Fortis Flieger 24h - the small one (AWW 38)
Specifications
Name: Fortis Flieger 24h
Reference: 621.10.41
Movement: ETA 2893-2, 21 jewel, automatic, shockproof, 28,000 bph.
Time display: 24 hour, minute, seconds, 24 on top
Date: at 3
Case: all stainless steel, blasted finish, screw case back
Size: 34 mm without, 38 mm with crown, 40 mm lug to lug
Height: 11 mm
Face: black, lumed even hour numbers and markers
Text on dial: [Fortis logo] Fortis Automatic T Swiss Made T
Text on back: FORTIS LTD GRENCHEN STAINLESS STEEL WATERRESISTANT 100M 621.10.148 [Fortis logo] FORTIS since 1912 Swiss
Hands: black lumed hour and minute hands, neon orange seconds hand
Water-resistance: 100m water resistant
Crown: unsigned screw crown at 3 to set time
Crystal: flat mineral anti-reflective crystal
Lugs: 20 mm
Bracelet: original signed stainless steel bracelet with tri-fold clasp
Foreword
I was very happy indeed when I got this watch in January 2013. This smaller version of Fortis Flieger 24h - 34 mm, the bigger 40 mm version is much more popular - is not easy to find. I have small wrists and I was hunting for exactly this model over a period of time. And the price was also very good, EUR 350.
Comments
Now, after one year I can say that this Fortis on one of my favorites, for sure. I don't have the exact statistics, of course, but it can easily be that this is the number one watch I'm wearing most often.
Unfortunately is this small 24h Flieger discontinued. Last catalog I saw it was 2010. Here you see Flieger Automatic family from Fortis 2010 Catalog (
FORTIS Sales Folder 2010):
Some words on Fortis numbering schema. Best source is:
https://www.watchuseek.com/f7/little-bit-fortis-numerology-73457.html
If you have some Fortis watch only without papers, then it is not easy to find out the original model reference number. On the case back you see only two first model reference numbers. The third number is showing production year and maybe even something more.
My watch is according to catalog Flieger 621.10.41. That means:
· 621 - small 34mm Flieger Automatic 24h
· 10 - steel, blasted finish
· 41 - 24h black lumed dial
OK, to be absolutely precise, then as a minimum two versions of this small 24h Flieger exists. According to 2003 Fortis Swiss catalog (
http://www.pastore-nicolet.com/price/fortis.pdf):
· 621.10.41 - 24h, 34mm, leather bracelet (CHF 990)
· 621.10.41 M - 24h, 34mm, stainless steel bracelet (CHF 1,100)
The bigger 40mm versions of this watch with the same case finish exists. Respective reference numbers are 596.10.41 and 506.10.41M and the original list prices were the same as 34mm versions.
On the case back of my watch is stamped 621.10.148. How to decipher 148 - I don't know. The production year must be hidden here.
Very often the Fortis watches are sold based on the case back number. When you are searching for some particular Fortis then always check the pictures to make sure which watch it actually is.
The seller told me that the crystal was changed at Fortis service with anti-reflexive one. No other watch I have is even close to the sharpness and crystal-clear look at the Fortis dial. The seller added later original stainless steel bracelet too and I'm very satisfied with this one. On the bracelet is stamped number 595.1.
And finally - very nice thread with good story and superb pictures is
Fortis Flieger.
Summary
If I ever have to sell my collection, then most probably I'll keep my small Fortis Flieger 24h.
