The Best Flieger Watches - Buying Guide & History (IWC, Stowa, Laco & More)

70% of people don’t subscribe! Smh they’re missing out 😂 glad I’m part of the Subscriber gang, anyone else?

Question: is the original pilot watch handwound or automatic?

Swastyki na nim brak 😂 nie ma to jak zaszczyt noszenia zegarka noszonego przez morderców latających pod polskim niebem we wrześniu 39 😂 Zik Hail young people .

How can you talk about fliegers and not mention Fortis? They’re older than IWC and are actually used by air force squadrons.

Only Laco's range offers the most historically correct productions. One look at the Stowa's case lugs (other brands as well) and I can tell its off. Most are 'flieger dials' in thick 'diver cases', some even have ridiculously thick bezels, whereas true observer/bomber watches are all dial and as little bezel edge as possible, and flat sharp lugs. No date, no day, no unnecessary words. Unfortunately Laco is a brand with an overly confusing product range and obscured name. If only they would stick their fliegers to just two range; one premium historic and one premium modern, and do away with all the affordables... they are wasting their heritage's advantage.

I'm struggling to understand how the heritage of these watches is appealing. People buy Omega watches and imagine themselves to be astronauts or James Bond. Are people supposed to buy these and imagine themselves to be Nazi pilots fighting against the US or the British? Trying to conquer Europe? Further the Holocaust? I get that there are lots of German brands today that got their start during WW2, but people by and large don't buy a VW because of their WW2 heritage (and I owned and drove a VW for years, no problem with them now). But people are encouraged to buy watches in part because of their "heritage." It'd be at least nice for some of these watch companies to acknowledge that their devices or people connected to the company (i.e., Sinn) were part of the worst atrocities in history.

They are great people to deal with too!

Type A or B ?

Flieger Watches <3

I've been looking into a Laco Type B I enjoy the way these look. It will be my first watch. I am very interested in getting into watches now. I've worked on cars for almost my whole life and started watching Wristwatch Revival, now Teddy was in my recommended so I started watching. I will either goo with the Laco or a Hamilton Khaki for my first watch. I am saving up, these watches are pretty expensive, but figure might as well go all in at first. Kevin said in one of your vids to be agnostic to cost. Lol. Thank you

I wonder if any of these watches come in German versions. Watches that don't say 'Made in'.

Just me I could never wear this style of watch, the luftwaffe wore these watches, you might as well sport a swastika if you’re wearing this watch

I would never wear this watch because I’m not a fascist nazi pos, i don’t get how people can actually wear this style watch, might as well sport a swastika

My Laco B Uhr is #22 of 50 replicas made back in 2005/2006. Came with black and brown riveted leather straps and manual wind, sapphire crystal.

Good overview of options, well made video, thank you for posting.

well, using the seiko calibers in the Laco doesnt give the best precision does it? I mean the dayly deviation around 25 secs 😆 anyhow I like them

Iwc: overpriced by $4000

Thanks

seiko snk809 another modern type b reinterpretation

Only think really missing for all these watches is the lug to lug dimensions

Stowa or Laco would be my choice, with a preference towards the Laco. Orient, Archimede and Citizen wouldn't even make it to the shortlist! In an ideal world where my bank balance is virtually limitless, my choice would a an original Second World War dated A. Lange & Söhne Flieger, with type B dial. Although I could currently in theory afford such a watch, it's WELL outside my SENSIBLE budget for a watch. It's a shame that the originals don't have the 'exhibition caseback' as it's such a shame for the beautiful workmanship of A. Lange & Söhne to be hidden, but originality and the history count for a lot.

Thanks for all your videos! Very informative and useful!

Dekla also make very good type B flieger watches to order.

I love Fleigers but how do I reconcile that with the fact it was created to assist the Luftwafe in killing the Allies? Open to honest suggestions. Thanks in advance.

I know this is a 3 years old video, but Teddy it would be great to have an update with other German (i.e. Dekla) and foreign brands (i.e. San Martin) in a different budget bracket

Got my eye on the stowa 40mm. 🙌🏽

I knew Helmut Sinn and doubt he would have approved of the look of the 856 B-UH. As a WWII Luftwaffe pilot, he was a purist for the utility and simplicity of the "Flieger Uhren" of his day. I have several of his early designs reflecting his respect for readability for precise airborne maneuver timing for navigation, especially at night. Few know that he flew JU-88's, crashing and injured in Russia, and afterwards "Tante JU's. I was his house guest in Frankfurt once upon a time. In his home on display he had a propeller from a JU-88. If anyone knew "pilot" watches, it was Helmut Sinn.

hey guys Teddy Bulbasaur here

I was confused by what I was looking at. Almost all of those watches are basically like a Hamilton Khaki field watch, especially at 38-40mm. The cheapest Citizen example is the only one that seems to capture the spirit of the historical specification.

Have a laco b dial giving to me by my dad. The strap is canvas with grommets. Not sure if it's original because I haven't seen another example. Had it cleaned by an older Korean watch maker. He was elated to see that the rubies were not synthetic. Don't know how he could know that. Doesn't make any sense to me Didn't speak English very well. Only can find modern copies of this watch. No idea of the value of this piece. It's huge!!

All the picks were automatics? 😲

In September 1929 Lady Grace Drummond-Hay completed the first circumnavigation on a Zeppelin LZ127 wearing the first automatic wristwatch - the Fortis Harwood. Looking through Fortis‘ archives, it has a rich history in equipping civil and military pilots even to this day. Not mentioning them at all withholds from the viewer an amazing and very underrated watch brand

I'm interested in learning what IWC does to upgrade the water resistance from 50m to 60m. I guess a few cello tapes.

Аbout tourby?

Where do you get your hair wax?

Love Stowa. If it is a bit cheaper, it would be better. About the showing price in the clip, it is OK if they provide ETA2824 Top Grade.

Great rundown and history! There may be a Sin in my future...

Thousand dollars PLUS for a watch? Roll up victims...

I think it defeats the purpose of these watches to make the so small 40, 42, are too all for flight watches. They should be 44-45 minimum. Hate that they try make them trendy by making them smaller.

Now Longines Spirit is the champion

Hi! Your Orient Flight watch for sure is the one with 48743 automatic movement which is a great Orient movement. Regards.

In these fantastic videos all watches appear nicer than they are in the real world.

Why are IWC's 4 times more expensive than Laco's or Stowa's? Is it really value for money??

Flieger and spitfire watches shouldn't be in the same video-)

I don't need a nazi watch

Archimede from Ickler. Talk about history. Third generation family owned business manufacturing watch cases for almost 100 years. Customers like Christian Klings and RGM have used their cases for their own models. In-house flame blued hands as well. Not just assmeblers like Stowa and others. Want truly German Made, Archimede is the answer. (Archimede is not owned by Laco and have nothing to do with Laco whatsoever.)

Hi Teddy, why not the fantastic Sinn 556?

stowa is ridiculous overpriced, I mean, almost disrespectful.

Flieger watches are so cool, especially laco with that historical case dimension. I wish they'd up their water resistance a little more (I know it is a flieger watch, not a dive watch, but man it could make it a one watch collection for me )

Wow I love the IWC Spitfire!