Flieger Klassik Chrono

History & Inspiration of the STOWA Flieger watches.

From indispensable instrument to fashionable everyday watch. 

One of the most successful watch types of all times, unquestionably, is the pilot watch. Its popularity is due to its distinctive design, which is linked to its eventful history: when men started to populate the sky, timekeepers became indispensable instruments. As a result, a distinctive type evolved - the pilot watch. 

At the beginning of the 20th century, mad men in flying crates caused excitement. Mobility became more and more important. Horse carriages were replaced by fueled vehicles, railroads connected numerous urban centers and in the air, pilots were flying with nerves of steel - at that time, aviation was dangerous. 

Admittedly, the days of aircraft captains needing special watches to assist them are over. Modern measuring tools and, if nothing else, global positioning system GPS are today´s equipment. However, what lasts is the typical look of the pilot watch: with its classic design, the watch is rated among the treasured favorites of some watch collection. 

Being one of the largest manufacturers for pilot watches, STOWA produces its characteristic watches in various designs again since 1997. Featuring manual wind, automatic movement or as a chronograph. Every watch fan may find the right one for himself within this premium collection.

Original Watches. Baumuster A and Baumuster B.

The original design of the original Flieger watch by STOWA (1940) was marked by the usual arrangement of the hour numbers on the dial. They called this version Baumuster A (see figure on the left). Around 1942, the Baumuster B was developed. This dial is characterized by the large external (numerical) minute-track and the smaller inner hour circle. The large 55 mm watch in the Baumuster B version of STOWA is one of the rarest large Flieger watches ever. There were probably only 42 pieces built. Both original STOWA Flieger watches can be seen in the museum in Engelsbrand.

Relaunch of the STOWA Flieger watch in 1997.

Baumuster A.

Right after Jörg Schauers takeover of the brand, STOWA presented its best known classic: the Flieger watch with its 40 mm stainless steel watch case and mechanical movement. Almost unchanged in production to the present day. STOWA´s bestseller: the version without logo on its dial.

Details of typical Flieger watches. 

Luminous numbers.

Optimal readability at night: luminous numbers on the dial.

Blued hands.

Installed even today: Thermally blued steel hands with luminous material. 

Triangle.

Helps orientation at night: luminous triangle with two luminous points.

Remake of the Flieger Baumuster B. 2010.

Besides the first version with numerals on the rim, also known as Baumuster A, there is a version of the Flieger watch with numerals on the inside, which was built since approximately 1942: the so called Baumuster B version. Finally, STOWA reissued this historical classic watch with a 40 mm watch case in 2010.  

Flieger Klassik Sport. 2015.

The most robust Flieger watch that STOWA has ever built.

Die klassische STOWA Fliegeruhr wird     moderner und sportlicher. Das 43 mm Gehäuse und die extra dicken Saphirgläser des Modells Flieger Klassik Sport ermöglichen 200 Meter Wasserdichtheit und eine erhöhte Stoßfestigkeit. Die Leuchtintensität der Zeiger und des Zifferblattes sind wie bei allen STOWA Uhren besonders stark.

Handaufzug oder Automatik. Die Uhrwerke.

STOWA hat verschiedene Uhrwerke zur Auswahl.

Viele Sammler lieben die klassische Handaufzugsuhr. Das tägliche Ritual des aufziehens ist für diese Menschen wichtig. Die etwas einfachere Variante in der Bedienung - auch wenn man die Uhr täglich trägt, ist die Automatikversion. Beide Uhrwerke sind aber qualitativ auf dem selben Niveau. Die Handaufzugsuhr ist ca. 1mm flacher und das Werk kann ebenso unter dem Saphirglasboden betrachtet werden. Wie Sie im folgenden Bild sehen können, gibt die Handaufzugsversion den Blick aufs Uhrwerk komplett frei. Bei der Automatikversion dreht sich der Rotor unter dem Glas und überdeckt so immer ca. 50% der sichtbaren Fläche.

Awarded. STOWA’s Flieger Chronograph.

Flieger Chrono.

Reduction. STOWA´s Flieger Chrono deliberately goes without permanent subsidiary second enabling to maintain the original pilot watch design. No doubt, this design innovation helped winning the Goldene Unruh 2012. Also available with manual wind movement.