The story behind the Tutima Flieger Friday Chronograph Limited Edition
Social media is a powerful tool in watch culture, influencing both consumers’ buying choices and companies’ watch creations. The advent of hashtags as an indicator of popularity contributed to the rise, with #fliegerfriday being one of its most popular. The German word for aviator, #fliegerfriday is the hashtag of choice for fans celebrating their love for pilot watches at the end of the work week. Given Tutima’s nearly 80 years of experience with aviation timepieces, the creation of their limited edition Tutima Flieger Friday Chronograph is only fitting, and much welcomed by watch enthusiasts.
Tutima 1941 Flieger Chronograph
Tutima unveiled its first Flieger Chronograph in 1941, and it was the first German two-pusher chronograph movement. It was created in a nickel-plated brass with a screw-down case, and featured luminous numerals and hands, meant for easy legibility in the cockpit and at night. The fluted rotating bezel with a distinctive red reference marker enabled pilots to set precise times. And the large crown ensured that it was easy to operate, even if one was wearing thick aviator gloves. The watch was highly sought after by many, both then and now.
Tutima Classic Flieger 783 Chronograph
Tutime released the first re-issue of the 1941 favourite in the early 1990s. The Classic Flieger 783 Chronograph is a close reproduction in terms of design and mechanics, with the benefits of modern technology and materials. It has remained in production for over two decades.
Tutima Flieger Friday Chronograph Limited Edition
Similar to both the 1941 original and the Classic Flieger 783 Chronograph in diameter, the Tutima Flieger Friday Chronograph sports a 38.5mm satin-finished stainless steel case. The design hallmarks remain consistent and recognisable; the bidirectional, fluted, rotating bezel with the red stripe, large cathedral hands and numerals, subsidiary dial placements, and even the Tutima logo in the same type font.
Similar design and style aside, there are of course updates to the materials and quality, ones that are befitting our current day and time. The original nickel-plated brass case material is replaced with satin-finished stainless steel, with water resistance to 100 meters. The hands and numerals are inlaid with bright green Super-LumiNova, and it is combined with a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating for maximum readability.
The Tutima Flieger Friday Chronograph is powered by a hand-wound ETA Valjoux Caliber 7760, which has been modified by Tutima to offer a modern interpretation of the Caliber 59. The sapphire crystal case back showcases the hand-wound movement and gold-plated Tutima engravings.
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The retro pilot look is completed with a distressed leather strap in saddle brown, with contrasting stitches in dark khaki. Created in a limited edition run of only 25 pieces, each watch is individually numbered and engraved. The watch also comes with a book about Tutima pilot’s watches, and a certificate of authenticity. Shop the Tutima Glashütte Flieger Friday Chronograph Limited Edition here. Available while stocks last.
About Tutima Glashütte
More than 90 years of watch tradition and MANUFACTURE OF THE YEAR 2018: the history of the German brand Tutima began in Glashütte in 1927, where the functional watches were given the signet “Tutima”, which is derived from “tutus”, the Latin word for “secure”. And after decades in Lower Saxony, Glashütte is also where the family business returned in 2011. Alongside highlights such as the legendary pilot’s chronograph from 1941, the Homage Minute Repeater and the Tempostopp, the demand for horological perfection is upheld by the brand’s four model lines: the robust M2, the characteristic Grand Flieger, the classic Patria and the distinctive Saxon One, whose midsize version facilitates entry into the luxury class. Discover more Tutima Glashütte watches here.