Comments on: Wants & Desires | A. Lange & Söhne Military Watch

By: Biggie_Robs

Biggie_Robs — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:13:28 +0000

Agree with JB: Laco is one of the original five manufacturers and makes a nice 42mm homage to their 55mm type-b flieger. There were a few made recently for a watch forum with a sterile dial, the original lume pattern and fonts, and a bead blasted case. As I understand it, Laco is planning to produce a serial version of this watch sometime in the (near?) future.

By: victoria thorne

victoria thorne — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:26:01 +0000

When we lived in Germany in the seventies, don’t think these were so uncommon…it just looks awfully familiar.

Wish I had picked up a few. Or at least one…

Perfect watch.

By: martin

martin — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:20:38 +0000

Really, you need to see one on a wrist to know how unbelievably large they are. Intended to be worn on the *outside* of your Luftwaffe jacket sleeve.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:25:56 +0000

Only the most expensive watch brand on planet earth.

By: jason

jason — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:19:57 +0000

Stowa’s Airman watch is a fantastic piece that fits this bill while still being attainable.

I use Victorinox/Swiss Army’s Infantry watch (self-winding) and it’s a nice looking piece, well made watch. It’s inspired by military/pilot’s watches and I get comments pretty regularly.

By: Johnny Slims

Johnny Slims — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:03:29 +0000

IWC pilot’s chrono 3717 is a great wearable size at 42mm. Or you can go for the Big Pilot which is modeled after the original very large pilot’s watches IWC created to be worn over flight suits, read easily in dark, vibrating planes — and when jumping out of them. They are also magnetically shielded. Glycine and Sinn make some less expensive, beautiful examples as well.

For vintage pilots tho, nothing beats the IWC Mark series IMHO . . .

By: The Standard Edition

The Standard Edition — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:58:14 +0000

p.s. American fighter pilots…

By: The Standard Edition

The Standard Edition — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:55:33 +0000

A.Lange & Shone make some solid time pieces. I’ve been craving one of the newer military style watches, however your find is definitely one to be jealous of. Personally, I’m currently sporting a Hamilton Khaki Mechanical, which is the watch issued to fighter pilots during WWII, and requires daily winding, giving it that perfect tough of authenticity. Good find.

By: JB

JB — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:17:28 +0000

These original WWII watches are great looking but impractical to wear, measuring 55mm. (Ralph Lauren bought a mint IWC at auction for $50,000+ a couple years ago.) Another original maker, Laco, sells a great replica one can wear regularly — http://www.lacher-shop.de/e_shop/index.php?cPath=1&osCsid=bf0a0a72841779dd79f0de738ab071ca

By: Sammy G

Sammy G — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:54:40 +0000

Ah Ha! I was wondering how long it was going to take before you all got on board with the military watch thing. WestCoastTime has some pretty good deals on the O&W brand military inspired watches. Gnommon watches also has great deals on military watches as well as other great sport watch and dress watches too. My favorites are the O&W big Pilot, the Archimede and Damasko Pilots, and the Seiko Black Monster (and the Orange Monster). All of the watches look great on chunky handmade leather pilot straps, Zulu straps and Nato Straps.

Cheers.