Tough Decision : Archimede Pilot History 42mm or Steinhart B-Uhr 44mm

[tkyong1]

Hi guys,

I really need your advice.

I have narrow down my choice of pilot watch to Archimede pilot history and Steinhart gnomon boutique edition. Photos as below: -

Archimede pilot history 42mm


Steinhart gnomon boutique edition 44mm

 
Common feature
Both fit into my budget.
There is no significant differences in price for both model.
Both have good reputation among watch forum member.


Archimede
What i liked:
- it's relatively thinner at 10mm, more suitable for daily office working.
- the diamond shape crown.


What i disliked:
- 20mm lug, a tag too small to my liking, i prefer 22mm.
- the hour and minute hand is not shape, it is kind of weird like being cut at the end.
 

Steinhart
What i liked:
- 22mm lug just nice to my liking.
- the shape hour and minute hand.

What i disliked:
- it's relatively thicker at 14mm.
- no diamond shape crown, this crown seems weird designed.
 
I need some advice from owner of these two models / brands, their view, experience, comment would be very helpful.
 
Many thanks in advance.

 

[G.MAC]

Do not have much experience with the two brands but judging from your requirement, you seem to have more things to like about the archimede as opposed to the steinhart so you should go for the archimede. Lug size is not so vital in the long run unless you like to change straps a lot. I on the other hand like the steinhart more as it is 47mm and i am not too bothered by blue hands. Just my view.

[takashi78]

Wonder what is the difference with the boutique edition compared to the normal one?

[tkyong1]

Steinhart normal vs botique:
size : 44mm vs 47mm
Crown: normal vs diamond

[chrisyen]

my points

1. thick case back design on steinhart with purpose - so the big diamond crown wont scratch ur hand
2. steinhart hands not blue? or just photo angle not right? i remember most steinhart pilot watches come with dark blued hands... but not sure bout this special eddition
3. the 2 pin stainhart strap is much better looking
4. is the steinhart 47mm or 44mm? the photo shown with 47mm spec n u typed 44mm
    47mm vs 42mm giv u totally different feel of the watch.
5. steinhart shape end hour n minute hand, second hand design.... all better looking to my taste...
6. archimede dial look better and it is good not to hv swiss made printed on this dial... the cleaner the better
7. archimede case beat blasted or brush? it look beat blasted to me, which is better
8. steinhart dome crystal look better to my taste
9. steinhart use thicker and more solid steel
10. steinhart hv much thicker leather strap

i owned archimede pilot original n plenty steinhart nav b b4...
both r very different if u put side by side, it look close on the photo u posted... but i can tell u the differents

steinhart look and feel very solid, rough and macho
archimede pilot is very dressy

[chrisyen]

Steinhart normal vs botique:
size : 44mm vs 47mm
Crown: normal vs diamond

steinhart hv both 44 n 47mm case all this while
steinhart hv both diamond and non diamond all this while

i dont understand.... 

[jacky8888]

I dunno much about the technical specs for these two watches but steinhart is singing to me right now. Haha

[ivanswk]

my points

1. thick case back design on steinhart with purpose - so the big diamond crown wont scratch ur hand
2. steinhart hands not blue? or just photo angle not right? i remember most steinhart pilot watches come with dark blued hands... but not sure bout this special eddition
3. the 2 pin stainhart strap is much better looking
4. is the steinhart 47mm or 44mm? the photo shown with 47mm spec n u typed 44mm
    47mm vs 42mm giv u totally different feel of the watch.
5. steinhart shape end hour n minute hand, second hand design.... all better looking to my taste...
6. archimede dial look better and it is good not to hv swiss made printed on this dial... the cleaner the better
7. archimede case beat blasted or brush? it look beat blasted to me, which is better
8. steinhart dome crystal look better to my taste
9. steinhart use thicker and more solid steel

i owned archimede pilot original n plenty steinhart nav b b4...
both r very different if u put side by side, it look close on the photo u posted... but i can tell u the differents

steinhart look and feel very solid, rough and macho
archimede pilot is very dressy

i agree on chris summary "steinhart look and feel very solid, rough and macho
archimede pilot is very dressy" and i observe the boutique edt should have a gnomon logo behind, 47 mm with clean dial wear quite large on wrist.

my personal preferance is the 45 mm pilot handwound with the word "handaufzug"

when i was in the "pilot" mode era, i did short shortlist steinhart 44mm b dial with the archimede 45 mm .. for 42 mm i go with the archimede deck watch..

currently on "diver" mode hehe

[kltime]

I suppose nothing beats trying out both in person and seeing how it actually looks on your wrist.

I prefer my watches to be more adaptable to the occasion whether its the office/weekend/in formal attire/t-shirt n jeans.Hence size is 2 me is important. 45mm is prob the max for me.

[TheHobbit]

Personally, and I know that I am not helping, but I will stretch the budget a little and go for this.

Laco Fliegeruhr Bremen, Automatic 42 mm. At least it is from one of the 5 companies that made the original watches.

[ck77]

Personally, and I know that I am not helping, but I will stretch the budget a little and go for this.

Laco Fliegeruhr Bremen, Automatic 42 mm. At least it is from one of the 5 companies that made the original watches.

+1 second that 
but i will go for the manual one, more authentic.

[hanz079]

Yeah, I would also go for the one Hobbit suggested... 

[tkyong1]

I have modified my post.

The 47mm special edition is just too big for me. So 44mm should be the better option for comparison with Archimede.

The Steinhart 44mm model with different crown.

I wonder which is the original pilot watch crown? The diamond shape or onion shape? Anyone know?

[TheHobbit]

Both the onion and diamond were used. Both the Steinhart and Archimede, based on the photographs, is not 100% correct.

[G.MAC]

between a diamond and onion shaped crown, i prefer the diamond shaped one. Easier to wind if you have huge fingers like mine.

[terrenceterrence]

Personally, and I know that I am not helping, but I will stretch the budget a little and go for this.

Laco Fliegeruhr Bremen, Automatic 42 mm. At least it is from one of the 5 companies that made the original watches.

Get a Laco instead. I wholly agree with Ivan on this.

You'll never regret thi and you can tell ppl why you have such a big watch on your wrist and also he history behind it.

[Maverick27]

my vote goes to steinhart as well

[tkyong1]

I have just sold one of my watch, now set to proceed with my pilot watch acquisition.

Laco: i did not like the design, did not know why, i just dislike, so, its out of my list.

My decision between the final 2: Archimede pilot history 42mm or Steinhart b-uhr ii 44mm.

I need to wear the pilot to work as well.

The Steinhart chunky height of almost 15mm is my concern.

I am concern it may not hide perfectly under my sleeve. I prefers low key, did not like my watch to shout : hey look at me, i am big   

In the other hand, i disliked Archimede for the square off hour / minute hand + no lume second hand.

Really headache now.

[G.MAC]

if you dont like big watches then go for the archimede. the squared off fonts and no lume on second hand is very negligible if you think about it unless you really hate it everytime you look at the watch. the size of the watch however is a big deal and if you dislike it, then it is obvious that you should not consider the steinhart.

[tkyong1]

Hi Mac,

You have mentioned some very good and clear point of view.
I agreed with you, the size if the main issue.
I would go for Archimede pilot history, it's more daily watch, both official and casual..still with alternative taste in it..something different from the majority dress watch.

[siodee]

Yup, go with something you like, I just bought the Steinhart Aviation watch, it is big 44mm on my wrist, but it is not my daily watch, it is just a watch I need to buy for my collection...and may be wear it when I need to nego the price or settle an argument to show macho

[Horous]

Personally i would get the one base on exclusiveness or number of pieces production per year. Got to do more homework on that