Apr 13, 2023

MALM is preparing the release of a historic collection - with love for Swedish aviation.

MALM's relationship to the Swedish aviation industry is well-known among both aviation and watch enthusiasts. Since 2018, watch projects with the Swedish aviation industry have followed one another, resulting in an impressive collection of wristwatches. Models such as Dalton, Catalina, Pegasus, and Air Wolf are some of the top sellers that have sold out in one, two, and three rounds. Swedish fighter and helicopter pilots, as well as technicians and administrative personnel in the air force, have participated in the development of these popular models in various ways, making MALM the best-selling watch brand in the Swedish military in modern times.

The modern Swedish aviation industry has been a dominant source of inspiration for most of MALM's wristwatches. JAS 39 Gripen, J 37 Viggen, and J 35 Draken are the aircraft that have received the most attention in terms of their own models and subtle details in materials, hands, indices, and design. Dalton 1 and 2, Dalton J35, and Air Wolf Viggen are all more or less sold-out successful projects and highly appreciated watches by both pilots and watch enthusiasts. These collections will continue to live on in new colors and models as MALM updates them with news and updates.

But Swedish aviation history consists of much more than modern fighter jets with jet engines and innovative canard wings. In the 1930s, several unique and exciting aviation development projects were initiated that are largely unknown to the general public. The troubled world situation during this period contributed to the fact that military development projects were high priority, and after the outbreak of World War II, the hunt to develop the best fighter plane intensified.

Sweden, with SAAB at the helm, contributed a number of groundbreaking aircraft projects from the 1930s to the 1960s. Several of these historic Swedish aircraft have had a major impact on what modern fighter planes look like today.

At the same time, there is a well-documented and extremely rich Swedish aircraft history from the first half of the 20th century. Wristwatches have also a lot to tell from this time period. The wristwatch has always had a given place among the pilot's personal equipment, and during the early years of aviation, the pilot watch was crucial to be able to calculate distances and fuel consumption. Large hands against a black contrasting dial with marking indices and numbers offered the pilot an easy-to-read clock under stressful circumstances. The distinct and clear appearance of pilot watches is still very popular today and lives on through a variety of different watch manufacturers.

MALM is currently preparing the release of a collection that pays tribute to the classic Swedish airplanes from the 1930s, 40s, 50s, and 60s by drawing inspiration from both the cockpit and classic pilot watches of that time period. The watches will be produced in a limited edition in a highly collectible constellation. The airplanes that MALM has selected for the collection will be presented during the spring and summer of 2023. Perhaps you can already guess which airplanes are included in the collection?