Company Overview:
Stowa is a renowned German watchmaking company with a rich history dating back to 1927. Founded by Walter Storz in Hornberg, Black Forest, the name Stowa is an acronym derived from the founder’s name (STOrz WAlter). The brand is known for its high-quality timepieces that combine traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, encapsulating the principles of the German art of watchmaking.
Stowa has earned a reputation for producing reliable, elegant, and timeless watches. The brand was one of the five companies that originally manufactured the famed German “Flieger” watch during World War II, a design that continues to be a significant part of Stowa’s collection to this day.
Under the ownership and direction of Jörg Schauer since 1996, Stowa has continued to innovate while staying true to its historical roots. The brand’s collection includes pilot’s watches, marine watches, and contemporary dress watches, all designed with an emphasis on readability, functionality, and aesthetic balance.
Despite the changes and evolution over the decades, Stowa remains committed to its core values of quality, precision, and timeless design. The brand’s philosophy ensures that every Stowa watch is not just a timepiece, but a piece of horological history.
Notable Achievements:
Stowa is most renowned for being one of the original manufacturers of the WWII-era “Flieger” (pilot’s) watches, alongside four other brands. These watches, characterized by their large size, black dials, large luminescent numerals, and distinctive sword-shaped hands, were designed to maximize readability in low-light aviation scenarios. This heritage makes Stowa a significant name in the history of pilot’s watches.
The brand’s achievements also include innovations in watch design, such as the Antea ‘Bauhaus’ collection that perfectly encapsulates the minimalist design principles of the Bauhaus movement.
Key Collections:
Stowa’s watch portfolio reflects its history and expertise. The Flieger Classic collection carries on the brand’s legacy of creating robust and highly legible pilot’s watches. These models come in several variations, including the Flieger Classic 40 with logo and date and the Flieger Classic 40 no logo.
The Antea collection, inspired by the Bauhaus design principles, is a line of elegant, minimalist dress watches. The Antea ‘Bauhaus’ model, in particular, is a testament to Stowa’s commitment to simplicity and functionality in design.
The Marine collection, drawing its inspiration from marine chronometers, features clean, crisp dials and fine detailing, embodying classic elegance and timeless style.
Brand Philosophy:
Stowa’s philosophy revolves around maintaining a balance between honoring its historical roots and pushing boundaries with modern designs. The brand strives to offer high-quality, hand-assembled watches at fair prices, standing by the belief that luxury should be accessible.
Craftsmanship:
Every Stowa watch represents exceptional German craftsmanship. Stowa uses high-quality mechanical movements in their timepieces, including Swiss automatic and manual winding mechanisms. The brand’s watchmakers meticulously assemble each timepiece, ensuring attention to detail and precision in every step of the process.
Stowa also takes pride in offering a high level of customization to its customers. Buyers can choose different case materials, dial layouts, strap options, and even movement finishes, allowing them to own a watch that perfectly suits their taste.
Celebrity Affiliations:
Stowa’s appeal is deeply rooted in its history, craftsmanship, and design principles, rather than celebrity endorsements. The brand’s focus is on creating timepieces that resonate with watch enthusiasts and those who appreciate traditional German watchmaking and minimalist aesthetics. While there are no prominent celebrity affiliations, Stowa watches are popularly recognized within the watch collecting community for their quality, history, and timeless design.