Apex100 Pilot Rotary's flieger swaps the stopwatch for home time

What is new about the Rotary Apex100 Pilot?

The Apex100 Pilot is Rotary's take on the classic flieger, added to its Apex100 sports range in late summer 2025. Rotary had been selling pilot watches for years, but mostly as chronographs or as the automatic 1895 Pilot at a higher price. This one does something different. Instead of a stopwatch, the two sub-dials show a second time zone.

RGS10000/04 is the steel version: a brushed stainless steel case, a satin slate dial that reads close to black, and a brown leather strap. The numerals are oversized, cream-coloured Arabic figures, and the hands are old-style aviator shapes that carry what Rotary describes as Swiss luminova. A gold PVD sister model with a green dial, RGS10002/24, sells for £199. The steel model's RRP is £189.

How does the second time zone work?

The upper sub-dial is a 24-hour hand and the lower one tracks minutes, so together they show a second time. Rotary says the twin sub-dials are set with pushers above and below the crown. That is an unusual layout. Most dual-time watches at this price use a fourth hand on the main dial. Here, the main hands keep local time while the small dials keep home time, and the 24-hour scale tells you whether it is day or night back home.

It is a practical choice for anyone who flies for work or keeps in touch with family abroad. The trade-off is size: the sub-dials are small, so reading the second time takes a closer look than a GMT hand would.

How big is it, and how will it wear?

Rotary lists the case at 43 mm across and 12 mm high, with 22 mm lugs. That is a large watch by current standards, but large dials are part of the pilot style. Big numerals need room. Rotary does not publish a lug to lug figure, so anyone with a smaller wrist should try one on in a shop first. Goldsmiths stocks it.

The 12 mm height is reasonable for a quartz watch with this many complications, and Rotary describes it as slim profile. The leather strap should keep the weight down compared with a bracelet. Three crown-side controls (two pushers and a large onion crown) stick out on the right of the case, which can catch on a cuff.

What movement does it use, and how accurate is it?

It runs on a quartz movement. Rotary does not name the calibre or publish an accuracy figure. Quartz watches of this kind usually keep time within seconds a month, which beats any mechanical watch at several times the price. Battery changes every few years are the only routine upkeep. If you want a pilot watch with a mechanical movement from Rotary, the RW 1895 Pilot Automatic costs from £279.

How well is it built?

The case is stainless steel with a brushed finish, which hides scuffs better than polished steel. Water resistance is 100 m, which is good for a dress-leaning pilot watch. It will cope with swimming, though leather does not like water. The crystal is mineral glass rather than sapphire, so it is more likely to scratch over years of wear. That is normal at this RRP from the British high-street brands.

The details are well judged. The minute track runs around the dial edge, the numerals are cream rather than stark white for a vintage feel, and the subdial hands are blue. The strap is plain brown leather, described by Rotary as being like a vintage flight jacket.

Is it good value against its rivals?

The closest rival is from the same parent group. The Accurist Aviation 76004 has an RRP of £149, a 41 mm steel case, sapphire crystal and 100 m water resistance, but no second time zone. It is smaller and has the tougher glass, but it is a simpler watch.

Further down the price scale, the Sekonda Airborne 30028 has an RRP of £89.99. It is a 40 mm pilot chronograph with 50 m water resistance on a leather strap. It costs half as much, but it gives you a stopwatch rather than a second time zone, and the water resistance is lower.

So the Apex100 Pilot makes most sense if you want the second time zone. At £189, the dual-time layout and 100 m rating give it a clear role. If you only want the flieger look, the Accurist is cheaper and has sapphire.

What is the catch?

There are three. First, mineral glass at £189 when the cheaper Accurist sibling has sapphire. Second, availability: Rotary's own product page now says the watch can no longer be bought direct, although it remains listed at UK jewellers such as Goldsmiths. If you want one, buy sooner rather than later. Third, setting the second time zone with two pushers is less intuitive than turning a bezel, so keep the instructions handy the first time.

It is also too new for long-term owner feedback. The early buyer reviews on Rotary's site praise how it looks and how quickly it arrived, but they say little about how it holds up over time.

“A flieger for people who think in two time zones, not in stopwatch laps.”

What do owners say?

Themes from public owner feedback, paraphrased. We never copy Amazon reviews or ratings.

• Early buyers on Rotary's site praise the looks, with one calling it one of the most beautiful watches they have seen

  Rotary Watches customer reviews (opens in a new tab)

• Buyers describe it as well made and report fast delivery; there is no long-term feedback yet

  Rotary Watches customer reviews (opens in a new tab)