On the Wrist, from off the Cuff: Stowa - Flieger Verus 40, Modern Pilot's Watch

On this episode, we premier Stowa's newest and take on the classic Flieger watch the 40mm Verus. As Stowa put it, "Modern, pure and extremely functional. With the DNA of the legendary STOWA pilot watches which we built since around 1940..." and I have to agree, the new modern aesthetic with a near perfect balance of boldness and minimalism, really delivers. Even better than that, this watch comes in an absolute steal of around $650 USD. Let me know what you think in the comments below, thanks.
www.stowa.de/e...

[@Wzrd100]

Love the low light transition shots

[@sealevelbear]

I love Stowa, gonna get the classic one with date at some point. Such a classic, great in every way!

[@scotty2hotty159]

Such a fantastic and detailed video review and comparison. Your reviews are currently the best content and most informative online. Keep up the great work. I love the low light transition segment.

[@2DRINKSMINIMUM]

I'm surprised the Verus isn't getting any love in the comment section here, I think it's a beautiful price l piece, and would pick it over the klassik

[@bruh_oly1370]

I think the verus is cool but somehow and I'm certain teh application of Lume and dial is precise but it looks cleaner on the klassic . The verus looks a little fussy or busier . Definitely a sportier take on the fleiger

[@LastStarfighterAJ]

Nice watches. I’m not so sure you can call a watch company that designed watches for the Luftwaffe in WW2 a “micro brand”

[@dasgarbuzzo4956]

LastStarfighterAJ they arent microbrand mannnnn

[@bruh_oly1370]

They definitely aren't a micro brand .

[@praetor47]

"they" didn't design anything for the Luftwaffe in WW2. it's just a name that a german guy bought in the 90ies after being dead for 50 years (that "guy" being a brilliant watchmaker helps :)). it has NO relation to that brand other than the name and being german made. different city, different factory, different movements, no familial relation. it's a completely different company

[@gubourn]

they employ like 30 people

[@MisterMaster4life]

@@praetor47 well that's debatable. The design is pretty much exactly the same as back in the 40's only smaller sized. So with a Stowa Flieger you still wear a watch that was designed for the Luftwaffe. Also they still use the unitas movement, so one can say it's pretty much the exact same watch as the Luftwaffe pilots wore, only a smaller modern version.

[@jameswalker4947]

That side-by-side lume shot was stunning. Great googly moogly.

[@greggoode3450]

Really like your take on things. Great idea, the low light transition shots, very helpful!

[@paceyombex]

The fact that the Verus's second hand doesn't have a balance bothers me so much. The classic 40 with type A dial is still my go to piece.

[@samyoo1678]

Stowa is a microbrand?? lollll

[@gubourn]

??

[@CorkKNIFE]

I jumped to the comments immediately for this. Wow.

[@knowyourhistory]

@@CorkKNIFE They do remind me of micro brands in that they have no retail presence and only sell online direct to customers.

[@CorkKNIFE]

@@knowyourhistory I can see how an uninformed person might make that mistake, but really, this is one of the original Flieger manufacturers (the actual original company, not a zombie brand). It couldn't be further from a microbrand if it tried. Sinn is closer to a microbrand in my mind, while Stowa are watchmakers. For example Stowa doesn't put date movements in non date watches a la microbrand like Sinn **cough** 556**cough** does. With Sinn you get a phantom date position - like you get with any no name microbrand who can't pay a watchmaker - while Stowa has actual watchmakers modify the movement if it goes in a non date model.

[@speedmaster6781]

Yup. Privately held and producing I believe 2500 watches a year. Great history but very bespoke these days. My Fleiger Bronze took over 3 months from ordering to be made.

[@SunsetSheen]

Simplicity at its finest. You can’t beat a Flieger with a proper onion crown. One thing I wish Stowa would do though is shave off a couple mm from the lug to lug. At 48mm it’s a bit long for a 40mm timepiece. 46 would make it sit so much nicer on the wrist, esp for ppl with sub 7’ wrists. Great review as always man 👍🏼

[@KakashiHatake-ou7mp]

Both look great!

[@andrewdoster3785]

Wish I could get the newer dial and hands with the old case finishing in 38mm. It would be my grail

[@canonyeo4286]

I have a 42mm Type B Flieger. Right size for a pilot watch. Comes in sapphire glass, heated blue hands and ENAMEL Dial! The Blue lume is brighter than my hulk and it has screw-down crown! With NH35 work-horse giving me plus 2 sec per day. Price-139USD!

[@stevec2569]

What brand do you have?

[@canonyeo4286]

@@stevec2569 It's written as 'Escapement Time,' on the back case with an embossed fighter jet. Stated 300m! Sold by Beijing Infinite Time Co. at Chrono 24. I also bought a few homage divers from him.

[@stevec2569]

Thanks for the quick reply

[@assaultprepper9263]

Outstanding review of the Verus 40. I have this one on my buy next list for sure.

[@willembakker7999]

What are the differents between the movements in accuracy

[@johnhebert3855]

I know what you say is correct, but it seems counterintuitive to say the Verus is a MODERN interpretation of the WWII Flieger watch. The Verus is pure military functional without the slightest pretense of elegance. The old style flieger has nicely blued hands, sharper delineated numbers, and a little polish on its case. In comparison, the Verus looks ancient. Except for the 3, 6, and 9, its curvy numbers are like those on IWC's Big Pilot 43. When it comes to fast time visualization, the Verus is much superior. Thanks for your review. P.S. I am wearing my hand wound Verus as I type this.

[@charliebrewer617]

Good video. The verus model hands and dial also remind me of the Sinn 556, with the boldness of the dial and hands.

[@TheTimLara]

Pretty nice. I think the Damasko still wins for me though, due to the durability features and the perfect size.

[@nofaithjusthope8714]

Well done video covered all the bases. If you received a new watch that was handled by shipping company so badly the the minute hand was knocked up into the second hand and sent back for replacement/repair...what would you expect the watch company to do? Just replace/refit the hands or more? Would it be acceptable to you that only that hand(s) repair was done or would you expect a new watch or expect the movement to be replaced too? Mind you the shipping box did not have padding on all 6 sides of shipping box, the watch box fit tight into shipping box on 2 sides. I'd like your opinion.

[@favoritethings3065]

Great review…thanks for the side by side looks. I wish Stowa would make a smaller (36-38mm) version of the Verus.

[@Wa-wk6qk]

Nice review. Was actually suprised by how muched I liked this review, despite the fact that I don’t like the watches that much. So that means you are a great reviewer

[@AverageBros]

That is awesome feedback, thanks so much!

[@bigzayev]

Thank you for the video! One thing about 43 mm version. I have a 22,5 cm wrist, it’s about 9 inches. So 40 looks way too small on my wrist. And 43 looks just normal. For me it’s great when manufacturer have a 42-45 mm version of a model.

[@khronokraze]

Thanks for a closer look and comparison. Upon quick glance, it's easy to pass up the newer Verus model as being no significance. But, there actually are some significant differences. Tough decision. Try to go more classic flieger or take it in more modern interpretation? I was set to keep classic vintage, but this has made me rethink the available options now.

[@filipvrobel7215]

Great review. The Stowa really is on another level with the quality for the money. I've been considering the Verus for a while too but ended up getting the Ikarus 40 with the grey dial. Being it my first Stowa it really has exceeded my expectations.

[@jacksonk75k95]

How's the versatility with the ikurus?

[@amd0123]

That was a great video. You attention to detail is awesome. I appreciate the three watch variations with the time and second hand sweep all coordinated. That really helps to make a choice.

[@H3RY21]

Next, stowa flieger ikarus!

[@mrbacchus6127]

Classic version is worth the extra dough I think, price puts it close to Sinn and Damasko however. Thanks for showing these next to each other.

[@valosfarsangi6048]

I just got a verus black forest limited and I swear the lume is a lot dimmer than the watch in this video, have any advice?

[@valosfarsangi6048]

@Matt Wrath Done it, thing just dies real fast. Sad because the watch itself looks really nice.

[@VeitLehmann]

Very nice watch! I like those modernized Fliegers with Bauhaus inspiration and I'd wish there was a little more choice on the market. Other than the Damasko DS30, only the Sinn 556 I comes to my mind. And I'd wish the Stowa was available in a smaller size. I guess it would wear too large on my below 6.25 inch wrist, especially with that extra bold and big dial.

[@phantiensi8233]

Now I'm torn between the automatic and hand wound version, what would you pick John?

[@gubourn]

hand wind all day

[@following_fallon2141]

Another great video!! Thanks

[@mistikalsunshine]

great review, tks for sharing. lugs of Verus look thicker than the classic one to me.

[@m0stafa]

I was looking for this exact video, comparison between the classic and the new one, I think I'll have to stick to the old one, better movement, blued hands and normal font.

[@sadaka201]

Nice Video. You can get the Verus also with the top-grade movement. Same as the classic. In the end birh watches are versuchen nice. You cant get better Fliegers for the bucks.

[@mb-watches]

Great comparison bro, I prefer the classic though but that might due to its in my collection 😂😂 Keep them coming 👍🏻👍🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@jonah9165]

Who makes the strap for that fleiger classic @Average Bros?

[@jeffreybowden9835]

Thanks, nice vid, you nailed it on.

[@cm96yyc]

love the blue lume

[@slavedriver394]

It's the blued hands on the classic that make it, well a classic - I like the clean look of the Verus, but it's just a bit boring. As someone pointed out the second hand is just not right - looks unbalanced. Great review.

[@fabiandee8178]

modernistic? u mean modern? just teasing. gr8 video and esp bringing in the Damasko at the end

[@nintendokings]

Wait how is Stowa a microbrand?

[@zi9090]

Second hands in sync xD

[@thedar7164]

oh you did mention it my bad

[@GTRJohnny66]

I love Stowa watches, but I don't care for the brushed winding stem with the blasted case. The classic would be the way for me, especially the b-dial.

[@AverageBros]

The crown isn't brushed, it's matte blasted as well ;)

[@GTRJohnny66]

Ooh! That changes things then! I have spoken with the owner of Stowa and his wife at shows a couple of times. They're super nice people and there is a real family vibe to their business. There is a lot of obvious pride and dedication in what they do.

[@Ramdas_Devadiga]

Good review. But you should reconsider calling Stowa a 'Microbrand'.

[@unacarafea]

As you can see......... As you can see...... As you can see.......LOL!

[@ronniefranks4351]

Nice watch. Build a 36mm please.

[@harryberry474]

$650?....Not any more try $695, pricing changed beginning of April

[@RM-el3gw]

EUR 740 with VAT now.

[@yoshiu5167]

Great review!

[@BADFACE6666]

740e

[@dasgarbuzzo4956]

sweet mannnnnn

[@thedar7164]

ok your not going to mention a big difference in the metal finish.. one looks bead or sand blasted the other looks completely brushed.. These are big differences. All that fancy intro stuff and substance is light you may want to do better research

[@jameshanley380]

Love the Verus , in general, especially the whiteness of the numerals vs classic , but bead blasting does nothing for the aesthetics of the case , imo.

[@cl4ssic]

Holy fuck calling Stowa a microbrand...

[@trubadyr99]

Cool looking watches. They needed to be more precise: use quartz and radio-controlled tech. Should be built tough: be the shock- and water-resistant with anti-glare sapphire glass. And they should not cost more than, say: $400 -$650. And this price would be very generous and fair!

[@Damage_Inc]

quartz cmon man... whats wrong with u

[@valosfarsangi6048]

Jesus christ no

[@mackdaddy8739]

Pronounced STO VAH...

[@zi9090]

Chtovaa

[@harapalb07]

SCHTO VAA

[@MUNRO13]

Damasko.

[@christophercoey7804]

C3 luminova is superior to BG9 - the person making the video should know this, it is basic well known fact. It lasts much, much longer. Thermally blued hands are also incredible - for three hands like that you'll get quotes for around 200-300 British pounds, just for those hands. This is because it is a painstaking and difficult process to get all three hands of differing diameters to come out of separate processes and be exactly the same hue of blue. .They shine with brilliance and glint in the sun, on other angles they look sky blue, at other times black. The dial on the classic looks black at times and at other times grey. The way the lume is applied, the dial markers sometimes appear white, at other times cream or even radium coloured. And it is a top level ETA and if you get the hand wound 2804-2 it looks incredible. The other watch is bland. No blue hands, very flat two dimensional hands thay are too fat and lesson legibility, no C3, less legible lume, no top movement, not authentic to the nature of the flieger etc. You compliment the newer watch on the strap over the klassik, with the Klassik taken off the much higher quality original strap lol. Talk about a try hard attempt to claim one watch is superior to the other lol. Ohh and Stowa absolutely are NOT a microbrand. Finally: The classic is not a fucking homage piece. Unless every single Rolex sub after the earliest years are ALL homages and not submariners? And are all Omega Seamsters homages?They have radically changed from the 50s and 60s small dress watches to large divers...are they homage? Of fucking course they're not! Neither is this! It is made by the original company, one of the original 5 that were commissioned to make the Beobachtungsuhr for the Luftwaffe. Stowa has never been out of business and resurrected as some zombie company as some have. Stowa's tradition goes all the way back. They are as genuine in what they do as anyone.

[@AverageBros]

C3 doesn't look white in daylight at it's not meant to look like patina, it just has a green hue, not everyone likes that many prefer it to look white in daylight, so much so that C1 X1 grade was created to have the pure white appearance with stronger glow in darkness. You do realize that both of these watches are made by Stowa, so it's not like Stowa under built one watch due to lack of capability, it's just a matter of design choices. Today's Stowa is not the same entity as Walter Storz, not even in the same family and they did stop producing watches for a good while. Look at their timeline, nothing after 1963, until they were acquired in 1996. They have a low volume, direct to consumer business model, many would consider them a Micro or Heritage (revival) brand. They have no shame in this, so I'm not sure why you're taking comparison as a personal attack on your way of life. Yes, any Flieger A Dial is paying homage to the original. They haven't been continuously refined over time, it's a deliberate throwback. Just like the Tudor Black Bay 58 is a homage to the original big crown sub. At the end of the day Stowa, the brand you're so emotionally trying to defend and bash at the same time, thought that there'd be a market for this design, so they released it. Desirability isn't an objective measure, not everyone likes the same things, and thus each piece has individual qualities over the other, depending on the views of whoever is examining them. Don’t come in here preaching to people, when you don’t even know basic facts about the subject you’re ranting on.

[@christophercoey7804]

@@AverageBros I own multiple Stowa Fliegers including the Baumuster B 40mm and the Classic 36mm a type. The markers DO appear white in many lighting conditions, not white as toothpase ( I never said that, that is your inference, not my implication ;). But I reiterate: they absolutely do appear white in many lighting conditions, this is a fact. In other conditions they appears more cream and in yet other conditions they do take on a radium like appearance akin to the Stowa Patitio vintage limited edition black. I never said this was 'meant to look like patina'. Please listen to what your interlocutor is actually saying and if you must argue, do so by arguing against what they are ACTUALLY saying, and not any false attributation or stawman which is as lazy as it is inaccurate. To be crystal for you: I said at times they appear like radium and that is because they do. When sunlight has lit up the lume and you move from bright daylight conditions to a shaded room/slightly darker environment, you do not get a lume shot akin to strobing the dial and going into a pitch black room lol. The hint of the lume from the sun on the dial when you move to a shaded room gives the dial this appearance. If you haven't seen that, you don't own the watch like I do! If you haven't seen how much it can look like the Partitio, you don't own the Partitio! Other Stowa owners can confirm what I have detailed - period! I am wearing the watch right now, I saw the effect I speak of less than half an hour ago lmao. And yes of course I know both watches are Stowa. The problem is your have let your subjective apriori opinion shape the comparative. It is blindingly obvious that you prefer the contemporary look, just as it is clear that most Stowa fans and most of the rest of the watch buying world prefers the Klassik. This can even be seen in your comments section. You should habe been able to put your subjective opinion aside and make true objective judgements, but you failed to do so. One huge example if this was to make very little of the difference in the quality of movements in both watches. Go and look at how much Stowa charge to uograde from the base to the top grade movement!!! This is a huge expense and a huge deal. Clearly it is a big objective plus for the Klassik, but it is hardly of note with you. Another example of this: The thermally blued hands add texture, add vibrancy, differing looks to the dial in differing lighting conditions and they are a very expensive addition to the Klassik. You can argue this is simply a design choice, except it is a design choice that is also made out of a pricing necessity - something you do not detail. Thermally blued hands will be viewed by many as an upgrade. The toothpaste white hands, are flat lacking texture and they are always the same colour outside of the lume. The fact that thermally blued hands run 200-300 pounds is no small matter. Ohh and by the way the lume is NOT the colour of the hands or the markers per se, BG9 lume is on many watches that do not have toothpaste white hands (that is a separate design choice) and equally your statement is also categorically wrong in this regard for the C3 superluminova - the colour of the lume does not ensure a set colour to the hands or markers on the Klassic either. The two differ in terms of the colour in the dark. Let's get to that: you managed to say that the BG9 outdid the C3 in the lume test. Again this is a factual error and amateurish. C3 lasts longer than BG9 www.google.com/search?q=luminova+rating&safe=off&client=ms-android-oneplus&prmd=sinv&sxsrf=ALeKk00LYYESdwKa24WxP62QYuXOB_7Ohw:1589089208229&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjDgpfOyqjpAhXNURUIHV1EDRgQ_AUoAnoECA4QAg&biw=412&bih=780&dpr=2.63#imgrc=JEJqypnLq5x93M ^ It is not up for debate, the lume on Stowa Verus does not last as long. The lume wears off much faster and this is evidenced in time lapse: would have been evidenced in time lapse if you had borthered to test. You claim that Stowa are not a continuous legacy and operation via a declarative statment that is not relevant. Your claim is peculiar: that it is not the same family that run the business and on account of not producing new timepieces in a given manner forna period of time. Very few major heritage companies are run by their founding father or family. Only you manage to redefine the company as not original this way lol. Nobody else does this! In fact this is a type of fallacious logic known as high redefinition. You have attempted to redefine the way in which such a thing is considered. This is false as nobody else is using this definition of yours. From Walter Storz the company passed to Werner Storz and here I quote from Stowa's own museum and website verbatim: Werner Storz joined the company In 1960 the son of the founder, he managed it very successfully until 1996, before selling it to Jörg Schauer (for lack of a successor). Unquote The company never folded, they are a continuous operation and the company passed from father to son until with no successor, due diligence was completed on Jörg Schauer. If Jörg had not explained how his vision would ensure the heritage and safe keeping of the company, the Stowa family would have found another buyer. This is the Stowa story and reality. But look if you want to say they are not the original Stowa, please give me a list of major heritage watch companies that you do consider original haha. What passes your crazy litmus test to be original? lol. Most legitimate, original, great legacies in the watch world and in almost every sphere would (overnight) turn to shit according to your nonsense of a definition. Are the New York Yankies owned by their original owners? Liverpool football club? How about the San Francisco 49ers? What about Pepsi and Coke? Are Rolex original, are Omega? lol You make yourself look even more ridiculous by claiming that Stowa are a micro brand. Again you have come up with your own really weird definition to try and justify this. You think that you're clever and can wing-it; that you are articulate enough to pass BS under people's nose and that it will pass for fine wine hahaha. Stowa are NOT a micro brand. Though by your whacked ou definition FP Journe is a micro brand hahaha - pissing myself :) Liver Birds are not steak liver patte ;) Paying homage is not the same as a homage watch ;). They are pronounced differently and they are radically different definitions, with radically different meanings. Otherwise the Rolex submariner is a homage watch as it is paying homage to the original release - and the same goes AP Royal Oak and Patek Nautilus and, and, and ad infinitum. A homage watch is a copy of someone elses design of another companies hand work, innovation, story etc. It lacks the history, story and credientials of the original, and though it may be well made, it is valued far less as well you know. Pathetic to try this kind of stuff on. You have reached a point here where you are even lying to yourself to try and get out of a hole. I will lecture you because you have a tenuous relationship with the facts. Your linguistic skills are not up to snuff and neither is your knowledge or comprehension of watches. Now this is the bit where you either pull this comment down like a little spoilt child who cannot take a lesson from his daddy,.or it is where people see and read this. P.S If you take it down, I still know you read it :)

[@AverageBros]

@@christophercoey7804 You're super emotional and ranting on about things you know nothing about, i had to stop reading because you're too sassy and clearly just a keyboard warrior who thinks he's tough online, showing how insecure he his in real life. Here's an example you, I own the Klassik and have featured it in many many segments, I do not own nor to I prefer the Verus, it was featured for Stowa a brand I've worked directly with and have supported over the years. You're just some man child coming on here upset because you didn't get the unoriginal regurgitation that you so sorely search out everywhere you go. Stop looking for people to tell you, you did a good job choosing a watch and just like it for yourself for your own reasons. You're just regurgitating ideas, someone else told you to believe. You're speaking loosely based opinions as facts, lol. Tons of brands have called their own reissues homages to past models, but since you saw someone call an Invicta Prodiver a homage watch, you're tiny brain can only fathom that concept as a completely one dimensional idea. Stowa made historical watches initially, then faded away. They were sold off an a completely new crew reissued a bunch of classic designs to reinvigorate the brand. They've done a great job of it, there's nothing wrong with that, I support and applaud their ownership. You on the other hand need to tell yourself that they're more than they are to help validate you choices. They're nice watches, I own a few of them, I have hundreds of watches because I enjoy them, not so I can come onto people's TY comments and rant like I'm some kind of authority on what other people like or don't or think or don't. Cry all you want at the end of the day you're just helping my viewer engagement metrics, so feel free to continue to give my channel more ad revenue... bwhahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

[@AverageBros]

@@christophercoey7804 also everyone has seen that lume chart, lol. one day when you have more experience with watches you'll understand that there's initial brightness and then there's how long it will last. you might also one day learn that the lume application also plays a HUGE part in the performance, so although C3 is considered a whole 5% brighter at base, when you have more of that material applied, it is no longer a 1:1 and you can get more performance from a different, lower rated compound, lol. wow, seriously how do you not know that? oh, wait you're just a keyboard warrior desperately googling what you can to make yourself feel good by trying to one up, someone who actually has built a reputation for knowing what they're talking about. Forget the shortcuts Chris and just to your homework.

[@christophercoey7804]

@@AverageBros There is no rant. You have no answers, that is all. Though I love the way you try to 🍒 pick the easiest of my points and steer clear of everything comprehensive and difficult put at your door :) Even here you create a strawman and burn it rather than argue with anything I actually said :) But I love the attempt, right? I mean a patently transparent attempt to shape the narrative in your favour, but still. You thought it would work well in prior posts, so why not keep trying the same failed policy? lol. Let me explain for you how this will go: YOU - Either answer every point sequentially I raised, including all the extremely difficult ones that we both know you actually have no answers for haha - or this is over and I am finished with you. Go through each and every point raised and try and legitimately argue your case - or just go and pet your dog or have a sandwich. You don't decide the subjects here, your video and our prior discourse did that. You either argue it all, or you argue nothing. It's all or nothing. I don't accept any other terms. P.S I am arrogant not emotional. I am arrogant and correct and you are wrong and ignorant (in the dictionary as opposed to invective sense). I know which I would rather be :) PPS Enjoy the extra penny, you most likely need it :)

[@Beck-Stein]

The verus dial looks horrible. Save for the regular production.

[@Beck-Stein]

The dial of the cheap version looks cartoonish. The hands also look horrible as well. Save your money and go with their real version.

[@krekmanski]

what a bad review... Get your facts right... and have the decency to pronounce the name correctly.