Custom Made Pilot Watch | Dekla Pilot 40 Bronze

[@stephenhendricks103]

I purchased the "Type A" version of the traditional pilot watch from Dekla several months ago. (The watch reviewed here is a "Type B." The Type A version is a more familiar design with arabic numerals 1 through 11 on the outer rim and the 12 replaced with a pyramid flanked by two dots. The outer track is composed of large and small indices that mark individual seconds and minutes.) Like the watch reviewed here, mine is bronze with a 40mm dial diameter and "old radium" colored markings and heat blued hands. Unlike the diamond crown in the video I opted for an onion crown. The face of my watch is a beautiful sunray blue . My watch was fitted with a beautiful caramel color leather strap and a bronze buckle. (I suspect that Dekla's other bronze watches may also have bronze buckles now, as well. ) At almost exactly $800 purchased directly from Dekla according to my custom specifications and shipped to the US in five weeks (as I recall), I consider it among the biggest bargains of my collection. Some find the appeal of traditional pilot watches to be linked strongly to the timepieces of the German Luftwaffe in WWII. That's not the case for me. I admire the design of fliegers for their elegant simplicity and functionality. Dekla does a great job in pilot watches by those standards. And among the brands that offer traditional pilot watches, Dekla is unsurpassed in the customization they offer in their products.

[@gcm22490]

Those who have problems with the German Luftwaffe better not have anything to do with Volkswagen, BMW, Porsche, and better not be flying with Lufthansa. Otherwise, the hypocrisy is cringing.

[@stephenhendricks6790]

@@gcm22490 Well said.

[@mariojr377]

Wonderful watch, love the long hands set. Best regards from Brazil, Mário

[@jfm562]

Excellent review. Thank you.

[@brianmsahin]

Great review, nice watch. I wanted a pilot watch of some type but I spent so much recently on new watches that I got (don't laugh), an Addiesdive fleiger style watch with a Seiko NH35 movement for I would say approx €100 including import taxes. I'm still waiting for it. It's my first Ali Express watch, and I ordered a Heimdallr Seiko Monster homage with NH36A movement along with it! I read some good enough reviews so I will see if I regret buying them or not!😂 But this watch you show is far better I'm sure. I hope to get to Germany in April next year for a delayed engineering exhibition in Frankfurt and I hope to visit a good watch store with some German watch brands and find a nice not too pricey watch to take home!

[@TimeAndCrown]

Hi Brian. Remember to visit Sinn - they have their main office in Frankfurt. Best regards, Anders

[@aw2242]

I'm a newbie, doesn't this look exactly the same as the San Martin except for the crown ?!

[@khphou]

Thank you very much for your introduction. I am wondering how many positions the crown has. Is there a 'blind' unused position between winding and time adjustment? If you could share some info, it is much appreciated.

[@dhhjsjzjzjjhsjsjh]

How’s the lume? I read that the old radium color is less bright compared to white. Looks good paired with the bronze though. Any regrets?

[@TimeAndCrown]

The lume wasn’t bad but I’ve seen better. Its a good watch but I sold it.

[@maxalex6190]

I have Laco pilot watch type A 39 mm. I think Laco have more history weigh and original metal case with lugs from 40s.

[@MichaelV89]

I like it, but did you return yours? The strap has scrape in it… or you settle for the damage…

[@hjander]

According to 2022 website, these are the dimensions: Case diameter: 40 mm Band lug width: 20 mm Case thickness: 10,6 mm Lug to Lug: 47mm

[@stevefox8605]

Really good choices you've made with the colours, I'm sure with time as it patinas it will look like an old one. Very cool. Cheers mate, happy easter 👍🏻👍🏻

[@Trex100]

Very nice!

[@RodrigoBezares]

Nice attempt but I'd rather buy a laco.

[@NHSofEngland]

Why? And did you buy the Laco yet?

[@cheesegraham2387]

Overpriced, overrated

[@NHSofEngland]

@@cheesegraham2387 it's called "heritage". You see that stainless steel Rolex? How is that worth $10,000? You have a lot other watches that are overpriced and overrated. Get educated.

[@alanwright3172]

A nice watch, but as I've just assembled my own Hand wound fliegler B with onion crown and fantastic lume on a bunde strap for less than $150 from parts I bought of the internet. I think I'll pass😁

[@TimeAndCrown]

Hi Alan. That sounds great 👍🏻

[@stuartcole4845]

What movement? How thick?

[@alanwright3172]

@@stuartcole4845 SEAGULL ST2530 hand wind with swan neck regulator and decorated back ,sub dial seconds at 9. Case 43.5mm x 11mm, sapphire front and back with 6mm onion crown presently on a black Bund with display cutout. I also assembled a field watch with same case and movement but different hands ,dial and crown great weekend project😁

[@stuartcole4845]

@@alanwright3172 That’s pretty cool and definitely a value option. I’m looking at getting a Dekla deck watch, 40mm, 10mm thick with decorated unitas 6498 with sub seconds at 6, heat blued hands and 925 silver dial. I like Dekla and I am willing to pay the price because they 1. Make every single component from scratch in Germany, except movement and sapphire, 2. Will pretty much accommodate any possible customisation you want (in getting a red “12”, drilled lugs and hand engraving on the movement), 3. Are the only company with a deck watch that have managed to fit the Unitas into a 40mm case and 4, even with all this awesome stuff are much cheaper than the established players like Stowa, Laco and even Archimede. Plus I want to support a microbrand taking this bespoke approach and vertical integration. I know of no other companies until you get up to Rolex level who manufacture the case, dial, crown, hands etc and do so entirely in Europe. Even Omega manufacture outside of Europe and most micros just handle design and final assembly (and sometimes not even that).

[@alanwright3172]

@@stuartcole4845 I'll definitely have a look cheers!

[@Aladdin139]

A watch without a Brand !! Ain't it strange?

[@TimeAndCrown]

You can opt for the brand name on the dial. I kept it sterile just like the original flieger watches.

[@Aladdin139]

@@TimeAndCrown the option to keep or remove the brand name degrade the make itself , and for 1000$ that's not worth it , it's a great video for the experience though , but i just don't like the way of making !

[@TimeAndCrown]

@@Aladdin139 it’s only 800. The original fliegers weren’t branded. They were toolwatches.

[@Aladdin139]

@@TimeAndCrown BMW started as aircraft engines maker , but when they decided to produce a car , they had to Brand their cars , that's what i meant.

[@stuartcole4845]

@@Aladdin139 Most Fliegers aren’t branded on the dial, you know nothing. As in, you know absolutely nothing about watches, the history of watches or anything to do with watches. In fact how did you even end up finding this video?

[@champy1210]

Radium wurde von Regierungen als gefährlich erklärt und demzufolge verboten. Wie ist diese Nutzung anders/sicher?

[@shakur4648]

First

[@NHSofEngland]

The minute hand is a millimetre too small than hoped for. 😔 this ain’t it, chief.