In appreciation of the most excellent
Maritime 4 Star **** ‘Flieger’
Seldom these days, does one come across a bargain, a real bargain that is, which rather than being ‘made down to a price’ so that it can be sold at a bargain prices, but a product with virtue, one that is beautifully designed, and manufactured to high standards, yet which is of a price low enough to be called a real bargain.
The Maritime 4 Star **** Pilots watch, is once such a beastie. Let me tell you more…..
This watch, is made by, or for (I can’t be certain) Jurgen-S Parts in Pfortzheim, Germany. It was first introduced into the S Parts range, just before Christmas, last year, and the edition quickly sold out, and now having purchased one, I can easily understand why. **** (4 star) I am informed by Jurgen, is a now defunct watch brand, which was issued to pilots of the Imperial German Army during WW1, many examples of which were ‘liberated’ back to the UK and USA.
The watch was ordered from Watch U Seek watch shop (www.watchuseek.com). Following an email to establish that one was in stock (which it wasn’t, but Ernie Romers, the principal, offered to sell me his own – thanks Ernie), I placed the order.
Within a few minutes, Ernie contacted me with a Tracking Number for Fedex Int Priority!! Fast service! Two working days later, the nice mailman rang my doorbell, and left me a parcel…. Don’t you just loveng a new watch parcel??
Needless to say, the watch was beautifully packed, and after a minute or so struggling with parcel tape, polystyrene snow, padding, and elastic bands, I extracted the watch and it’s boxes.
Pausing to light a cigar (yes I know, but this decadent habit only serves to heighten the appreciation of a fine watch, as well as fine wine!), I removed the substantial white card outer box to reveal one of the nicest watch presentation boxes I have ever seen. The shine on the box, which I take to be Cherry is astonishing. It has obviously been treated to several coats of laquer, and then polished. The watch itself sits on a cushion which appears to be made of chamois leather, and also lines the case. I assume that it is actually not chamois, but rather a modern substitute. Documentation, is minimal, but frankly, unimportant for a watch with no complications.
First impressions of the watch were very pleasing…. A big, but not huge aviation style watch. As I inspected it closely, I began to wonder how this watch package had been produced for such a low price.
Case: 3 part, solid stainless steel, with a very well executed brushed matte finish. 41.85mm in diameter, and 12.12mm high. The bezel ring is unusual in that it is bevelled across half it’s depth, which seems to make the watch look thinner than it is. The caseback is a standard convex screw in type, much more comfortable in my opinion, than the flat backs currently in vogue. It contains the bare minimum of text, and is undecorated. It has HUGE lugs (20mm strap width), which rather like the lugs on the Breitling Avenger, turn down sharply, which makes the case sit nicely on the wrist. It has a very idiosyncratic looking ‘Onion?’ style crown, which is 7mm in dia, and 5.75mm deep. Funnily enough, it is this crown which makes this watch look so different, and is therefore very welcome! It will also allow easy hacking of the seconds… OK, I know you aren’t supposed to do this on the wrist, but the case is deep enough for it not to matter. All in all, a case which exhibits all the hallmarks of quality, looks tough enough to be run over by a tank, and survive, and is absolutely perfect in design for a watch of this type.
Dial: Excellent quality here too which shows …It is matte black laquered, and 38mm wide, which explains why the dial is so legible. It is uncluttered, with an outer chapter 0 – 60, with 2 second divisions applied in white laquer, and an inner chapter, 1 – 12, with batons above arabics, which are applied with ‘Super Luminova’ compound. It has a central sweep second hand (white), and very large ‘dauphine’ hands, which are also filled with Super Luminova. The only designs on the dial, are **** above the pinion, and ‘Maritime’ below. There is a large Luminova coated triangle at 12, with a luminova dot either side, very ala IWC, but in fact used by many other makers, and very appropriate for a watch of this style.
Crystal: Flat, hardened mineral crystal, not as good as sapphire, but acceptable in a watch at this price point.
Movement: ETA 2824 automatic, 17jewels. I have notd the case, but I assume the movement is standard, un-modified, and undecorated. A good, reliable movement, with c40 hrs autonomy, which is fitted to watches with a much higher price. I cannot say whether the movement is adjusted, and I have not had the watch ling enough to comment on accuracy, but I would expect it to be good, if not to COSC standard.
Strap: The strap, together with the crown, are what makes this watch that little bit ‘special’ It looks just perfect, and was I believe, designed specially for this sort of watch. It is very ‘retro’ in style, is beautifully HAND made, and of the very finest quality. It is made of a sandwich…. Oiled leather outer, Gore Tex mid layer, and rubber inner. Jurgen calls it the ‘Tropic’, and it appears to be designed to stop perspiration seeping past the rubber and Goretex inner, and affecting the leather. I have no doubt that this will work well. It is of ‘cut edge’, not remborde construction, which quite apart from insuring that it will last well, gives it a very rugged look ‘vintage’ look, which together with the stud at the lug ends (which actually works, allowing it to be unscrewed to fit fixed lug watches), is perfect for this watch. I was so impressed with the strap, that I have asked Ernie to send me another for my IWC 3706 Flieger. It is fitted with a 20mm wide heavy stainless buckle. I can quite honestly say, that this strap, with it's beautifully oily leather, and other features, which are almost unique these days, is perhaps the nicest strap I have come across to date. It is a bargain. These straps can be ordered separately from jurgen@s-parts.de.
Conclusions: A watch of extremely high quality, that is endowed with a huge presence, worth far more than the price paid!
OK, it has a couple of minor points, which if addressed, would make it near perfect, in my opinion. It has no signature on the crown, and I believe it would look better if the crystal was slightly cambered, which would help to reduce reflections. That’s it. I believe that it offers the finest value for money, of any other watch in it’s class.
I have used the scans from Ernie’s site… he is a much better photographer than I!!
The watch is priced at Euro 460, and at this price, it is a bargain, nevertheless, speak nicely to Ernie… you never know!!
Measurements are mine, which disagree (microscopically) with Ernies. They were taken with my digital electronic caliper, which I guarantee is accurate
I hope my ramblings have been of some use. Thanks for reading,
Doug
