[Unce_Turbo_997]

Hi All!

I've been very interested in pilot watches lately (think IWC 500401 and Archimede UA7919-A1.6). These two have vastly different price points, but you can see the look that I'm going for. After narrowing my search to fliegers in my price range (Archimede, Stowa, Steinhart, Laco, etc) I started to think - what should a proper classic pilot watch look like? Should the face be plain and black or is white acceptable? Does the strap need to have rivets? Is having a date function acceptable or is it clutter?

I know that these are more preference than anyhting, but I would like to see what's out there to make sure I don't buy the "wrong" look.

Thanks!

 

[Statius]

Here is a link to a Laco Type-A Flieger. This watch, but for the smaller size (42mm vs. 55mm) is pretty much bang on to the original German Fliegers. Stowa is good too, and their case is more modern with curved lugs. There is also a Type-B Flieger. These are, of course, German pilot watches. If that's what you are looking for and you want to stay as close to the original as possible, take a look at Laco's newer 42 and 45mm hand-winding 2801 watches. Stowa is another of the original 5 companies that made German Flieger watches, along with IWC and a couple of others (you can find that out easily).

So, this is as close to original as you can get right now (notice the lugs jutting form mid-case), but for size (though Laco does/did have a 55mm replica, too):

https://www.watchuseek.com/f367/new-laco-pilot-just-arrived-unboxing-photos-463235.html

 

[Janne]

The modern 42, 45 and 55mm Lacos are very close to WW2 era 55mm Lacos.
Including the lugs.
The modern Stowa is very close to WW2 Stowa, including the lugs.

The A-dial was superseeded in -41 or 42 by the very distinct B-dial.

Those 2 makers I think are the better ones on the market today.

 

[Statius]

I didn't know the Stowa original had curved lugs. Learn something everyday! Thanks.

 

[Janne]

A day without learning something new is a wasted day!

The Laco was the only one, as far as I know, that had lugs that were sticking straight out from the case. And the only one (that i know) with that weird design.

 

[Myron]

Janne,

Was the case design, and hence lug geometry, not specified? Or are the differences between Laco and Stowa only amounting to "natural variation" of the same specification?

Thanks,

Myron

 

[Janne]

The case diameter was specified, the Crystal diameter was also specified. I am not sure about the thickness.
The 4 makers of B-uhren (plus IWC) had all different lugs and crowns.

 

[Unce_Turbo_997]

Statius - Thanks for the great pics! That's a really handsome looking Laco Flieger. Do all Laco straps come with colored rivets such as yours or was that a special order?

Janne - Very helpful information on the classic pilot look. I never noticed the curved lugs versus straight lugs before. Would you say the curved lugs ruin the look? I know Archimede's pilot pieces have this feature. Archimede also makes a pilot with a white dial. How do we feel about that? That and IWC's white faced pilot are the only I have seen. Are they not common?

 

[Statius]

Sorry, should have said that was not my Laco or my pics, just a good representation of what I was talking about. The rivets on the original Flieger strap are brass and age nicely; The rivets on the stock two piece straps (you get a brown and black, but have to buy the pilot one-piece separately) are stainless steel. As to the lugs: I find both the Stowa (I used to have a 2801 LE) and the Laco are great and the style of lug suits each one well. Stowa is a brilliant watch at great value and is a truly timeless piece, as is the Laco with its straight lugs. I have skinny 6.25" wrists and both the Stowa (40mm) and the Laco (42mm model) fit me perfectly well, though the Stowa was a better fit in general due to the smaller size and curved lugs.

Statius - Thanks for the great pics! That's a really handsome looking Laco Flieger. Do all Laco straps come with colored rivets such as yours or was that a special order?

Janne - Very helpful information on the classic pilot look. I never noticed the curved lugs versus straight lugs before. Would you say the curved lugs ruin the look? I know Archimede's pilot pieces have this feature. Archimede also makes a pilot with a white dial. How do we feel about that? That and IWC's white faced pilot are the only I have seen. Are they not common?

 

[Janne]

The WW2 Laco had brown painted rivets, but the Brass modern ones age nicely.
A White dial is totally wrong for a B-uhr.They might mahke a Pink, blue or green one.
But, some other Pilot watches had a white dial.
I am not impressed with the modern IWC's. They could do so much better. I can excuse a cheaper watch to have some design faults, but not in IWC's price range.

Stowa are a snap above in both price and quality over Laco, but Laco are more authentic look-wise.
The only thing that I think Laco should do is to offer a movement with chronometer certificate, preferably the new German Cert.

I think that the curved lugs are a little to large on most new B-uhr replicas.
As I wear lots of different watches (Breitlingday today!) I am used to different wear comfort.

 

[byhsu]

The modern 42, 45 and 55mm Lacos are very close to WW2 era 55mm Lacos.
Including the lugs.
The modern Stowa is very close to WW2 Stowa, including the lugs.

The A-dial was superseeded in -41 or 42 by the very distinct B-dial.

Those 2 makers I think are the better ones on the market today.

Which one, A dial or B dial, has the more classic look of the Flieger of WW 2. Or should i say, when someone thinks of a Flieger watch, which comes to mind? A dial or B dial?

I am interested in Stowa Flieger.

Thanks

 

[desidon]

How close is the sinn 900 to its flieger roots?
Did they have flusher chronos back in the day?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk

 

[Quartersawn]

For reference here is a Stowa with a B dial on my 7.35" wrist and a shot of the caseback.

I foolishly sold it but have decided to buy another one, the manual 2801 when they are released.

 

[Quartersawn]

How close is the sinn 900 to its flieger roots?
Did they have flusher chronos back in the day?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk

One of my co-workers has a Tutima. They still make the one pictured. Hanhart also made chronos that look very similar to the Tutima. I am not aware of other chrono makers although there were probably other brands. I do not own nor did I take the photos of the watches pictured.

 

[Robertus]

Sorry for chiming in w/Fliegerchronos, but - as mentioned above - there were a couple of nice ones in WW2: e. g. Tutima, Hanhart.
Now my daily wearer is the Sinn 103 St with acrylic glass: this watch is easy to wear (41 mm diameter, 15.5 mm height, 139g on the pictured bracelet), it is the best bang for the buck (in Germany 1.375 Euro on the bracelet visible on the scan), it is as close as possible to the 1953 issued original Breguet Type XX, which is one of the most beautiful design Fliegerchronos regarding case, lugs, dial and bezel, while having a handful of useful features: automatic ETA-Valjoux 7750 TOP, bidirectional count-up bezel, 12h chronograph, day-date, nice lume, 200 m waterresistance. Upgradable with see-through sapphyre case back (100 Euro).
Best,
Robert

 

[desidon]

If the 103 with the transparent back was 44 mm and had the gmt hand...it would be the perfect fliegerchrono!!'

 

[JohnM]

Saxon007,

Is that a 40mm Stowa B? It looks pretty large on your (relatively) large wrist.

Thanks.
John

 

[7Pecans]

One modern interpretation that I really like is the Christopher Ward C5 Malvern Mark II. Many of the classic flieger attributes, but a smaller size and good ol' numbers around the dial.

 

[Quartersawn]

Saxon007,

Is that a 40mm Stowa B? It looks pretty large on your (relatively) large wrist.

Thanks.
John

Hi John. Yes, it is 40mm and pretty much a perfect fit for me, I would never consider a larger watch of this type. Because they are almost all dial they seem bigger than they really are - the two watches pictured are both 40mm but the Stowa seems larger on the wrist.

 

[byhsu]

Hi John. Yes, it is 40mm and pretty much a perfect fit for me, I would never consider a larger watch of this type. Because they are almost all dial they seem bigger than they really are - the two watches pictured are both 40mm but the Stowa seems larger on the wrist.

Saxon007:

Very nice watches you got there. Which one helps the watch look more like a classic fieger, brown leather or black leather ?

Thank You