Aristo Flieger Chrono Retro Design – 3H243-VL

Classic look with a vintage case

While Aristo offers dress watches and diving watches, pilot watches likely constitute a significant portion of its production. And it's no wonder. The company has been manufacturing pilot watches with the Aristo logo on the dial for over 100 years. We have selected a watch for you that has something extra. Something that makes Aristo watches worth considering, at the very least.

Technical details:

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 1970s – 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 winding Lemania 5100 movement. These watches were also used by the German Air Force in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. It was originally manufactured by Orfina, then by IWC and Eterna.

Similarly to Porsche Design, Helmut Sinn designed the popular Sinn 144 model, which still remains in the Sinn brand catalog today.

It is also interesting to note that Aristo and Helmut Sinn had a friendly relationship and even shared some parts, such as watch cases. Aristo historically produced matte, dark sandblasted 40.5 mm stainless steel cases. However, these cases had not been used until now. Now, a change has occurred. 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 turned counter-clockwise in one direction. The crown protector and chronograph pushers are ergonomically designed and give a Top Gun vibe from the 1980s. The watch is complemented by a matching mesh bracelet made at the factory in Pforzheim, or, like this model, on 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, for example, historical cases or movements. All watches are assembled in the company's workshops in Pforzheim, Germany. The quality of craftsmanship is first-rate. Yet, the price remains at a very favorable level. The same applies to the steel mesh bracelet – the so-called Milanese strap. That 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 Julius Epple KG in Pforzheim, Germany, one of the cradles of German watchmaking. At that time, the company focused on manufacturing watches and watch cases. In 1934, Julius Epple took the Rohwerkfabrik Maurer & Reiling company under his wing, and from then on, the company also began manufacturing its own manual-winding movement known as 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), the grandson of the founder of the Vollmer steel bracelet factory (Vollmer, Evvo, New Line), which was founded in 1922 and maintained business relations with Aristo as early as 1927.

Innovation

Under Hansjörg's leadership, the brand continues to focus on innovation in addition to manufacturing models typical of Aristo. For example, in 2004, Aristo introduced the first watches with a carbon case and a carbon dial, establishing the brand as a pioneer in working with carbon as a material in the watchmaking industry.

Visiting the Manufacture

In July 2019, we had the opportunity to visit the Aristo factory in person. Although we suspected it would be an interesting visit, the reality far exceeded our expectations. It was truly an amazing experience. Such a treasure trove in one place is indeed a rare sight. The history of the brand and the passion for watches emanated 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/