THE A-13: A SOLAR-POWERED PILOT WATCH
Heritage-Inspired. Rugged. Assembled in Canada.
“We know how hard it is to find a watch with the right look, a solid build, and a fair price. That is why we started Redwood.”
The Redwood Brothers
THE MOST ICONIC AIRCRAFT INSTRUMENT DESIGN OF THE 20th CENTURY
In 1964, the Department of Defense published MIL-C-6499, a new military specification for a mechanical aircraft clock. In addition to a high-contrast dial with large numerals and hands, it also required a stepped dial with a raised outer track to improve legibility.
Our inspiration for the Redwood Pilot A-13 watch would go on to become one of the most iconic aircraft instrument designs of the 20th century. Interpreted as a wristwatch with rugged specifications, it is ready for anything you throw at it. A very capable tool watch in its own right, the A-13 is a piece of aviation history on your wrist.
Starting at
SOLAR-POWERED MOVEMENT
"A WATCH MADE FOR FLYING"
LEGIBILITY FIRST
As is to be expected for aircraft instruments, one of the most important aspects of the A-13 spec was legibility of the dial and hands. The Redwood Pilot A-13's high-contrast dial features large numerals for quick and clear reading with minute markers on the raised outer scale to reduce parallax error. The sword-shaped hour and minute hands are true to the original and the second hand with a luminous tip helps confirm correct movement operation with just a quick glance.
NIGHT-VISION LUMINESCENCE
Some versions of the A-13 clocks used radioactive tritium to provide illumination, causing safety issue. Redwood uses non-radioactive Super-LumiNova pigments, a major improvement over period tech. The pigment appears white in daytime conditions and produces a strong greenish glow in low light after exposure to light or UV. All three hands and 12 hour markers are coated for clear nighttime operation.
"BUILT TOUGH"
BULLETPROOF CASE
The case embodies the essence of form following function, featuring a rugged, all-stainless construction with a brushed finish. The most noticeable difference with the DOD’s A-13 spec is size: Whereas original A-13’s were a massive 60mm wide to be suitable for use as aircraft clocks, the Redwood is a reasonable 40mm, making it perfect for a wristwatch. The brushed finish reduces unwanted glare and the massive lugs are insurance against failure. They are drilled for convenient spring bar removal. The Redwood A-13 watch is also equipped with an oversized screw-down crown for easier operation.
STORM-READY
A critical requirement for A-13 clocks was a waterproof and dustproof case to protect the movement from the harsh cockpit environment. The Redwood Pilot A-13 watch stays true to the spirit of the 60s piece and uses modern technology for a reliable 100m/330ft of water resistance. To achieve this rating, both the crown and caseback are screwed-down and equipped with high quality polymer seals.
UNSCRATCHABLE GLASS
The Pilot A-13 is equipped with a flat sapphire crystal. Being one of the hardest materials - rated at 9 on the Mohs hardness scale (diamonds rate at 10) - it is very scratch resistant. Its flat shape further reduces the risk of scratching it. It is mounted with special seals to ensure water tightness. Its 1.5mm thickness is designed to withstand the strong hydrostatic pressure experienced underwater.
MILITARY HERITAGE
M56 TYPE CANVAS POUCH
Each Redwood Pilot A-13 watch is shipped in a heritage-inspired watch pouch. Borrowing design elements from the M56 Compass bag, the sturdy watch pouch is made of a thick grey cotton canvas. It features a slot for the watch and a narrower slot for tools or additional straps. It provides a secure, safe and compact way to store and carry the A-13.
GOVERNMENT-CONTRACT CASEBACK
The screw-down caseback of the Redwood Pilot A-13 might appear cryptic for the uninitiated with several lines of coded text engraved into the solid stainless steel piece. In a tip of the hat to government-contract timepieces, the caseback features important information about the watch including model number, type of movement, water resistance rating, date of manufacture as well as manufacturer contact information.
ASSEMBLED
IN CANADA
SOLARMOVEMENT
AIRCRAFTCLOCK DESIGN
2-YEAR
WARRANTY
SPECIFICATIONS
CASE
Diameter: 40mm
MOVEMENT
GLASS
Flat SapphireInternal AR Coating
Thickness: 1.5mm
CROWN
Engraved
WATER RESISTANCE
STRAP
Leather, Nylon or Rubber StrapBrushed Stainless Steel Hardware
DIAL
WEIGHT
56g (Excluding Strap)
What our customers think
"I actually loved my first watch so much I got a second and they both are amazing! The glow works wonders and the water resistance helps with all my wet PNW adventures. I'll probably be getting another."
Sean B.
"Build quality is excellent, and has accompanied me on hikes, hunting trips, and mountain biking, all while being fashionable at the same time!"
Neil K.
"This watch has withstood a good sixth months of fieldwork with constantly being hit by tree branches and shrubs and hasn't been scratched by any of it. Can't complain about anything with this watch. "
George H.
"It's a great watch. Simple, stylish, highly legible, quality construction. It's my number one go-to watch. "
David M.
THE REDWOOD PROMISE
Good design, rugged construction, fair price: When we were shopping for a watch, we were told we could only pick two out of the three.
Redwood was born from the desire to be able to own a watch with a great design anchored in history, a quality build with solid specs and a fair price. This is the Redwood Promise.
HERITAGE DESIGNS
At Redwood, we have great respect and admiration for heritage designs. Military watches from WW2 to the 80s and the outdoor lifestyle have been our biggest influence [read more]
RUGGED BUILD
We decided early on to build rugged watches because we wanted our customers to have a product that would last for years. By using quality materials, we ensure their durability and good looks [read more]
FAIR PRICING
Redwood is a small. independent, family-owned brand. We take pride in building solid watches and selling them at an honest price. With no corporate backers, we are free from pressures to reach sales goals and profit margins.
CANADIAN ASSEMBLY
Early on, we had the goal to manufacture watches in Canada. Since 2020, our watches are proudly assembled in our own workshop on the north shore of the great St-Lawrence river near Montreal, Canada [read more]
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