Aristo Flieger Chrono Retro Design – 3H242-MB
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Classic look with vintage case
Although Aristo offers dress watches and diving watches, pilot watches probably make up a substantial part of their production. And it's no wonder. The company has been producing pilot watches with the Aristo logo on the dial for over 100 years. We have selected watches for you that have something extra. Something that makes Aristo watches worth considering, at least.
Technical details:
Case: 40.5 mm sandblasted steel (48.5 mm lug to lug, 14 mm height)
Dial: black, hands with luminescent coating, day and date indicator, chronograph
Glass: sapphire
Water resistance: 50 m
Movement: Swiss mechanical automatic movement Sellita SW500, approx. 50-hour power reserve; signed rotor
Bracelet: steel Milanese mesh bracelet made in Pforzheim, sandblasted finish to perfectly match the watch case finish, 20 mm width.
Please note - the case and dial used in this watch model come from old stock. Both parts are unused (so-called New Old Stock), but due to their age (approx. 40 years), they may, in exceptional cases, suffer from some optical imperfections (e.g., slight abrasions, or looser bezel movement).
Chronograph with a 40-year-old case (NOS).
The Aristo Vintage Pilot Chronograph shares the same design as the iconic classic Porsche Design watches from the 70s – a watch designed by Ferdinand Porsche himself – the man behind the design of the Porsche 911.
The original Porsche Design chronograph was equipped with an automatic Lemania 5100 movement. These watches were also used by the German Air Force in the 70s, 80s and 90s. It was originally manufactured by Orfina, then by IWC and Eterna.
Similar to Porsche Design, Helmut Sinn designed the popular Sinn 144 model, which remains in the Sinn catalog to this day.
An interesting fact is that Aristo and Helmut Sinn had a friendly relationship and even shared some parts, such as watch cases. Aristo historically produced matte, dark sandblasted stainless steel cases measuring 40.5 mm. However, these cases had not been used until now. This has now changed. Hansjörg Vollmer, CEO of Aristo Vollmer, decided to bring this chronograph back in limited production.
The chronograph is available in two variants – with Arabic numerals and with hour markers for a clean look. The rotating bezel can be rotated counter-clockwise in one direction. The crown and pusher protectors (buttons) of the chronograph are ergonomically designed and give off an 80s Top Gun vibe. The watch is complemented by a matching mesh bracelet made in the Pforzheim factory, or on order with a leather strap, which gives the watch a more modern look.
Made in Germany
Aristo's watch offerings are truly diverse. From very affordable models to limited editions often made using historical parts - whether historical cases or movements. All watches are assembled in the company's workshops in Pforzheim, Germany. The quality of workmanship is first-class. The price, however, remains at a very favorable level. The same applies to the steel braided bracelet - the so-called Milanese mesh. This also comes from Aristo's workshops.
Brand History
The history of the Aristo brand dates back to 1907, when watchmaker Julius Epple I (born 1865) founded the company Julius Epple KG in Pforzheim, Germany, one of the cradles of German watchmaking. At that time, the company focused on the production of watches and watch cases. In 1934, Julius Epple took over the company Rohwerkfabrik Maurer & Reiling, and from then on, the company also began to produce its own hand-wound movement known as the JE Urofa 56. The "Aristo" brand began to be used from the mid-1920s and was registered on January 31, 1936, at the former "Imperial Patent Office".
Present Day
Vandaag, Arsito is in the hands of Mr. Hansjörg Vollmer (since 1998, when the Epple family sold it to him), grandson of the founder of the Vollmer steel watch bracelet manufactory (Vollmer, Evvo, New Line), which was founded in 1922 and had maintained business relations with Aristo since 1927.
Innovation
Under Hansjörg's leadership, in addition to manufacturing models typical of Aristo, the brand also focuses on innovation. For example, in 2004, Aristo introduced the first watches with a carbon case and carbon dial, thus establishing the brand as a pioneer working with carbon as a material in the watchmaking industry.
Manufactory Visit
In July 2019, we had the opportunity to personally visit the Aristo factory. Although we suspected it would be an interesting visit, the reality far exceeded our expectations. It was truly an amazing experience. You don't often see so many treasures in one place. The history of the brand and the passion for watches breathed from every corner of the building. You can read about the factory visit, including behind-the-scenes photos, in the report written by Bhanu and published on the FliegerFriday website here: https://fliegerfriday.com/flieger-friday-the-aristo-vollmer-treasure-hunt/
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