History & Inspiration of the Antea design line
Since 1937, STOWA produces watches in the style of Bauhaus. The small number of watches existing from that period prove that not many companies realized this, by the standards of the time, new design. However, this plain and timeless design is well established today. Since 2000, STOWA produces its classic watch again with a modernized shape, in different sizes and versions. More interesting watches from that period can be seen at STOWA museum in Engelsbrand. May it be a small, solid gold watch for women with Roman numbers or a rectangular gold watch with Arabic ones. Collectors’ hearts leap for joy regarding the two watches depicted above. The rectangular watch is made of a so called desk case (Pultgehäuse), which means the watch case is thicker at 12 o’clock than at 6 o’clock – to better meet the eye of the beholder. The round shaped watch features a rare color combination: a Roman dial made of copper in a chromed watch case.
The original STOWA watch, around 1937.
One of many versions of the so called Bauhausstyle, built in the 1930s.
1937. Ladies wristwatch, goldcase.
Small ladies wristwatch in a massiv golden case, 585/000. Romeon numbers in gold on black colored dial.
1937. Rectangular.
Men´s wristwatch in a rectangular shape. With arabic numeral typographie on the dial.
Story of the Antea Design Line.
The design of the dials came from german dial factory Weber & Baral/Pforzheim.
1937. Lange.
The Lange watch from 1937 may have been on of the first watches influenced by the plain design vocabulary of the Bauhaus. Its dial was made in Pforzheim. Existing documents prove that Weber & Baral (the largest dial company back then) also supplied Lange & Söhne. Lange was customer No 1, STOWA No 3.
1937. STOWA.
STOWA also bought dials at Weber & Baral. Many different models - partly in real gold - round or square, were built with it. From the mid-thirties, the models of today’s Antea series are created. In the STOWA Museum, some of the classics from that era can be seen.
2004. Reissue.
In 2004, Jörg Schauer reissued STOWA’s original watch from 1937. The Antea Classic is produced unchanged and in different watch case sizes since then. Manual wind or automatic movement. Polished stainless steel watch case, silver-plated dial and blued steel-watch-hands.
2015. Modernized.
Antea back to bauhaus. Jörg Schauer wants to modernize the classic Antea watch. Together with world-famous designer Hartmut Esslinger, the new Antea series develops. Hartmut Esslinger uses a font, which has its origins at the era of Bauhaus. As a result, the watch appears more fresh and modern.
Dials from Weber & Baral/Pforzheim. Around 1937.
The design inspirations in this days came from founder Arthur Weber.
Reissue of the original classic design.
Antea KS. Handwinding. From 2004.
Automatic version.
Antea 390. Automatic. Handmade rotor.
Awarded. Goldene Unruh 2005.
Antea creme
2005, Antea Creme (preceding model of nowadays Antea 390) wins the Goldene Unruh, presented by German watch magazine UHREN-MAGAZIN. Since then, this model is produced almost unchanged. Its value was increased steadily by adding blued steel-watch-hands, a silver dial and a TOP movement.
More original dials from Weber & Baral.
