Torgoen Swiss

Torgoen Swiss Men's T01103 Chronograph Pilot Computer Watch

• Precise Swiss-Quartz movement
• Harderned mineral crystal
• E6B Flight computer slide-rule function; Chronograph functions with 30-minute, 60-second, and 1/10th-second subdials; Date function; Luminescence hands and indexes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Take flight with the highly reliable, stylishly designed Torgoen T1 pilot's computer/chronograph watch, which includes a precise Swiss quartz timing movement and an integrated slide rule for quick calculations ranging from flight fuel consumption to currency conversion. Featuring a high-grade stainless steel watch case and a textured brown Italian leather strap (with white contrast stitching), this T1 (model T10101S01) has a white dial face, large luminous hands (with red sweeping 60 seconds timer hand), luminous hour markers, and a date function between 1 and 2 o'clock. The watch case measures 39mm (1.53 inches) wide and 14.6mm (0.57 inches) thick. The three chronograph subdials include a seconds hand at top, a 1/10-second timer at the bottom left, and a 30-minute timer at the bottom right.

Other features include a scratch-resistant mineral crystal and water resistance to 100 meters (330 feet)--offering protection from accidental splashes as well suitable for swimming, snorkeling, and light recreational diving. It's backed by a 3-year manufacturer's warranty, and it comes with a detailed instruction booklet on operating the flight computer features.

Using this watch's flight computer/slide rule feature, you can easily make a variety of calculations including currency conversion.

Using a Flight Computer Watch
This Torgoen watch can be used as a regular circular slide rule or a flight computer. It uses the calculation abilities of a slide rule to calculate time, speed and distance, and fuel consumption, as well as useful conversions such as statute miles to nautical miles, metric units to English units, or US Dollars to British Pounds. Easy to use after just a little practice, you'll be able to perform some calculations more quickly than with a hand-held calculator.

As an example, suppose the conversion rate for the Swiss Franc is SFR 1.60 to $1.00. Rotate the outer scale to match 16 over 10, the outer scale becomes Swiss Francs and the middle scale becomes US dollars. You can leave the scales like that until the exchange rate changes. If you want to convert SFR 4.00 to dollars you look at the number in the middle scale opposite the 40 on the outer scale. The number is 25. You can therefore deduce that SFR4.00 are $2.50 (see example image at right).

About Torgoen
Founded by a group of aviation enthusiasts, Torgoen takes its timepiece inspiration from the cockpit, creating highly reliable instruments that have precise, clear markings for rapid readings day or night and ergonomically efficient controls. Careful attention is paid to details of every component, with all watch components required to pass the most stringent quality control procedures during and after production. Watches are tested under various extreme conditions including temperature variation, dust, humidity, impact and vibration. All Torgoen timepieces include high-quality Swiss timing movement, high-grade stainless steel cases, and non-radioactive, long-lasting luminescence.

The Torgoen Swiss Story

   
    Simplicity, Boldness and Functionality


Torgoen was founded by an enthusiastic private pilot, Benzi Rosenski. Rosenski, also a veteran of the watch manufacturing industry, combined these two passions to create Torgoen – Professional Pilot Watches. Rosenski envisioned a line of timepieces for pilots that are functional, affordable, well designed and durable.  In 1998 the first Torgoen Swiss timepieces rolled off the production line. The name Torgoen is derived from Thor, the god of thunder in Nordic mythology, and Goen which is a derivative of “go”. The name symbolizes the boldness, functionality and simplicity of design (Thor) in time keeping devices (Goen). These principles guide the Torgoen team in the creation and updating of the line. Although the design of all Torgoen watches has functionalities useful for pilots, it is also perfect for ordinary people who appreciate tangible quality and no-nonsense, yet sophisticated design. The dials have numerals, markers and indexes inspired by cockpit instruments like altimeters and speed gauges. Cockpit instruments have been a subject of ergonomic studies that go back to World War II. This is part of the functionality and boldness that guides Torgoen.

E6B Flight Computer – Useful also in the supermarket

In many of its models, Torgoen uses an E6B Flight Computer based on the original design by the US army during World War II. The name was simply the Catalog part number of the device. It allows the pilot to easily solve problems of speed, distance and time. By knowing two of these variables, one can deduct the third with ease. This is based on a regular slide rule which was used by some of us that attended high school before the introduction of pocket calculators. It enables the user to perform any multiplication and division calculations. It is especially good while performing conversions of units and even exchange rate calculations. The watches come with a booklet in three languages with clear instructions of how to use the E6B and examples of how the E6B will help solve calculation problems.

GMT (Zulu Time) – Keeping track of home-time for travelers

Torgoen incorporated in many of its models another feature that is commonly used by pilots and favored by watch enthusiasts - a second time zone displayed in a 24 hour format. Communications between the cockpit and air traffic controllers always use GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) as a common standard. It avoids confusion by pilots arriving at an airport from different time zones.  Every time zone in the globe has a designated letter. GMT was designated with the letter Z and pilots call it Zulu time since Zulu is the phonetic alphabet for Z. It is also useful for travelers crossing different time zones who wish to keep their home-time handy and easily displayed on their watches.

Today the Torgoen brand includes 12 series in its line-up with over 61 different versions. "Considering the components and materials used, we feel that this brand is one of the best values in the market today".      

Torgoen Academy
 
As part of the contribution and commitment to the aviation industry, Torgoen sponsors the Torgoen Academy for flight safety. The academy’s curriculum delivers specialized flight training to both private and commercial pilots that will increase aviation safety by teaching aviators essential recovery and survival skills not normally offered in either primary or advanced flight training. The Torgoen Academy’s training makes pilots safer by teaching them to deal with departures from normal flight, upsets due to turbulence and mechanical failures.  
Following a structured syllabus, pilots develop the ability to keep a cool head while applying techniques learned in the school’s aerobatic training aircraft to resolve the situation at hand. "We literally turn pilot’s upside-down in real airplanes in order to give them the confidence to fix the problem without the panic."

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000TRBYBI
• Item model number: T01103
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,542 in Watches (See Top 100 in Watches)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Want a watch that gets NOTICED? Buy a Torgoen!, October 20, 2005

By 

Jeff Edwards "RadioJeff" (Twin Falls, Idaho) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

I stumbled upon Torgoen watches entirely by accident, but I am VERY glad that I did. A relatively new company, Torgoen merges the very best of Japanese watches with the ages-old excellence of Swiss manufacturing to create a truly unique looking, quality timepiece.

First off, becoming familiar with using all of the slide-rule capabilities does NOT require years of math, algebra & celestial nagivation in order to understand and operate. I should know, since I can barely add & subtract (with a calculator no less...). You should also be prepared to be noticed when wearing the T1. It simply commands attention, even when you aren't looking to gain any. There is simply SO MUCH on the dial of the T1 that people are naturally drawn to it...in fact, if I have ANY complaint about it, I would have to say there is in fact SO MUCH on the face that it can take a while to get used to it in order to be able to actually find the hands so you can tell the simple time of day. It's a small complaint I assure you because once you become familiar with it, you won't be bothered whatsoever. My problem comes from the fact that I have over a dozen watches and I rotate through them and after wearing a Casio, Citizen, Suunto and Chase-Durer, it CAN take a few glances to orient myself properly in order to recognize where everything is situated.

In short: this watch is well-made. Keeps GREAT and accurate time (I compare it with my Casio Atomic watch at least weekly, and it never fails to lose any more than 1-second +/- per week) and looks fantastic. It also offers the bells and whistles of other embarassingly expensive models by brands such as Breitling, Tag-Heuer among others all without virtually robbing you in the process. Also, for anyone who is curious at how to pronounce Torgoen, the last part (GOEN) rhymes with 'COIN'. Just something to consider when making your next purchase. After all is said and done, I believe I would have bought the metal band instead of the leather...not because it doesn't look great or is durable, I just prefer the silver band. All in all, a wonderful timepiece which stands shoulder-to-shoulder with my MUCH more expensive watches -- and looks every bit as good, too. Do yourself a big favor and search out a distributor before making the purchase. Seeing almost ANY watch in person makes ALL the difference in the world. If you buy it directly on-line without knowing first-hand what it looks like on your wrist, you may be making a big, not to mention expensive mistake. Good luck!