Orologi Calamai may not be a household name in the field of independent watchmaking, but this Italian niche brand has won the favor of many watch fans with its unique aviation-style watches. In 2025, the brand launched a new GMT automatic watch. Its case is made of turbine steel from the Panavia Tornado fighter jet, which perfectly blends aviation history with Italian tradition to become a functional and aesthetic timepiece masterpiece.
The perfect combination of aviation and Italy
Francesco Calamai, the founder of Orologi Calamai, comes from a family of three generations of pilots. His father flew with the Italian Royal Air Force during World War II, and his son Manfredi Calamai also inherited the family’s flying tradition. This profound aviation background deeply affects the brand’s design philosophy. Since cooperating with the Italian Air Force in 2015, Orologi Calamai has become the official supplier of the Italian Air Force. Its watches are not only a tribute to the history of aviation, but also the inheritance of traditional Italian culture.
Fighter Turbine Steel Case: Unique Materials and Craftsmanship
The case of the new GMT automatic watch is made of turbine steel from the Panavia Tornado fighter jet. This material is not only strong and durable, but also gives the watch a unique aviation gene. The case is brushed and polished, with a thickness of only 10.8 mm, a diameter of 39 mm, and a lug distance of 47.5 mm. The overall proportions are very coordinated. The bottom cover is fixed by 4 peripheral screws, is printed with the serial number of the specific turbine, and is engraved with a pattern of aerobatic aircraft in flight. The details are full of ingenuity.
Exquisite dial and practical functions
The black dial has a multi-layered design with a grainy texture in the center surrounded by thin rings and small markers. The three-dimensional hour markers and syringe hands are filled with Super-LumiNova® to ensure clear and easy reading in low-light environments. The GMT hand adopts a hollow design, which is low-key yet practical and can easily track the second time zone. The two-way black ceramic bezel has a 24-hour scale, a screw-in crown and 50-meter waterproof performance to meet daily wear needs.
Powerful movement and precise performance
The watch is equipped with Sellita SW330-2 Top Grade automatic movement (a clone of ETA 2893-2), with a vibration frequency of 28,800vph (4Hz) and a power reserve of 56 hours. The movement is finely adjusted to an average accuracy of +/-4 seconds per day. As an Office GMT watch, the GMT hand can be set independently in one-hour increments, making it ideal for wearers who frequently travel across time zones.
Buying advice and pitfall avoidance guide
Suitable for the crowd ：
Aviation fan/military fan collector player
Commuting watch users who pursue a sense of niche storytelling
Business people who need multiple time zone functions
Key points for inspection ：
Check the case material certificate to confirm the source of turbine steel
Observe the uniformity of the luminous coating. There is no glue overflow in genuine products.
The Orologi Calamai GMT Automatic watch retails for €2,400, which is extremely competitive for a watch made from fighter jet turbine steel that combines aviation elements with Italian origins. Whether you are an aviation enthusiast or a watch collector, this watch is a worthy choice.
