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Showing 1 of 42 conversations about:
captain_midnight
65
Mar 6, 2016
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boulosFlieger is a style manufactured by a variety of companies since its introduction in Germany during World War II. You won't ordinarily find an automatic one anywhere near this price at retail, though that's because the traditional design uses a Swiss chronometer-grade movement, plus production in Germany, Switzerland, or both.
The irony of this style is that the more historically accurate it is, the less branding it has. You can get an automatic Fanmis/Parnis knockoff from Amazon for $100, and it can look more faithful than Swiss-made homages that cost literally 100 times more. The Panzera appears to have very good build quality and components for the price.
The irony of this style is that the more historically accurate it is, the less branding it has. You can get an automatic Fanmis/Parnis knockoff from Amazon for $100, and it can look more faithful than Swiss-made homages that cost literally 100 times more. The Panzera appears to have very good build quality and components for the price.
hrfdez
19
Mar 6, 2016
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captain_midnightIndeed, look at the Maratac Pilot. A design recreated by many companies.
boulos
30
Mar 6, 2016
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captain_midnightThanks for the thoughtful response. I understand the face design is a "Flieger"; however does the Flieger style spec the case should be exactly like an IWC pilot? Or that the crown should look like that of a IWC big pilot? Or that the diamond-shaped arms should look almost exactly like those of an IWC?
Please note I have no affiliation to IWC., but I point this out because I feel that people participating in this drop should know that they are buying what will look to everyone like an IWC knockoff. Participating without that awareness can end up with buyers one day being quite disappointed with their purchase.
Edit: I want to add that I'm also disappointed that Massdrop, who understand the virtuous and challenges of good design, would feature and support a company that is copying someone else's design. (If I didn't care about Massdrop or the community here I really wouldn't be wasting my time commenting).
Please note I have no affiliation to IWC., but I point this out because I feel that people participating in this drop should know that they are buying what will look to everyone like an IWC knockoff. Participating without that awareness can end up with buyers one day being quite disappointed with their purchase.
Edit: I want to add that I'm also disappointed that Massdrop, who understand the virtuous and challenges of good design, would feature and support a company that is copying someone else's design. (If I didn't care about Massdrop or the community here I really wouldn't be wasting my time commenting).
captain_midnight
65
Mar 6, 2016
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boulosYou might be looking at this from the wrong direction. IWC didn't invent the flieger design. It was designed by the German military for the Luftwaffe and initially produced by five different companies: IWC, Stowa, Laco, Lange und Söhne, and Wempe. The onion crown is shaped that way so that a pilot can manipulate it without removing their gloves. The hands are shaped like swords so that they can be more quickly distinguished, in the dark, from other elements on the dial. IWC doesn't actually make historically accurate fliegers anymore, that I know of. Just Laco and Stowa, though a variety manufacturers not involved with the original military effort make their own replicas, such as Archimede and Fortis. None of them use the original German movements, that I know of.
boulos
30
Mar 6, 2016
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captain_midnightI see your point, but if IWC no longer makes historically accurate Fliegers anymore and this looks awfully like an IWC, then that's more proof this is copying IWC. There are many other Fliegers that look awesome without looking like copies. Anyway, I'm sure the people who buy it will enjoy it. I wish it were a more original take on the Flieger and I would have joined too.
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