I don’t think I’ve ever described a military watch as “playful.” Military watches are supposed to be serious business, function over form, no-nonsense, right? And yet, that is the word that leaped to mind as I checked out the new Duzu A-10 ($389). This watch features several clever and, yes, fun design elements that set it apart from the rest of the field/pilot watch crowd without sacrificing an ounce of practicality.
The A-10 takes its name and inspiration from the Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, a heavily armed and armored close air support attack aircraft employed by the U.S. Air Force since 1977. Nicknamed the Warthog, it is an ungainly brute of a plane that has even outlasted its own manufacturer (Grumman Aerospace has serviced the A-10 fleet since 1987).
Duzu’s watch incorporates several design elements inspired by the Warthog, but in a manner that is far prettier than either aircraft or animal. The first is its titanium construction. A bathtub of Titanium armor protects the pilot, and that metal also forms Duzu’s case. I wouldn’t recommend shooting at it, but it makes the watch strong and lightweight, while its bead-blasted finish gives it a reflection-free, tactical look. I rather like the engraved and painted “data plate” to the left of the crown.
That signed and artfully notched 7mm crown screws down, providing a measure of protection that helps the watch achieve its 10 ATM or 100m of water resistance. Other practical features include its domed and AR-coated sapphire crystal and smooth (28.8 bph) yet durable Miyota 9015 automatic movement.
The A-10 is 42mm wide, 49.5mm long, and 13mm thick. These dimensions look fairly large on paper, yet much to my surprise, not too large at all on my 6.75″ wrist. A rounded bezel and steep lugs go far to minimize the A-10’s bulk. I thought for sure this was a 40-41mm watch until I looked it up.
Duzu clearly had great fun designing the A-10’s face and should be immensely proud of the result. The layout is a fresh take on aircraft instrumentation, incorporating pill-shaped markers that rise high above the surface, a skeletonized handsset with black looped tails and a laddered hour hand, all treated with potent lume as is the logo and the fan-shaped date window frame (although not the date itself). My review sample was the BGW9 Avenger. C3 (Gatling) and Orange (Blysk) will also be offered.
Military watches are not generally known for creative dial surfaces. This makes sense. A watch designed for easy legibility doesn’t really need fancy colors or potentially distracting patterns. That didn’t stop Duzu from giving the A-10 its most distinctive feature. If you were to stare down the maw of a Warthog’s engine nacelle, you would be greeted by an imposing turbofan. You will get a taste of that gazing into the Duzu’s dial. Its matte black surface is sculpted into an array of blades that catch just enough light to impart movement, but not enough to be distracting.
If that’s not enough, I’ll invite you to check out the subtle text on the rehaut that spells “Attack Attack.”
Case backs are usually the most creative spaces on watches as designers can go wild with inscriptions, illustrations, windows, or other oddball features. On the Duzu A-10, we’ve got all four. The specifications and serial number ring 7 sapphire portholes arranged to mimic the barrels of the A-10’s formidable 30mm autocannon. In the center, we see a warthog head with a cannon snout.
Buyers will get only one strap choice with the watch, and it’s a good one: a 22mm military green canvas weave with a signed buckle, quick-release pins, a fixed steel keeper, and an embroidered U.S. Air Force star on the canvas floater.
Not all canvas is created equal. I’ve encountered many a fabric strap that looked great in photos and turned out to be as comfortable as a zip-tie. This strap is ideal. It’s a durable weave that’s also remarkably pliable, soft on your skin, and breathable —a welcome relief in D.C.’s oppressive August heat.
The Duzu A-10 is a refreshing twist on the traditional military pilot’s watch. Its connection to the Warthog is both clever and sincere. It incorporates a great deal of detail that works surprisingly well. Nothing is over the top. The watch is handsome and practical, with many of its additional (and enjoyable) design elements revealing themselves only upon closer inspection, making the A-10 all the more rewarding.
Australian buyers will get the best deal as the $389 purchase price includes domestic shipping. U.S. buyers will have to deal with whatever our tariff-of-the-day is for Chinese imports, as tariffs are calculated on a product’s country of manufacture, not the country it ships from. Even with that annoyance included, the Duzu A-10 will still be a clever watch for a fair price.
Duzu will launch the A-10 on Kickstarter at the end of October. In the meantime, check out the A-10 information page at duzuwatches.com.
