AVI-8 Celebrates the “Flying Shamrock” with the Spitfire Smith 24-Hour Automatic

AVI-8’s connection to aviation history has always gone beyond aircraft design. Our collections are shaped by the people who flew them — individuals whose skill, discipline, and leadership defined an era.

The Spitfire Smith 24 Hour Automatic Paddy Limited Edition was created to commemorate Paddy Finucane, the highest-scoring Irish fighter pilot of the Second World War, and to mark his lasting contribution to military aviation.

Finucane flew the Supermarine Spitfire during critical stages of the war, including the Battle of Britain. By the age of 21, he had already established himself as one of the Royal Air Force’s most effective and respected pilots. His aircraft carried a shamrock
marking alongside his initials — a personal identifier that earned his Spitfire the nickname “The Flying Shamrock.”

This watch was designed with that history in mind.

The green dial reflects the markings carried on Finucane’s aircraft, while the applied indexes and aviation-inspired layout follow functional cockpit design rather than decorative styling. A shamrock motif appears subtly on the dial and again on the custom exhibition caseback, serving as a quiet reference to Finucane’s identity rather than a visual statement.

The watch is powered by a Japan automatic 24-hour movement, chosen for its relevance to aviation timekeeping and extended missions. A sapphire crystal lens protects the dial, while Swiss-origin luminous details ensure visibility in low-light conditions. The Spitfire Smith case retains the proportions and presence associated with the aircraft Finucane flew, paired with a green genuine leather strap selected for durability and historical character.

Each watch is individually numbered and presented in a memorial limited edition box, reinforcing the intent of the project — to create a considered tribute, not a reinterpretation.

The Spitfire Smith Paddy Limited Edition exists because some stories deserve to be recorded carefully. This watch is our way of acknowledging Paddy Finucane’s legacy with accuracy, respect, and permanence.