The Story Behind BYOP Watches

My love for aviation began in the 4th grade. I was a big fan of a popular WWII aviation television show—Baa Baa Black Sheep. Many of the kids in my class wanted to be the squad leader, Captain "Pappy" Boyington. We created our own air squadron in class, made paper insignia to designate our pilot ranks, taped them to our sleeves, and wore them outside during recess. We immediately ran to the swing sets, shouting flight commands at one another as we jumped into our cockpits. We flew high, as high as we could, until bailing out of our planes, flying even higher into the air. The flight wasn't over until we each landed safely back on the ground—after all, we were pilots.

 

Brand Meaning

When I began BYOP watches in 2017, I wasn’t interested in simply creating another watch brand. I wanted to create watches that had meaning—something more than a timepiece, something that could inspire others the way I was inspired in my life. I took this inspiration from aviation cockpit dials, with military fonts and matching black-and-white instrument-style hands. I wanted BYOP watches to give the feeling of being in the cockpit, reminding you that you are the pilot of your life. I also wanted the attributes of a true pilot’s tool watch—clean, simple, highly legible, and with an internal bezel that can be used for various aviation time functions.

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Definition of a Pilot

The Oxford Dictionary defines pilot as a noun: "a person who operates the flying controls of an aircraft." I define a pilot as a person who operates the flight controls of their life. Pilots are brave, free, and independent, navigating the skies according to who they are—they are their own pilot. This belief is the inspiration behind my childhood and the BYOP brand, which stands for Be Your Own Pilot.

 

Childhood Inspiration

After spending time in group homes and foster care as a kid, I spent the remainder of my childhood living near an airport. It was at this time that I was given my first watch by my mother, along with an inspiration. Wearing this watch gave me the feeling of having a co-pilot with me wherever I went. I spent many days with my co-pilot watching airplanes fly overhead, which immediately turned into a love for aviation and planted a dream of becoming a pilot. It was this inspiration that led me to be my own pilot—the pilot of my own life. I was inspired to be brave, be independent, and to be my own person, especially during times of turbulence and rough landings. Aviation showed me that the world was much bigger than what I saw as a kid. It showed me that I could go anywhere in the world, and anywhere in my life. Your past does not define you. My hope is that the BYOP brand will inspire you in the same way—to not be a passenger, but to be the pilot you are meant to be… to Be Your Own Pilot in life.