Sponsored: Introducing the Sopwith Aero Marquis Tunisian Desert Limited Edition GMT

The latest addition to Sopwith's Aero Marquis model lineup features an in-house 41 mm case made entirely from the cockpit armor of an original Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter airplane from the Second World War.

Equipped with a proven 2893-A2 Élaboré automatic caliber, the Tunisian Desert Limited Edition GMT uses industry-leading magnetic protection, 200 meters of water resistance, and a sturdy anti-shock mounting to create an adventurer's timepiece that can withstand the rigors of world travel.

The crown action is extraordinarily precise, offering a tangible snap into every position and a solid, unmistakable seat when screwed in. Time-setting is easy thanks to the fluid yet unambiguous feel of the winding stem.

The Tunisian Desert's Hemlock Green dial is surrounded by a Zeus Charcoal bezel made of bronze with a sapphire insert. Illuminated with Swiss X1, the uni-directional azimuth bezel provides a solid backup plan for setting a course in an emergency.

A Different Foundation

Sopwith holds a rare distinction among luxury watchmakers— the company does not offer a timepiece with a common stainless steel case. All of Sopwith's in-house cases are crafted entirely from rare historic metals, which makes each edition genuinely limited. Melted, cast and cut at the company's steel foundry in Houston, every Sopwith watch housing is guaranteed forever.

The newest version of the company's Aero Marquis is derived from steel that flew in World War 2, where Focke-Wulf fighter units fought for control of the African continent in the skies over Tunisia's arid desert. Pilots of the Fw 190 sat behind a thick armored glass windscreen, while the seat was protected by hardened steel. It is from the upper head and shoulder section of the pilot's seat armor that the case of the Tunisian Desert GMT was created. Sopwith rescued enough steel armor to create just 53 watch cases.

Born in the Sahara

The robust design of the Tunisian Desert GMT was heavily influenced by the experiences of company president Stephen Cox when he crossed the Sahara Desert several years ago.  

“We got caught in a pretty nasty sandstorm on a trip from Egypt's Dakhla Oasis to Cairo. The sand blew so hard that it stung your skin. When it was over, every piece of gear I had was packed with dirt.”

“A watch that's watertight at 200 meters will be airtight at sea level,” Cox continued. “The crown and gasket seals are designed to survive a sandstorm – not just the dynamic pressure of the wind itself, but the debris it carries. So, when you see a desert-themed traveler's watch with the water resistance of an ISO diver, it's not being pointlessly over-engineered. It was part of the plan.”

The saw-tooth bezel edge and diamond knurled crown offer abundant purchase with or without gloves in inclement conditions. The watch's water resistance also allows for deep, thorough liquid cleansing after exposure to sand and dirt.

The Aero Marquis' case is water resistant, shock resistant, varnished in titanium carbide, capable of withstanding the electromagnetic field of an MRI machine, guaranteed forever and created from steel that's already survived a world war.

Arrival

The Tunisian Desert Limited Edition is worn on a coffee brown stitched Horween leather strap and delivered with a travel pouch handmade from vintage waxed leather. The watch comes in a full grain Red Cedar bookshelf presentation box with a gold-scripted spine title and brass latch and hinges.

The cedar box arrives carefully wrapped in brown paper and string, wax sealed and shipped in accordance with 1940 mailing regulations using original World War 2 era stamps. The vintage unboxing experience was created with the assistance of the United States Postal Service for unrivaled authenticity.

“We actually tried to buy original pre-war cancellation stamps directly from the Postal Service,” Cox said. “They had plenty of them, but we were repeatedly told that internal regulations prohibited their sale. But they've been tremendously helpful. They offered to cancel all of our packages for us with original pre-war stamps.”

Pre-order

Limited to 53 pieces, the Sopwith Aero Marquis Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Tunisian Desert Limited Edition can be pre-ordered now at $5,700 USD.

Specifications

Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, GMT, azimuth

Case:

            Steel processed, melted, poured, cast, cut at Sopwith Foundry, Houston USA

            Laboratory metallurgic analysis by Sopwith Watch Company, Houston USA

            41 mm case width

            Lug width, 20 mm

            Lug to lug, 49 mm

            Hardness, titanium carbide coating 1500 HV

            Hardness, enhanced historic steel 168.2 HV

Water resistance: 200 meters

Magnetic field resistance: 20,000 Gauss

Movement:

Mecaline Specialities Calibre 2893-A2 Élaboré

            Power reserve, 42 hours

Crystal: Boxed sapphire, inner anti-reflective coating

Crown: Screw down, extruded diamond grip bronze

Bezel: Bronze

            120-position

            Unidirectional rotating

            Azimuth +/-3 degrees

            Luminous sapphire insert

Strap: Stitched, hand-cut Horween leather

Lume: Swiss X1 grade Light Old Radium GL

Bookshelf presentation box:

            Full grain Red Cedar

To learn more, visit Sopwith, here.