STOWA Marine Classic 40 Watch Review - A piece of history

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History Behind the Stowa Marine Classic

Today we are going to take a look at a classic and traditional piece produced by German watchmaker STOWA, that being the Marine Classic 40. This watch is based off of the original Marine Observation watches which were utilized dating back to 1939 around the time STOWA opened its' first factory. There were 239 custom
built Observation watches in total built inside wooden boxes for waterproofness and protection. These watches had to be extremely legible, accurate, and were even painted completely with luminous paint. Below, you can see an actual photo of the original STOWA movement which was used - being a beautifully crafted hand wound mechanical masterpiece.

Packaging 2019

Case

The Stowa Marine Classic 40 has a perfect set of dimensions for my aversge 6.5" wrist. The solid steel polished case measures 40MM in diameter and stands 10.3MM tall. It features 20MM lugs and a 48.6MM lug to lug span. It really is the perfect size for todays ever so changing times. While a few years ago larger watches were a bit more standard, it seems now most traditional
companies are sticking to smaller diameters of 42 and under. In terms of finishing, I have never really had a complaint with Stowa - their finishing is very very goos for this pricepoint and definitely sits above other brands I have taken a look at such as Hamilton and Laco. In terms of water resistance, this watch does feature 50 Meters with a screw on caseback ( Classic German Tradition ) and a pull and push circular crown. The watch sits just perfectly across my wrist and rides nicely without any odd positioning at different angles. Another nice standard feature is the Sapphire crystal featured on the front of the watch and the backside for a nice clear view of the STOWA signed Swiss Made ETA 2824 Automatic calibre.

Dial

The white almost enamel looking dial definitely stays true to its lineage with great legibility and large numerals evenly distributed. I must say, this is probably
one of the most legible watches at a quick glance I have owned in a long time. A standard railroad track on the outer portion of the dial completes the look along with a reference triangle above 12:00. The thermal heated blued hands are really quite stunning to look at in the sunlight or at angles. The hands themselves are very long which I do prefer, reaching all the way out to the railroad track for better legibility and precise time telling. It is a rather simple and clean dial , and has always been like that for good reason.

Movement

Now - there are many customizable options abailable with STOWA if you didn't already know. You do have the option of movement, rotor, custom engraving on straps and movements. However, my model contains the standard Swiss Made ETA-2824-2 minus the date wheel. I have much experience with this calibre and it is used widely in the Swiss watchmaking industry as well as the German watchmaking houses. It is a rather robust and trusting movement which contains 25
jewels and beats at 28,800 BPH. This movement also feature hacking and hand winding of course with an average power reserve lasting around 38 Hours. A nice detail on my model is the custom engraving on the Rotor bearing the STOWA branding. Most of these movements are quite accurate when tuned a bit, mine being +5 seconds per day straight from Stowas factory.

Supplied Band

My watch came stock with a very decent quality 20MM genuine cowhide leather band. The strap features a signed Stowa polished steel buckle and a solid yet thin construction topped off with black vertical stitching. Straight out of the box, the strap was basically broken jn already and comfortable. I do appreciate that, and hate when companies use super stiff straps on new watches. The backside is a light tan/white color and features branding embossed deep in the leather. Overall, it is comfortable and gets the job done with quality up to my standards. I dont think changing the strap will be necessary and you should be good to go.

Conclusion

Furthermore, I must say I am definitely pleased with this addition to my collection and to no surprise , I do not have a single piece that looks like this watch. I have always respected the history of true watchmakers such as German brand Stowa and others, and especially when they stay true to their lineage as Stowa most definitely does. I have not ever had a single issue with a timepiece built by them and the quality and finishing has always stood a bit higher than the actual cost. In all honesty, I can say I do recommend this brand to my readers and viewers - and hope one day you can experience them
and enjoy this brand as much as I do.