History of Flieger Watches
90th anniversary Stowa Flieger Klassik 36 ‘No Logo’ / Credit: SJXWatches
We see them everywhere, Flieger watches are the most iconic pilot watches available, and although many brands make ‘Fliegers’, only 5 companies were involved in the original development of the watches in the mid-1930s.
When Hitler announced his plans to reestablish Germany’s Luftwaffe, he also gave the Reichs-Luftfahrtministerium (RLM) or Aircraft Development Ministry, the responsibility of producing timepieces for their pilots. The RLM originally commissioned A. Lange & Söhne to develop the watches, but delays required them to include 4 other companies in its development: IWC, Laco, Stowa, and Wempe. Eventually, the consortium developed the Beobachtungsuhren or B-Uhren, also known as the observation watch. The watches were given to Luftwaffe pilots but were more commonly used for navigation as backups for the cockpit clocks already on board. They were available in two dials: the first numbered 1-12 and the second numbered 5-55, with an inner ring of numbers from 1-12. The watches were huge, measuring 55mm in diameter with white Arabic numerals for supreme legibility and radium paint for luminosity. They were individually tested for chronometer grade accuracy before being delivered and also featured a white triangle at the 12 o’clock to differentiate it from the rest of the markers. Moreover, they had big crowns which made it easier for pilots to adjust the time.
Post WWII, companies like Hanhart and Tutima continued to develop Fliegers, specializing in chronographs, while companies like A. Lange & Söhne were incorporated into GUB, East Germany’s national watchmaking company. Today, Fliegers include aspects of modern Bauhaus design while retaining much of their original features. Of the 5 companies involved in the Flieger’s development, most continue to produce them, taking inspiration from their pilot watches of the past. So, next time your friend shows off their Damasko Flieger you can remind them that your Stowa is reminiscent of the Fliegers actually designed for WWII.