Steinhart

German pilot watches with Swiss heart

Steinhart is a watch brand founded in 2001 by watch enthusiast and entrepreneur Günter Steinhart in Stadtbergen near Augsburg. In its collections, the Bavarian label revives historical watch designs, especially from aviation and seafaring. The development of the timepieces takes place in Augsburg, while the inner workings of the Swiss-made chronometers come from the Swiss Jura, the heart of the Swiss watch industry. Steinhart dispenses with intermediaries and offers its watches through direct sales.

Steinhart’s timeless and reliable timepieces for men and women are always faithful companions both on the ground and in the air – whether in the cockpit, in everyday life or on elegant occasions. The vintage-style pilot’s watches are genuine watchmaking craftsmanship from Switzerland, each model designed after a true historical example. Highlight of the collection: the famous navigation observation watches, usually just called B-watches – robust quality timepieces, always ready for action, defying both extreme temperatures and wind and weather.

A mechanical watch will never lose its appeal and will always be a piece of jewelry.
Günter Steinhart

Original navigation observation watches are timepieces that are subject to very high demands on quality and accuracy and were worn in particular by the flying personnel of the German Air Force during World War II. They have a uniform diameter of 55 mm and a large onion-shaped crown, in order to be easily readable even in the field as well as operable with gloves. All B watches have a balance stop device, meaning that the balance is stopped when the crown is pulled out so that the watch can be set precisely.

Each individual watch had to undergo rigorous official testing before delivery, be engraved accordingly on the back of the case, and be issued with a special rate certificate before it received its clearance for use in the flying force. Incidentally, the special timekeepers were worn by the navigators on board with a double-riveted fastening strap over the aviator’s uniform. Certified manufacturers of the famous observation watches were Laco, A. La n ge & Söhne, IWC Schaffhausen, Stowa and Wempe.