Type A and Type B Pilot Watch Dials
What makes these iconic staples of watchmaking unique and how their historical significance drives contemporary design.
While knowing the time is a luxury on land, when humans journey to environments they werenever intended for, it becomes a lifeline. Navigation was hampered by the longitude problem —timekeeping devices simply weren’t accurate enough for anyone to navigate east-westaccurately, a major issue plaguing sailors for centuries. John Harrison’s marine chronometersolved this problem, and the technological advancements that followed benefited the nascentaviation industry by the early twentieth century.
What was and was not needed was constantly evaluated and discovered as brave individualsput their lives on the line inside airframes of wood and linen strapped to air-cooled engines.Some of the earliest toolwatches were devised to help these pilots keep accurate time in achallenging environment — early aircraft were often cramped spaces, subject to starktemperature swings and meteorological activity. They were not a place for a delicate timepiece.Despite their modern image, jewelry magnate Cartier was one of the first to enter the fray. LouisCartier’s friend, Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, had complained of there being nopractical way of telling time while in the cockpit. In 1904, Louis Cartier presented him with aspecially designed wristwatch — considered the first purpose-built one for men — that becamea standard production design in 1911. While the resulting Santos watch did not necessarilystrongly influence subsequent pilot watch design, the Santos set a new standard instead: thesports watch.
A few years later, United States Navy Lieutenant Commander Philip Van Horn Weems thoughthe had a better system for navigation. Existing methods, though proven, were either toocumbersome to be achieved by a solo pilot (see Lindbergh’s use of dead reckoning) or facedserious risks of being interrupted by events (see also Lindbergh’s use of dead reckoning).
Weems’ goal was to simplify obtaining a fix using celestial navigation. Though around inprinciple for over a century by this point, it was such a convoluted practice that no one botheredto use it. He succeeded, and his former student Charles Lindbergh worked with Longines todevelop a watch incorporating his principles to aid in navigation that was launched in the 1930s.
CONTEMPORARY PILOT WATCHES
By the 1940s, the pilot’s watch was well established as a tool for both military and civilianaviators. Governments and supply boards began establishing criteria for watches to be issuedto their aviators. The resulting watches have often become icons. If one has spent any timesearching for pilot’s watches, the phrases “Flieger,” “Type A,” and “Type B” have likely shownup. These trace their lineage to German military aviators of the Second World War — “Flieger” isthe German word for “flier” (the preferred term for pilot auf Deutsch), while “Type A” and “TypeB” refer to specific dial configurations.
Fliegers were originally produced by five manufacturers for the German Luftwaffe: A. Lange &Söhne, Laco (the Lacher & Co), Stowa (then Walter Storz), Wempe (then ChronometerwerkeHamburg), and IWC. All were designed around the Reichsluftministerien (Imperial Air Ministry)standard for Beobachtungs-Uhren, observation watches, or B-Uhr.
Part of that B-Uhr standard was a 55mm nickel-plated brass or steel case in a brushed finish,often fitted with a pocket watch movement. Certain manufacturers also included an iron cage toensure that the movements would not be impacted by magnetism. The large size was to ensurelegibility at a glance — no time should be wasted trying to read the wristwatch — while thepocket watch movements led to greater accuracy and included a hacking feature. These werefitted with a large onion-shaped crown. This meant that pilots would be able to grip it to adjustthe time without taking off their leather gloves; cockpits were unpressurized, and the thickgloves were required to maintain warmth.The iconic long, riveted leather straps — a staple of the Flieger to this day — were designed to be worn over thick shearling flight jackets worn byaircrews.
The Type A, or Baumuster A if you like, is marked by its matte-black dial, punctuated with a thickminute track and Arabic numerals, and a triangle and two dots orienting it at 12:00. Lumedsword hands provide the time at a quick glance. It’s the most classic of the two variations andthe most versatile today. But by 1941, a new standard was introduced to further aid aviators.
The Type B configuration flipped the A’s emphasis on hours on its head and relegated them to asubsidiary ring around the center of the dial. This allowed for a large outer 0-60 scale to beadded to simplify accurate reading of the minutes. Of the two, the Type B has become the mosticonic configuration of the Teutonic legend.
During the war, these watches allowed German pilots and navigators to effectively track theircourses in the skies. Though seemingly destined for obscurity in the years following the war,Flieger watches have instead experienced a sort of perennial appeal to watch enthusiasts. Theirstark, legible designs and military background render them a popular choice, offering a uniquestyle amongst other vintage-inspired designs. Even though their use as bona fide tools hasdiminished over the following century, the Flieger still represents an iconic tool watch deservingof a place in any enthusiast’s collection.
While a relatively narrow subset of the broader pilot genre, Fliegers are an important milestonein the history of aviation watches. Their rugged minimalism, uber legibility (if you’ll pardon thepun), and toolish nature have cemented their reputation as iconic — and versatile — watchesthat still appeal to enthusiasts today. And if you’re looking to get into one, we hope this quickguide to Type A and Type B Fliegers helps as you make your way on your journey.
To see more of our favorite Flieger watches, head over to the Windup Watch Shop. As always,the Windup Watch Team is available via consultation to answer any questions you have. Inaddition, many of the products shown are eligible for free domestic shipping across the US.
