A tribute to the Bauhaus celebrating its 100th anniversary
The Bauhaus school of design was founded in the Weimar Republic of Germany in 1919. Its "Bauhaus-like" philosophy, which encompassed theories of crafts, photography, design, and more, and ultimately aimed to create functional architecture, had a major influence on all subsequent rationalist and functionalist artistic activity. Its defining characteristic can be summed up in a simple phrase: "simplicity without ornamentation."
The Bauhaus, which moved its teaching locations to Dessau and Berlin, was forced to close in 1933 by the Nazis. However, despite its short lifespan of just 14 years, its influence was enormous, and it is considered the origin of Swiss design, which rapidly flourished after the war. It is no exaggeration to say that the world's most famous grotesque font, Helvetica, which was released in 1957, and the Swiss-style International Typographic Style, which is said to be the prototype of modern flat design, were all influenced by the Bauhaus.
Bauhaus-inspired design has been an important motif for the German brand Stowa, which made a comeback in 2004, since its founding. Its signature model, the Antea, is one of the most treasured models of its CEO, Jörg Schauer, who is both a designer and a watchmaker. In recent years, in collaboration with Hartmut Esslinger, a key designer at Apple in its early days, the company has released a model featuring the "Bauhaus STD" Arabic font on the indexes, which has generated a great deal of buzz.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus movement in 2019, Stowa released the commemorative model, the Antea 1919. This model, with its simple 39mm cylinder case and basic version of the ETA2824-2, is an affordable entry-level model that is full of Bauhaus-esque charm.
The most distinctive feature is the dial, which once again uses simple bar indexes. The basic design, with the hour and minute hands and thin bar indexes in black on a matte white background, maximizes contrast with the simplest of elements. A black dial, typical of Stowa, which has its roots in military watches, is also available, and this one also offers a refreshingly clear contrast. The pursuit of thorough minimalism, from the centrally placed second hand to the omission of a counterweight, is a pleasant experience.
A functional Flieger that goes back to Stowa's roots
Meanwhile, Stowa is also a renowned watchmaker, with a proven track record as the official supplier of pilot watches to the German Air Force during World War II. Since the arrival of the legendary watchmaker Jörg Schauer, the company has secured a market-leading position in the mid-range market with its uncompromising quality. It was also the company that worked hard to establish pilot watch standards, which had not been officially established in Germany until recently. The Flieger 40, which carries the brand's roots into the present day, is truly a representative Stowa model.
The new Flieger, named "Wehrs," which means essence, truth, or reality in Latin, is an entry-level model like the Antea, but it inherits the same basic structure as the Flieger 40. While retaining the Pforzheim case and ETA movement, which is expected to be in stable supply, the watch has been priced at just 10 yen (plus tax) thanks to a revised finishing process.
However, it would be a bit hasty to view this model as a cost-cut entry-level model. The case, which has been changed from a satin finish to a sandblasted finish, has a soft texture due to the fine grain of the blast, and still retains a moderate edge. The hour and minute hands, which have been changed from blued to white painted, have somewhat diminished the sense of heritage, but in terms of pilot's watch style, this model wins.
These two entry-level models were expertly crafted by Jörg Schauer himself, a man who is well versed in the intricacies of watchmaking. Beginners who choose these models to kick off their mechanical watch hobby will be truly fortunate. Even those who aren't beginners can be sure that these models offer a level of quality that will satisfy them.
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