Talk to me about Stowa

[mathmos]

I've had my eye on a Marine automatic with a sterling silver dial, date and matt case for quite a while now and I think I am very close to pulling the trigger on one with a middle or light brown strap...but before I do I would love to hear about other PH's experience with this watch. How long did it take to get delivered? Does it look and feel like a quality watch?

From the pictures I think they look stunning, but I've never seen one in the flesh before so I am a bit nervous about jumping in!

http://www.stowa.de/lshop,showdetail,1322832645233...

[Rich n Em]

I've got a Stowa Antea KS:

http://www.stowa.de/lshop,showdetail,1322837441287...

I've found the build quality to be superb - I really like it, a brand with quite a bit of heritage and some excellent designs.

[DKL]

I have an MO - had it about 2 years bought nearly new from TZ. Its a great watch, well made, really easy to read and just a bit different. Quite large at 40mm but you get used to it. Well worth a punt if you like it.
Saw an Ikarus for sale, that looked really good.

[James_N]

I have an MO roman numerals.

Watch is VERY well made and Stowa customer service is second to none. When it stopped working one morning, Stowa had it straight back, told me it would be six weeks to fix, but I had it back on my wrist within 4 weeks. They paid all costs, replied to emails in perfect English within 10 mins.

The service really is very good they come well recommended to me. Just wish I could afford a 1938 Chrono!

[mathmos]

I think I am convinced I'll stick in an order next week I think!

It's a bit of a shame they only have 2 styles that are auto's, some of the manual ones look really nice but I think I would prefer an auto.

[costsmonkey]

I am also sorely tempted to buy a Stowa Marine, so this is an interesting and timely thread.

I am currently having difficulty deciding between manual and automatic.

Forgive my ignorance (new to this) but manual presumably means it needs winding by hand. Is that right and are there any other differences?

What are the pros and cons of manual versus automatic?

[andy tims]

I had a Marine Original (hand wound)






Nicely made watch for the money. The big dial made it wear like a much bigger watch than it's 42mm would suggest. I think the Auto has a better balanced appearance.

[CardShark]

costsmonkey said:

I am also sorely tempted to buy a Stowa Marine, so this is an interesting and timely thread.

I am currently having difficulty deciding between manual and automatic.

Forgive my ignorance (new to this) but manual presumably means it needs winding by hand. Is that right and are there any other differences?

What are the pros and cons of manual versus automatic?

Yup, a manual is as it says, however most (but not quite all) autos can also be hand wound as well. Both an auto and a manual would typically store around 40-48hrs worth of power if fully wound however the auto would, if worn regularly, never need to be physically wound using the crown. In terms of mechanical differences they're basically the same as eachother with the exception of the spinning rotor on the auto so don't worry about which one would be more reliable, and there's no difference in timekeeping either. Some people enjoy the ritual of having to physically handwind their watch every day or so, others prefer the conveniance of an auto.

Edited by CardShark on Saturday 3rd December 19:26

[mathmos]

Oh that's interesting...I had assumed that with a manual wind you wouldn't get the vanity glass on the back!

Lovely looking watch Andy

[andy tims]

mathmos said:

Oh that's interesting...I had assumed that with a manual wind you wouldn't get the vanity glass on the back!

Lovely looking watch Andy

My Dornbluth is hand wind too

[James_N]

costsmonkey said:

I am also sorely tempted to buy a Stowa Marine, so this is an interesting and timely thread.

I am currently having difficulty deciding between manual and automatic.

Forgive my ignorance (new to this) but manual presumably means it needs winding by hand. Is that right and are there any other differences?

What are the pros and cons of manual versus automatic?

manual needs handwinding. I think the power reserve is something around 40 hours, but I wind mine every morning, as I wear mine every day anyway.

The auto marine is 40mm in size, whereas the manual marine is 41.

My wrists are quite small, so the MO manual wears big on me, but I like it

[996nick]

I have a MO (manual) too.



It is an excellent watch for the price (I bought mine secondhand from TZ). Keeps excellent time, looks pretty and as has been said the build quality is excellent. A really nice watch. Just a shame I have to let it go due to a moment of Rolex induced red mist

[CardShark]

costsmonkey said:

I am also sorely tempted to buy a Stowa Marine, so this is an interesting and timely thread.

I am currently having difficulty deciding between manual and automatic.

Forgive my ignorance (new to this) but manual presumably means it needs winding by hand. Is that right and are there any other differences?

What are the pros and cons of manual versus automatic?

Forgot to add that autos tend to be slightly larger than manuals on the basis that they have the added thickness of the rotor, and to balance the look of the watch a watch maker would add to it's case diameter.

[costsmonkey]

CardShark said:

Yup, a manual is as it says, however most (but not quite all) autos can also be hand wound as well. Both an auto and a manual would typically store around 40-48hrs worth of power if fully wound however the auto would, if worn regularly, never need to be physically wound using the crown. In terms of mechanical differences they're basically the same as eachother with the exception of the spinning rotor on the auto so don't worry about which one would be more reliable, and there's no difference in timekeeping either. Some people enjoy the ritual of having to physically handwind their watch every day or so, others prefer the conveniance of an auto.

That is exactly what I wanted to know. Thank you Cardshark

CardShark said:

Forgot to add that autos tend to be slightly larger than manuals on the basis that they have the added thickness of the rotor, and to balance the look of the watch a watch maker would add to it's case diameter.

I don't know about the position generally but I thought it was the other way round with the Stowa Marine. I say that since understood from some of the comments above that the manual has a larger case diameter than the automatic. Is that correct or have I misunderstood the position.

Great input guys, all very helpful thanks, and some lovely pictures too.

[CardShark]

You're right about Stowa's Marine range (the auto being smaller than the manual), I hadn't noticed myself...

The movements in each are from a different manufacturer (Unitas in the manual, ETA in the auto) so their individual specs would vary, though it would still be fair to say that, on average, manual watches in general would be thinner than autos simply because of the rotor.

[tertius]

Unitas is an ETA brand so they are both ETA supplied movements. The Unitas was originally a pocket watch movement, hence the larger size.

Personaly I find the Unitas more interesting and certainly far more attractive. I also think the handwind movement is more in keeping with the Marine chronometer style so would always take the MO over the auto. And indeed I did, as I used to have an MO and thinking seriously about getting another.

[CardShark]

tertius said:

Unitas is an ETA brand so they are both ETA supplied movements. The Unitas was originally a pocket watch movement, hence the larger size.

Ah, wasn't aware of the ETA/Unitas relationship. Cheers!

[mathmos]

It's difficult to see on some of the pictures, but how blue are the hands? Do they really stand out?

[CardShark]

mathmos said:

It's difficult to see on some of the pictures, but how blue are the hands? Do they really stand out?

It all depends on how the light catches them, as you can see in the photos in this thread. In the right light I'd say that they'd stand out more than the brighter pic that Andy Tims posted, have a flick through google images for a better idea.

[R.P.M]

Stunning piece.

Crass to talk numbers I know, but I don't want to email the maker for fear of wasting their time, but is it safe to say the Dornbluth is approx 4-5 x the price of the MO?

andy tims said:

My Dornbluth is hand wind too