[fire_lantern]

Hi all,

I've been driving myself crazy trying to find a watch, so figured it was time to ask for some advice. This will be my first real watch purchase and my first automatic. I'm not a collector (I've had my Victorinox for 10 years now); I'm looking for something that will last me a very long time as a daily wear. I'm a 33 year old biology professor and I'm looking for a watch that I can wear at work and while teaching (it's a very casual workplace), but also stand up to some light time in the field and an outdoor lifestyle. For rough field work and hiking/camping I'll wear my Victorinox. I'm really drawn to the style, simplicity, and history of pilot watches and after looking at Archimede and Laco for a while, I keep getting directed back to Stowa... My requirements: I'm looking for 40-42mm A type with date, ETA automatic (glass caseback preferred), and a great company. Laco's out simply due to no date and Steinhart's out because of lack of water resistance. I know the date on a flieger is not fully authentic, but for a daily watch, I really prefer having the date. My initial price limit was $5-600, but I'm willing to go up a little to get the Stowa. I realize I'm posting this in the Stowa forum, but essentially I'm trying to figure out if there's any reason at all to not get the Stowa. Here are my random thoughts:

Stowa Flieger date/logo. Really like the style, the history, and everything about it. Only concern is whether it would be as durable as some of the other options ($850 for me in Canada after taxes, duty, shipping).
Flieger mit Logo und Datum - STOWA GmbH & Co.KG'

Archimede Pilot. Much nicer price point ($535), but not keen on the black hands or date placement.
PILOT 42 Automatic Eta 2824

Damasko DA36. Out of my price range and would have to find a very good used deal. I'm hesitant about buying used, as I've never done this before.
Damasko - Uhrenmanufaktur - Regensburg/Barbing - Hersteller von mechanischen Armbanduhren.

Muhle Glashutte. I blame my brother on this one. He has a Muhle Glashutte Terrasport and keeps urging me to look into them. From what I can tell, the M12 is the only one close to my price range (used) and I think it's a bit small at 38.5mm.

Any thoughts/advice would be much appreciated!

 

[Addy711]

I’m sporting a 10+ year old Victorinox and have been here reading and learning about watches for over a year. I have considered several watches but kept coming back to Stowa.

I wanted a watch that was versatile, stylish and good quality. I just finally took the leap and ordered a Stowa Ikarus with blued hands. I like the styling very much, and my wife/style consultant likes it too! I appreciate Stowa's history and their reputation for quality and service too. If my watch gets some battle scars over the years so be it, I plan on enjoying and not worrying about it too much.

If you can afford the watch that ticks all the boxes on your checklist and you get excited browsing pictures and reviews that’s the one you should go for, whichever watch that is.

 

[92degrees]

Of that group it would be no decision for me -- Stowa all the way. The only other watch I'd consider is a used Sinn 656 which has more a robust tool-watch feel to me.

 

[bigdog]

Truth be told. I wouldn't worry about a flieger not being visually authentic. As technically. WWII Fliegers haven't been made since, well WWII. All modern fliegers are interpretations/evolutions of the originals. So you should buy what makes you happy. For me. It was the STOWA Ikarus with the ETA2801 movement. It was also about having not only a great looking easy to read watch from a great company at a great price. It was also about what it isn't.

 

[fire_lantern]

Thanks for the advice everyone, much appreciated. Add711, sounds like we were in a pretty similar situation. So far, I can't really see any reason not to go for the Stowa other than the fact that it's a fair bit more than I had originally planned. Of all the watches I've looked at, it's the one I keep coming back to. Wish I could try one on first though, hard to make such a big purchase without doing so, but pretty much everyone that has a Stowa seems to feel it was the right decision with no regrets. Thanks for advice on the Sinn as well, I haven't seen a used 656 come up yet, but they certainly do look nice.

 

[M.W.]

Since you're looking at this as a long-term purchase, i.e. something you can wear for years and years, my advice would be to save up, even if it means waiting a bit longer, and get the watch you really want. From what you wrote this would rule out the Archimede, as you don't want to be bothered by the placement of the date window every day (it would really bother me, too). I can personally recommend Stowa--you won't be disappointed. Of the others the main draw of Damasko for me would be the hardened-steel case. Good luck!

 

[Bobby75]

Get the Stowa and if you are worried about it taking a knock in your outdoor activities get a cheap alternative for that.

 

[StufflerMike]

I used to own the Stowa Flieger (auto as well as hw), the Archimede H (hw with Junghans movement) and the Damasko 36. The Damasko offers a lot of technical innovation but with a day/date indication it's not really a Flieger but the best you can get for your money with ice-hardened case and all the other "gimmicks". The advantage of any Archimede is the in-house case. However, the closest to a WW II Flieger is the Stowa. Fit and finish is excellent as you can read in almost all threads here on Watchuseek. If money is an "issue" have a look at Laco. They offer affordable Flieger with Miyota movements.

 

[Anxietyprone]

If you carry a cellphone which shows the date a glance, then the closest thing to the authentic original is the LACO. The others on your list and mentioned here are great watches, but ALL look the same when placed next to each other. there's something about the thinness of these watch cases that shifts them to the dressy end of the spectrum (personal taste). The Laco's case, lugs and thickness are what set this type of watch apart from the others, and looks most authentic, if that's also a priority for you. I've own (and owned) most of the watches mentioned and I always go back to the Laco. When I want to be entertained by the movement and its "show quality" I take the Stowa, but the Laco is where the authenticity and compliments from others are realized. Enjoy choosing!

 

[fire_lantern]

Thanks everyone for all the advice, lots to think about. I think ultimately there's no way around getting the Stowa, it's going to happen sometime. I guess the question I'm struggling with is whether it should happen now or if I should save up for a while. $850 is a big chunk of change for me, not to mention to justify to my wife, so I can't help but wonder if it makes more sense to wait a couple years. I do very much like the look of the Lacos, so it's tempting to think seriously about a Miyota Laco, though I'm put off by the greenish dial, or used ETA Laco (I've been very tempted by this: laco-flieger-paderborn-42mm-type-b) then wait to make the big Stowa purchase in a couple years. There's still the date issue that I'd have to decide whether or not I could live with. Very tough call.

 

[zpyder]

Justification wise, originally I was going to buy a watch around £1000 - 1750 with some inheritance money. My girlfriend got very upset at how I could spend so much on "just a watch". However she seems a lot more ok with the concept of spending £500-600 on a watch. The wait time also helps buffer it too. By the time I actually have to pay for it she'll no longer care at all!

 

[JR1]

from your list, if you can afford it, it is worth getting the stowa a mighty fine flieger. save up for it, it's worth it.

having said that, i got a steinhart sterile dial nav b-uhr because i prefer the 47mm case size.

View attachment 999052

 

[brainless]

I've own (and owned) most of the watches mentioned and I always go back to the Laco. When I want to be entertained by the movement and its "show quality" I take the Stowa, but the Laco is where the authenticity and compliments from others are realized. Enjoy choosing!

Did I understand the right way?
If other people should be impressed, I have to choose a LACO.
If I want to be entertained by movement and looks, I have to choose the STOWA.

Now you only have to ask, whom you buy a watch for: For you or for other people :roll:,

Volker ;-)

 

[Aquaracer1]

Not sure if fitment is an issue for you. Its fairly important for me in selecting a watch. My wrist is 6.75 inches, and the lugs on the STOWA were too long for me. The Damasko DA 36 is an awesome watch (With day / date function) that fit perfectly, and can be had $800-$850 USD used. If you go that route, always buy the seller, how long have they been active here? What type of feedback and reputation do they have in the "deals' forum? Can't go wrong with the STOWA either. I've owned two, and the fit and finish is top class. They just dont fit me. I just ordered an Archimede 39 H and cant wait! Sounds like you may want to save a bit more, and there is no problem with that since you'll buy more time to think about it, and I guarantee there will be a watch for you when the right time comes. Good luck!

 

[Jme.]

I'm in a bit of the same boat Flieger-wise. There is a watch that I have my heart set on before a flieger but I will have one for sure. I too keep coming back to Stowa, even though I look at a ton of other watches. The way I see it is that there are watches that speak to you and they are the ones that you keep coming back to. There is no doubt about the Stowa's beauty, quality and history. I say get it as it is what you really want. If you get something else you will always think about the Stowa (and probably wind up getting it eventually anyway).

 

[CM HUNTER]

They all have their pros and cons. Proper tool watch size versus dress watch size, in-house case versus off-the-shelf, true to authenticity versus a unique flieger design, etc... Really just depends on your own personal priorities; those aspects that mean the most to you. All have outstanding qualities to them to be proud of.

 

[fire_lantern]

Lots of great advice from everyone and much to think about. It sounds like most of you recommend going for the Stowa or the watch that really speaks to me and just waiting til the funds are there (or, rather, until I can justify spending the funds). I keep looking at the other brands and there are many great watches out there, but I think the 40mm width, history, quality, etc. all really speak to me with the Stowa and it's something I can see myself wearing for many years to come. Perhaps more importantly, it's the one I drool over most. The Damasko is a sweet watch as well, I was just looking at that again and it's got a lot going for it, especially given the durability. Oh, and I have a 7" wrist, so I think from looking at pics of other folks with smallish wrists that the Stowa would work. I'll need to measure my current watch to compare the lug length, I appreciate that comment. As for buying used, it seems like lots of sellers on the forums have been here a long time and had lots of transactions, so I feel a bit better about going that route. Seems like Stowas do come up a bit and there are a couple I'll have to think seriously about.... rough bit is that the longer I wait, the longer the wait is getting the watch from Stowa!

 

[harrym71]

Lots of great advice from everyone and much to think about. It sounds like most of you recommend going for the Stowa or the watch that really speaks to me and just waiting til the funds are there (or, rather, until I can justify spending the funds). I keep looking at the other brands and there are many great watches out there, but I think the 40mm width, history, quality, etc. all really speak to me with the Stowa and it's something I can see myself wearing for many years to come. Perhaps more importantly, it's the one I drool over most. The Damasko is a sweet watch as well, I was just looking at that again and it's got a lot going for it, especially given the durability. Oh, and I have a 7" wrist, so I think from looking at pics of other folks with smallish wrists that the Stowa would work. I'll need to measure my current watch to compare the lug length, I appreciate that comment. As for buying used, it seems like lots of sellers on the forums have been here a long time and had lots of transactions, so I feel a bit better about going that route. Seems like Stowas do come up a bit and there are a couple I'll have to think seriously about.... rough bit is that the longer I wait, the longer the wait is getting the watch from Stowa!

From one Canuck to another, get the STOWA, you will not be disappointed.
I have a 7.25" wrist and it fits perfectly. If you are ever in Toronto, give me a holler and we can meet up so you can see it.
As for the money aspect, you don't pay until the send you an email asking for payment, so you have some time to set aside funds for it. I believe when I ordered mine it was about 4 months later that they asked for the payment.
Perhaps you can email STOWA and see what their turn around time is at the moment.

Good luck with your choice.

 

[Aquaracer1]

Perhaps you can email STOWA and see what their turn around time is at the moment.

Or just check out the website, and they quote approximate lead time there.

 

[lethaltoes]

Hi all. Thought I'll chime in too as I've both the stowa and the muhle. I've recently put the muhle terranaut iii trail up for sale and it's been spoken for already. I'm providing this background cos although I kept the stowa I think this muhle suits your requirements well. Firstly I sold it cos I thought I didn't carry it well. It's a more youthful and modern interpretation of the flieger and between the 2 it actually attracts more praise for its look. My wife prefers the muhle. Ironically it makes me feel old though and the more traditional quota feels right. Ha ha. Both watches are equally well made and great value. I do find the decorated movement on the muhle just that bit more attractive but the case and crown finish on the stowa just edges the muhle. Anyway happy hunting. It's a great time to be looking at German timepieces for there are such wonderful options at different price points these days. Also I've been told that stowa has plans for some new designs to be presented during baselworld 2013.