Fortis Classic Cosmonauts Steel A.M.

by Tyler Frederick

The right tool for the job

What do you think of when you hear “tool watch”? Ironically, I love dive watches, but when I hear those words, I immediately think of a chronograph: timing, tracking speed over a certain distance, usually moderately water resistant, some form of date display. The Swiss army knife of watches. Still, they’re not my usual go-to, even considering I spend some time at the race track–where a chronograph is fitting–but I always wear a diver. Over the last few weeks, I’ve had the chance to check out a watch from 2018: the Fortis Classic Cosmonauts Steel A.M. While it is not usually my style, I was surprised.

Fortis Classic Cosmonauts Steel A.M. Review — ^{Fortis Classic Cosmonauts Steel A.M. @calibre321}

Check out the Imperial Watch Co. Oceanguard GMT

Advertisement

Key Features of the Fortis Classic Cosmonauts

The Roscosmos Connection

This is my first time experiencing Fortis hands-on, and I’m impressed. While it’s not my style—and I’ll be honest, I was slightly hesitant to do this review because it’s not usually my thing—I’m happy I gave it a chance. What intrigued me the most about the Classic Cosmonauts is its rich history in space exploration, specifically with the Russian space agency Roscosmos. Fortis has been an equipment staple since 1994. With its chronograph functionality, legible dial and overall construction, the watch is perfect for any conditions, especially exploring the vast and infinite cosmos.

Legibility

The watch is on the larger side, which I figured would be an issue on my 6.75-inch wrist, but it was still generally comfortable. With a larger size comes easier legibility. The silver dial contrasts sharply against the bold green-tinted numerals and indices, ensuring effortless readability at a glance—a crucial feature for pilots and space travelers. While I’m a fan of black dials, I much prefer the silver dial variation when paired with the steel tachymeter bezel.

Calibre

The chronograph layout, featuring a 30-minute, 12-hour, and seconds sub-dial, maintains symmetry while delivering essential timing functions, including a day and date complication. The bright orange chronograph hand is the finishing touch, paying homage to Fortis’ design signature. The reliable Valjoux 7750 powers the watch

Specs

Case	316L Stainless Steel 42mm Diamter 51mm Lug-to-Lug 15mm Thick 21mm Lug Width Screwed Case Back 100m Water Resistance
Dial & Crystal	Sapphire Crystal Silver-tone Sunray Dial Applied Markers Pencil Handset Tri-compax Layout Super-LumiNova
Movement	Valjoux 7750 28800.0vph/4.0hz 25-jewel 48-hour Power Reserve
Strap	Black Leather Strap

Fortis Classic Cosmonauts Steel A.M.

Quibbles

I would have enjoyed the watch more if it had been in a smaller form factor. The 42mm case is already a tad large, but it’s too much for my wrist when paired with the 15mm thickness. My ideal size, especially for a chronograph, is around 40mm, and it’s possible to achieve this even using the Valjoux 7750.

Final Thoughts

The Fortis Classic Cosmonauts Steel A.M. was a weird one for me and a challenge to wrap my head around, but once I got to know it and grasped a better understanding, especially attaching to its history with the Roscosmos, the love grew. I could see why so many collectors and enthusiasts would enjoy it. It’s a watch with a history of space exploration that looks unique, and while it’s on the larger side, it has presence.

Pricing & Availability

The Fortis Classic Cosmonauts Steel A.M. is available for $1,680 ($2,400 CAD) pre-owned through Gem Bijou.

About the author

Born into a family obsessed with motorsport, Tyler Frederick became enamoured with speed and beautiful cars at a young age. His love of Formula 1–and all things mechanical–eventually lead him to horology. You can follow him on Instagram.

Take Two articles are full-length, hands-on reviews of vintage and preowned watches and represent the opinion of the author only. All photos are original, unless specified otherwise.

Please understand that using any links to products on this site might result in us making money.