IWC versus Stowa versus Sinn

[Renisin]

Dear Erdosain,

If you truely are looking for your money's worth,then Stowa is your only real choice! IWC is a fine watch,but at five times the cost of the Stowa,it is simply not five times better! If you are looking to buy the Zenith,buy the Stowa and pocket the four thousand dollars!

Another thing to consider is resale,you will have no trouble selling your Stowa if you choose to do so,check the sells corner and you will see the WTB list is quite long! You won't be stuck with a watch you don't like,though I doubt you will want to sell it once you hold it in your hand,it is such a high quality piece!!!


If you visit the Stowa forum you will see that there is a great following for Stowa,that is not without justification,they are such well made watches at prices that are hard to believe! I have several Stowas and for me it is hard to pick a favorite,they are all unique and well made.


I don't want you to misunderstand me, while I am a fan of Stowa watches, I do realize that there are other great watch companies out there, IWC being one of them! I particularly like the Aquatimer 2000 by IWC and one day will have one in my collection(hopefully this year),but we are talkng about Fleiger style watches and pound per pound the Stowa cannot be beat!


There were five companies that made Fleigers during WWII, STOWA,IWC,LACO,A.LANGE,AND WEMPE,only Stowa,IWC and LACO currently produce these type watches with LACO making the most historicaly accurate watch. Of these,Stowa and LACO are your best bet,price and quality are excellent and of these two,Stowa will have the better resale value if you do decide to sell.

These pictures are of my Stowa Fleiger B dial and my Stowa Marine Original, they are wonderfully detailed!


No matter which watch you decide on you will be pleased!


Best Regards

Ren

[Janne]

I know IWC was one of the 5 producers of the B- uhr, but only in the very beginning.

Nobody knows why, but Luftwaffe terminated the contract, or if the initial contract was for a certain number of units, did not make a new one.

IWC only made the A-dialled version. Today rare as Hen's teeth

[Renisin]

Thanks Janne,

That is good to know!

Best Regards,

Ren

[Erdosain]

I wanted to thank everyone for their time and patience. I ended up getting the IWC after all. It ended up being an easier decision than it should have been, as I found it at a very reasonable price. It had just been serviced, which made it even easier.

[slashd0t]

Congrats on the IWC!! While Stowa makes excellent watches at a better value point, if you can afford, wearing an IWC just feels better... There is just something special about wearing an IWC over a Stowa.. Not being a snob here, but, it's just simply true :)

Plus.. The Mark series has a very deep military history which is fascinating in itself..

[MID]

FWIW, I feel the other way. I had a Spitfire Chrono, which was was a nice watch, and I never wore it (and sold it.) It was clunky and un-lovely. The design was "unbalanced" and "unserious," almost cartoonish,to my eye. I have a Stowa Chrono 1938 which is a lovely watch, and I especially enjoy -- that is, feel special -- wearing it. It is lovely and soulful and beautifully designed in the way the Spitfire wasn't.

Congrats on the IWC!! While Stowa makes excellent watches at a better value point, if you can afford, wearing an IWC just feels better... There is just something special about wearing an IWC over a Stowa.. Not being a snob here, but, it's just simply true :)

Plus.. The Mark series has a very deep military history which is fascinating in itself..

[cadomniel]

I thought about getting an IWC Mark XV but I think I would rather have 1 Stowa + 1 Sinn, or even 2 Stowas + 1 Sinn for the price of an IWC.

[Naturally]

Congratulations on the watch, wear it in good health.

I have a Stowa Pilot, and I think that a Mesh gives a pilot a new look. Consider a different suite for your watch.

[sergio65]

FWIW, I feel the other way. I had a Spitfire Chrono, which was was a nice watch, and I never wore it (and sold it.) It was clunky and un-lovely. The design was "unbalanced" and "unserious," almost cartoonish,to my eye. I have a Stowa Chrono 1938 which is a lovely watch, and I especially enjoy -- that is, feel special -- wearing it. It is lovely and soulful and beautifully designed in the way the Spitfire wasn't.

I have the Stowa flieger no logo and also the IWC Spitfire, but not the chrono, the Mark XVI.

While I love the Stowa, the IWC Mark XVI has a better case finishing with brushed and polished areas which makes the watch look more elegant, and the silver dial on the Spitfire version is fantastic ...



Besides this I love Stowa and by the way ... I have ordered a 1938 to be delivered soon ... seems a good alternative to the Portuguese chrono .. if not even better due to the 3 and 9 oclock bicompax design, giving a cleaner et purer dessign from what the photos seems to say...

[Mooseman]

I would have gone for the IWC too. I own the same model but wear it on a NATO strap (leather is bad in water and I don't like stainless bands) and after 6 years it is still going strong and has held its value too.

I wanted to thank everyone for their time and patience. I ended up getting the IWC after all. It ended up being an easier decision than it should have been, as I found it at a very reasonable price. It had just been serviced, which made it even easier.