VinylPilot Watch
A collaboration between Minimal Wear and AndoAndoAndo
Introduction
Following the success of the original Vinyl Record Watch—designed originally by Ando to address the lack of rectangular cases in the market, but you know what is also lacking? A square watch case for slimmer wrists!—the VinylPilot continues the mission of solving overlooked needs in watch design.
The result is a vintage-inspired pilot watch that blends thoughtful minimalism with instrumental aviation cues.
Case
The VinylPilot features a 36mm × 36mm square case in black PVD stainless steel. Drawing from the rugged aesthetics of vintage cockpit instruments, the top and bezel are fully redesigned on the foundation of the original Vinyl Record case. The bezel is secured with four exposed screws for an industrial, tool-watch feel—proportioned to suit every wrist without compromise.
Case Back
Flipping the watch reveals a transparent sapphire case back, where the spirit of aviation comes to life. Printed on the glass is a terrain elevation map of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina—the site of the Wright brothers’ first powered flight in 1903. A radar-like graphic points precisely to the location of takeoff. As the rotor spins, it mimics the motion of an airplane propeller, reinforcing the watch’s deep aviation heritage with every movement.
Dial
The dial inspired by the design codes introduced in the first collaboration (Ref 22-00), while evolving its visual identity. It carries a subtle nod to California dials, reinterpreted through minimalist lens. Soft indentations create gentle depth and textured feel, while four directional lines extend outward from the center—representing orientation, navigation, and movement. The triangular 12 o’clock marker, along with the chapter ring, features arrows that points to the cardinal directions, further grounding the design in a pilot’s visual language.
Hands
Bold, classic sword-style hour and minute hands are filled with Super-LumiNova C3 for powerful legibility, day or night. The second hand is modeled after a radar needle—elongated and tipped with lume—sweeping gracefully across the dial with the precision of a flight instrument.
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Color Options
Sky Blue & Solar Flare
Both of these dials are housed in the square black VinylPilot case, designed for skyward explorers.
• Sky Blue features a fully lumed BGW9 dial that glows in a soft, sky blue—ideal for those drawn to altitude and clarity.
• Solar Flare offers a warm, radiant tone with C3-lumed indices, evoking sunlight at cruising altitude. Together, these variations represent the dual nature of the sky—tranquil and powerful.
Green Forest & Sunflower
These two colorways utilize the rectangular Vinyl Record case, chosen for its unique crown guard that were designed not just to mimic the shape of a record player. But the openings in the guards allow the watch to be worn as a pendant or necklace, making it a true tool for land-dwellers, explorers, and navigators.
• Green Forest features a rich, earthy green dial with a black chapter ring and hands—rooted, steady, and ready for the trail.
• Sunflower contrasts with a bold, vibrant yellow dial, offering maximum legibility and warmth. Both are framed in silver-tone cases that stand apart from the black square models, signaling their distinct terrain and purpose.
Specs
Movement: Miyota 9039 Premium Automatic, made in Japan
Accuracy: ｰ10～＋30 sec/day
Vibration Frequency: 28800 per hour
Power Reserves: 42 hours
Water Resistance: 5 ATM
Strap: Genuine leather
Dimensions:
Lug-to-Lug: 36 mm
Lug Width: 22 mm
Case Width: Black —36mm
Silver—41 mm
Case Thickness: 10.7 mm
Case Top: Case Top with Four Screws and a Sapphire Crystal
Case Back: Case Back with Four Screws and a Sapphire Crystal
Package: Just the usual AndoAndoAndo recyclable, cool, small, fun, cardboard package with a unique piolt theme this time !
Standard International Shipping
Our international shipping use DHL Global Mail.
We will provide you two tracking numbers. One that tracks your shipment from Finland to DHL warehouse in Germany, and another which tracks the shipment from Germany to your address.
It would take several days between the second tracking number would be updated.
According to DHL, their delivery aim is the following:
To Germany: 2-4 days
To EU: 3-6 days
To USA and Canada: 5-9 days
To Rest of the World: 6-12 days (for example, a package to Nagoya, Japan took 10 days)
DHL Express Shipping
It costs more, but it's faster!
Free Domestic (Finland) Shipping
Shipping within Finland use Posti Domestic Parcel shipping service which delivers our product to your nearest Posti Parcel Locker.
Delivery in 1–3 working days. (If you trust Posti that is!)
1-Year Manufacturing Defects Warranty
I have been wearing one of the functioning prototypes for almost 6 months. So far, it's functioned with no problems, and I am confident that it would for at least the next 6 months.
The reason I made sure that it's specifically 1-Year warranty for "Manufacturing Defects" is that I believe that most of the people who have never utilized the warranty of a product don't realize that the warranty only covers Manufacturing Defects. Some watch brands offer a longer warranty, such as 5 years or 10 years—but by then, how would you know that your broken watch suffered a manufacturing defect, or normal wear-and-tear? And would you ever be able to convince the brand's customer service that it was indeed a manufacturing defect?
Their warranty doesn't cover wear-and-tear, or user error, and neither does this warranty. But I do think it is important to clarify that it is a warrant for manufacturing defects, instead of just issuing that it is a vaguely worded "warranty" which sounds like something that might cover something more than manufacturing defects. And 1 year is enough time to warrant manufacturing defects.
60-Days 100% / 90% Return Policy
If you wish to return the watch, you can absolutely do that within 60 days of purchase. You have to take several photographs of the watch and send an email to me before shipping it back. Depending on the condition of the watch, the amount of the refund is different.
-Full Refund: If the watch, within 60 days of purchase, was never worn, and the packaging (boxes, wraps) is intact. Please send us an email with photographs of the watch and the proof of purchase, before shipping it back to us. When shipping back, please use a trackable shipping method. We will fully refund the watch and the shipping cost once it arrives to us upon inspection.
-90% Refund: If the watch, within 60 days of purchase, was never worn, but some of the packaging (boxes, wraps) is missing. Please send us an email with photographs of the watch and the proof of purchase, before shipping it back to us. When shipping back, please use a trackable shipping method. We will refund 90% of the watch and the shipping cost once it arrives to us upon inspection.
