The 3 Warbirds that Inspired us to Create the New P-51 Editions

A History of Defiance

Breaking the norm, defying the establishment, pushing the boundaries of design and performance – these describe LIV Watches and the P-51 Mustang. We strive to make watches that will survive the rigors of daily life with style. The P-51 was designed to survive the rigors of aerial combat by outperforming all its adversaries. We are proud to share some of the same DNA with this outstanding warplane.

The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was arguably the best Allied fighter airplane in WWII. While its reputation is firmly established in late 1943, the plane first flew on 26 October 1940 after entering combat for the RAF in 1942. After some teething pains that resulted in the original Allison engine being replaced by the Rolls-Royce Merlin V-1650 12 cylinder, this powerful, rugged, long-range fighter turned the tide in favor of the Allies in the bombing campaigns over Germany.

LIV Watches is proud to honor three notable versions of the P-51 Mustang in a new launch slated for 27 October 2021. Featured are the Ferocious Frankie, Cripes A' Mighty, and the 352nd Blue Nose.

Ferocious Frankie

The Ferocious Frankie, a warplane that boasted a bright yellow nose and cowling and was named for the pilot's wife because he said, "The P-51 was as ferocious as his wife."

Indeed, the P-51 was a deadly combination of speed, maneuverability, and punch. Six 50-caliber machine guns could shred any opponent in seconds, putting a real sting in the hands of the pilot.

To reflect this characteristic, we gave the LIV P-51 Ferocious Frankie vibrant venom yellow subdials at 12 and 6 o’clock, a yellow-tipped hand in the 9 o’clock subdial, and yellow on the chapter ring from 12 to 3 o’clock. Paired with a black IP finish everywhere else, premium sapphire crystals front and back, the Ferocious Frankie is stunning from every angle, just like its namesake aircraft.

 

Cripes A' Mighty

The P-51 was a complex machine consisting of a radical design and thousands of precision parts, riveted and welded together into a strong, robust machine. To honor George Preddy Jr. from Greensboro, NC, the LIV P-51 Cripes A' Mighty watch features a Carolina blue dial, cobalt blue for the subdials at the 12 and 6 o’clock positions, and a ceramic-titanium bezel. The durability of the ceramic bezel is worthy of the strength of the P-51 fighter. And the 200+ part premium ETA 7750, hand-assembled, tuned, tested, and mounted in our Swiss workshops, is worthy of the precision handwork that went into each Mustang.

352nd Blue Nose

This version of the LIV P-51 watch features a lustrous combination of cobalt blue to mirror the 352nd's paint scheme and natural titanium, reminiscent of the unpainted aluminum skin of the aircraft. One of the features pilots appreciated was the excellent visibility the innovative bubble canopy provided. It made it easier to see enemy aircraft closing in. The LIV P-51 352nd Blue Nose watch evokes this life-saving feature by applying an anti-reflective coating on the premium sapphire crystal and a no-nonsense color combination on the dial and bezel.