# Watch Geeks Assemble v. Stowa **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [January 3, 2008, 7:21am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143 "2008-01-03T07:21:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Avatar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avatar/32/5076_2.png) [@Avatar](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Avatar)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 7:21am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/1 "2008-01-03T07:21:37Z")
I’m considering two models and want to hear some opinions on ascetics.(or aesthetics, if you like) First, the Antea 365 [http://www.german-watches.com/cgi-bin/lshop.cgi?action=showdetail&wkid=32610&ls=e&nc=1199373418-31156&rubnum=antea&artnum=antea365&file=&gesamt\_zeilen=Tshowrub--antea](http://www.german-watches.com/cgi-bin/lshop.cgi?action=showdetail&wkid=32610&ls=e&nc=1199373418-31156&rubnum=antea&artnum=antea365&file=&gesamt_zeilen=Tshowrub--antea) ![http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/jpfenski/1170046816-15446.jpg](http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/jpfenski/1170046816-15446.jpg) Second, the Airman [http://www.german-watches.com/cgi-bin/lshop.cgi?action=showdetail&wkid=32610&ls=e&nc=1199373460-31827&rubnum=flieger&artnum=fliegerohnelogo&file=&gesamt\_zeilen=Tshowrub--flieger](http://www.german-watches.com/cgi-bin/lshop.cgi?action=showdetail&wkid=32610&ls=e&nc=1199373460-31827&rubnum=flieger&artnum=fliegerohnelogo&file=&gesamt_zeilen=Tshowrub--flieger) ![http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/jpfenski/1182327528-32482.jpg](http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p273/jpfenski/1182327528-32482.jpg) Price is comparable. The main difference is size. The Antea is 36.6mm and the Airman ~39mm. I have about a 6.5" wrist so not very large. I know big watches are in right now, but I’m in the market for a new daily for the next 5-6yrs and these are what I’ve come down to. I don’t want it to look goofy, so if anyone has experience with wearing a larger pilot’s watch, chime-in. ---
**Author:** ![Viper966](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/viper966/32/7268_2.png) [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 7:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/2 "2008-01-03T07:31:19Z")
meh, the only watches that get me going are the ones that look like they were made by some crazy german engineer and not a designer and expose all their guts etc… ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 7:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/3 "2008-01-03T07:32:41Z")
Opinions on ascetics? I will say is that owning a watch, especially an expensive one, goes against every ideal of asceticism. ---
**Author:** ![Avatar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avatar/32/5076_2.png) [@Avatar](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Avatar)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 7:43am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/4 "2008-01-03T07:43:01Z")
Sorry, meant aesthetics. But, then you already knew that. ---
**Author:** ![ineedacar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/48db29/32.png) [@ineedacar](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ineedacar)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 7:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/5 "2008-01-03T07:49:39Z")
if you’re looking for something to wear every day, you can get a nice watch for like \<$100 that will look WAY better than those… if you’re going to spend $500+, why would you get something so plain? I spent a little less than that and got a watch with .25carat of diamonds and i get compliments on it every time i wear it. ---
**Author:** ![BigRon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@BigRon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BigRon)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 7:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/6 "2008-01-03T07:51:52Z")
For the other thread I still like this watch: Panerai - PAM 196 ![http://www.panerai.com/img/2/prodotti/dettagli/1058865169437_vista_1_g.jpg](http://www.panerai.com/img/2/prodotti/dettagli/1058865169437_vista_1_g.jpg) ![http://www.panerai.com/img/2/prodotti/dettagli/1058865169296_dettaglio_1_g.jpg](http://www.panerai.com/img/2/prodotti/dettagli/1058865169296_dettaglio_1_g.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ineedacar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/48db29/32.png) [@ineedacar](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ineedacar)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 7:54am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/7 "2008-01-03T07:54:54Z")
> [@BigRon](#): > thats nice as hell… not my flavor, but much more elegant than the original pictures posted IMO!! but fuck im not paying for it so get what you like teh most ---
**Author:** ![Avatar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avatar/32/5076_2.png) [@Avatar](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Avatar)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 7:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/8 "2008-01-03T07:57:12Z")
> [@ineedacar](#): > > if you’re looking for something to wear every day, you can get a nice watch for like \<$100 that will look WAY better than those… > > if you’re going to spend $500+, why would you get something so plain? I spent a little less than that and got a watch with .25carat of diamonds and i get compliments on it every time i wear it. Because I like these ones and I dare you to find any automatic much less a quality one under $100. ---
**Author:** ![Avatar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avatar/32/5076_2.png) [@Avatar](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Avatar)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 8:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/9 "2008-01-03T08:00:10Z")
The above PAM is nice, to be sure. I’m not sure about its price though and I really don’t feel that I need a chronograph either. Any opinions on the two that I posted? ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bing/32/7211_2.png) [@bing](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 11:12am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/10 "2008-01-03T11:12:07Z")
merge thread: [http://nyspeed.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35846&highlight=omega](http://nyspeed.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35846&highlight=omega) incidentally though, i picked up this one this year: Omega, vintage Military, circa 60’s ![http://www.bings.ca/images/misc/Other/omega.jpg](http://www.bings.ca/images/misc/Other/omega.jpg) if you’re going to get something that simple and in that range at least get something with a little history ---
**Author:** ![Avatar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avatar/32/5076_2.png) [@Avatar](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Avatar)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 11:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/11 "2008-01-03T11:48:52Z")
History? Stowa was one of the first fliegers in the 1940’s. The other 4 included IWC, A. Lange & Söhne, Laco, and Wempe. The history is certainly there. It’s not like I’m buying a swatch subsidiary like Hamilton or Tissot that in my eyes have lost their heritage… BTW nice Omega, what’s the case diam. on that? ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bing/32/7211_2.png) [@bing](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/12 "2008-01-03T16:33:50Z")
i meant the actual watch, not the company. i dont know the case diameter off hand. i dont even wear the watch anymore… you want it? B.O. over $500. ---
**Author:** ![Jon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@Jon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jon)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/13 "2008-01-03T16:45:40Z")
hurry before 1am [www.woot.com](http://www.woot.com) ---
**Author:** ![cdvma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/48db29/32.png) [@cdvma](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/cdvma)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/14 "2008-01-03T17:04:46Z")
I like the Stowa watches looks. I don’t know anything about them. What doesn’t feel good is that it cost 177 Euro to get a certified movement when there are a lot of cheap and good (certified) movements out there. ---
**Author:** ![Avatar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avatar/32/5076_2.png) [@Avatar](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Avatar)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 6:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/15 "2008-01-04T06:51:39Z")
IMHO the certified movement is not worth it. Stowa works on each individual movement anyway to make sure it is running superbly. All the certification does is give you a piece of paper that says your watch is accurate and that even has to be renewed every few years. It’s basically just a licensing fee for that. The movement is no different in a COSC than any other of the watches. ---
**Author:** ![cdvma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/48db29/32.png) [@cdvma](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/cdvma)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 8:43am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/16 "2008-01-04T08:43:40Z")
I agree but it just seems silly they don’t use a tried and true ETA or Valjoux (ect) since they are cheap and everywhere and have such an incremental cost. I just don’t get warm and fuzzy with the idea that they have different movements like that but I’m sure there isn’t anything wrong with either one. ---
**Author:** ![cdvma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/48db29/32.png) [@cdvma](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/cdvma)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 8:47am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/17 "2008-01-04T08:47:38Z")
Wait…I just read the page again. The airman uses an ETA 2824-2 then they charge an extra 177Euro just for the same movement? Ppppplllease. I also saw its the same upgrade for the top watch you posted. Ughh. $1000 for that? Pass. ---
**Author:** ![Avatar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avatar/32/5076_2.png) [@Avatar](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Avatar)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 9:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/watch-geeks-assemble-v-stowa/41143/18 "2008-01-04T09:35:20Z")
It’s 177Euro for the certification. Basically, just a title. Hence, I feel a waste of money. Edit: To be fair there are costs involved in sending the movement to COSC for testing and all that. That’s where the premium comes in. There is no more special labor that goes into those movements AFAIK.