Stowa B-Uhr German military pilot's wristwatch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1943
This Stowa B-Uhr pilot's watch, manufactured by Walter Storz in 1943, is a large German military timepiece designed for navigation. Housed in a 55mm gray base metal nickel case, the watch features an oversized design suitable for use by flight personnel.
The dial is finished in black with luminous Arabic numerals and indices, complemented by luminous blued steel lozenge hands. The watch is powered by a rhodium-plated movement, Calibre 18, which utilizes 20 jewels and a straight-line lever escapement. The construction incorporates a cut bimetallic Guillaume balance, a self-compensating Breguet balance spring, and a swan-neck micrometer regulator, with decorative fausses cotes finishing applied to the movement.
The case includes an engraved band and manufacturing details on the interior of the case back. This piece retains its long cowhide strap and is accompanied by a spare strap and a letter of authentication.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Pilot's watch
- Maker
- Walter Storz
- Jewel Count
- 20
- Case Diameter
- 55 mm
- Case Material
- Base metal nickel
- Movement Type
- Calibre 18
- Serial Number
- 5396
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Military Marking
- FI 23883
- Maker / attribution
- Walter Storz
Design
- Case and Dial
- The watch is housed in a substantial three-body case measuring 55 mm in diameter and 17 mm in thickness. The exterior is finished in a gray, polished tone, featuring a lapidated bezel and concave lugs. The band of the case is engraved with the military identification code FI 23883, and there is an octagon red stamp containing the number 636 and the letters BAL visible on the band and bezel. Inside the case back, additional manufacturing details are engraved. The black dial is configured for high visibility, utilizing luminous Arabic numerals and indexes. It features outer minute and second divisions to assist in precision timing. The hour and minute hands are constructed from blued steel and are shaped in a lozenge profile, enhanced with luminous material to ensure legibility in low-light conditions.
- Visible features
- • Large 55mm case diameter • Engraved military code FI 23883 on the case band • Luminous blued steel hands with lozenge shape • Prominent oversized onion-style winding crown
- Movement and Escapement
- The watch is driven by a rhodium-plated movement designated as Calibre 18. This mechanical calibre is embellished with fausses cotes decoration across its plates and bridges. It contains 20 jewels and operates using a traditional straight-line lever escapement. The regulator assembly is of the swan-neck type, allowing for precise adjustment of the timing. For frequency regulation, the movement is equipped with a cut bimetallic Guillaume balance and a self-compensating Breguet balance spring.
- Condition and Attribution
- The auction description attributes the manufacture of this timepiece to Walter Storz in Pforzheim, Germany, dating the production to 1943. It is documented as a military pilot's wristwatch, specifically of the Flieger Beobachtungsarmbanduhr type. The object is sold with a long cowhide strap and an additional spare strap, alongside a letter of authentication issued by an expert in Germany. Regarding the condition, the auction house grades the overall object as AA, noting the case as 3 and the movement as 3. The dial is classified as 3-01.
Identification
- Serial number
- 5396
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The auction description recommends a full overhaul
- Research required: The source includes an expert letter of authentication which remains unverified by this catalogue