New Stowa TO1 TESTAF Flieger

[STT1987]

Damn! Its a nice looking watch!

TESTAF
The new standard for pilot watches in the watch industry.

Developed by FH Aachen.

With the project "technical standard of pilot watches" (in short "TESTAF") for the first time a precise technic-functional requirements catalog is submitted. This catalogue determines the regulations wrist-pilot watches with analogue time display have to fulfill nowadays in the civil air traffic in regard to sight - and instrument flight rules.

In the last years the term pilot watch became an arbitrary term.

Concrete functional and technical requests faded into the background. Therefore the FH Aachen developed and submitted in cooperation with the watch company Sinn this new standard.

Until now there was no clear definition for pilot watches, (like for example for diving watches, DIN 8306/ISO 6425).

This gap will now be closed with the TESTAF certification.

STOWA wanted to test its 70 year experience in building pilot watches and decided immediately to participate in this certification procedure.

The new model FLIEGER TO1 TESTAF is currently tested at the FH Aachen and it is planned that the certification will be finished  by May/June 2013.

PDF for the watch: https://www.stowa.de/cosmoshop/artikelpdf/fliegerto1testaf_en.pdf

I posted the TESTAF link in the links and resources section of this forum, so if you're interested you can look it up there or go to the Stowa store.

I have several Stowas, but I bought them at retail Manufaktum shops in Germany or used. So if I buy this one, it will be the first time using their webstore.

My question here is:
1) Anyone here ever bought a Stowa from their webstore and had it shipped over here to Malaysia?
2) How's the customer service? Treat Malaysian buyers like aliens from outer space? (don't laugh, I've had that sort of treatment buying from US and British websites.)
3) Charged for VAT even though it's shipped outside the EU (that's what I gather from other forums).
4) Lots of hassle from our dear friends at Malaysian customs (specifically Penang)?

[hanz079]

Nice... looks like the Damasko D4x series of watches though... recycled idea?

[watzisname]

I did enquire Stowa regarding shipping before. They can ship to malaysia, charge is EUR59 using Fedex

[ab7882]

STT1987, I agree that the TO1 is a good looking watch. I have one on order! 

To answer your questions:
1) Yes, I ordered and received 3 watches from them in the last 12 months.
2) Customer service is the best you can encounter on line. Once you order they will immediately confirm through e-mail.  You will be notified to make payment when your watch is ready to be assembled. I made payment via TT.  They will ship the watch about two weeks after payment using Fedex with tracking number e mailed to you.  All along the process you can e-mail them on your order (and make changes if you want) and they will answer promptly.  The only 'problem' is the long waiting period from your order to the watch assembly date - you have to wait for your turn which could take up to 3 months. Sorry, no shortcuts (unless you fly to Germany and buy from Manufaktum)
3) When you order and input an address outside EU, it will automatically take out the VAT. You can view the final price without VAT before you confirm the order.
4) No hassle at all from our friend at Customs. Fedex clears everything for you. If you order crocodile strap, they will ship the crocodile strap separately to avoid problems at Customs.  The crocodile strap comes with Cites certification.  You get a normal leather strap with the watch whilst waiting for the crocodile strap to arrive.

Go ahead, put in your order, and go through the 'torture' of 3 months wait and the enjoyment of finally receiving the watch!

[Dickson Lim]

Reminds me of Damasko. Looking good though. 

[squasub]

the crown looks a bit like seiko ananta's

[STT1987]

I intend to plunk down some money for this but not right now, it just looks too much like a Sinn U2 GMT diver that I already have in my collection. I think Stowa missed the (flying) boat with the dial. Index markers make it look too much like a diver. Nothing in the TESTAF requirement stated that they had to use index markers like these.



I would have pulled the trigger immediately if they stuck to the standard B-Uhr or a variation of the B-Uhr with similar arab numeral hour markers.

[STT1987]

Classical Stowa B-Uhr is still good. New TO1 is too Sinn. Nothing wrong with that or Sinn. The thing is, if I wanted a dial that looked like a Sinn, I would have bought a Sinn. I'm still eyeing the TO1 for a buy, but hoping for a redesign down the road.
 

[watzisname]

Classical Stowa B-Uhr is still good. New TO1 is too Sinn. Nothing wrong with that or Sinn. The thing is, if I wanted a dial that looked like a Sinn, I would have bought a Sinn. I'm still eyeing the TO1 for a buy, but hoping for a redesign down the road.
 

Nice Flieger, where to get that wrist pad? What's it for anyway?

[soulmobile75]

watzisname, I guess to give it the watch with a bund strap look...love those bund strap.

[watzisname]

watzisname, I guess to give it the watch with a bund strap look...love those bund strap.

Ooo they were used by the original pilots..

[Godzillaz]

I read somewhere that it is collaboration between Stowa & Sinn

Classical Stowa B-Uhr is still good. New TO1 is too Sinn. Nothing wrong with that or Sinn. The thing is, if I wanted a dial that looked like a Sinn, I would have bought a Sinn. I'm still eyeing the TO1 for a buy, but hoping for a redesign down the road.
 

[1to12]

Damn! Its a nice looking watch!

I like the slim curvy lugs and the clean sharp markers. 

[kenixck]

any lume shots ?

[jacky8888]

this watch is really cool....

great legibility ......

it will be a big hit like U1.....