GMT, one of the most complex mechanical movements, chronograph, and 60 hours of power reserve.

Build: 50 mm case, water-resistance of 30 meters, titanium case, rubber strap, sapphire glass on both sides, making the case seethrough.

Price: ~€1,042,500

*Link will take you to Richard Mille