Two modern flieger designs using a historical name for Tutima...
Founded in 1927, Tutima has built a well-earned reputation for fine quality timepieces. It may not be a portfolio that every watch collector is fully familiar with but when you consider that German Luftwaffe pilots wear a Tutima M2 on their wrists as standard issue you begin to appreciate that this is a brand worthy of respect.
The New Tutima Grand Flieger Airport - Image Credit: Tutima Glashütte/SA
Originally, located in the German watchmaking enclave of Glashütte, the company has over time moved from Bavaria to Bremen however after the reunification of Germany in 1990, the present owner took the decision to relocate Tutima once again to its spiritual home, Glashütte. Today, the company operates from a modern production facility where both automation and craftsmanship work in parallel to make some of the finest watches in Germany.
The Tutima 2020 catalogue contains not only highly functional watches, but also high-end elegant watches such as the Patria collection, which can command prices as high as £156,000. Superior components such as a gold-plated movement including a Glashütte three-quarter plate and 3 gold chatons further elevate this range. The fitment of a variable-inertia balance gives precision and the Breguet overcoil enhances isochronism.
Grand Flieger Airport Series
2020 saw the release of the new Grand Flieger Airport in both Chronograph and three hand models. This range harks back to the original Tutima pilot range from the 1940s and has embraced supreme legibility as a design concept which is an invaluable tool for the regular traveller who does not want to miss connections.
The New Tutima Grand Flieger Airport - Image Credit: Tutima Glashütte/SA
New contemporary dial colours in Dégradé Green or Classic Blue and unmistakable aviation DNA make this a highly distinctive line. External specifications include a bidirectional ceramic bezel with a red marking point, anti-reflective sapphire crystal on both sides of the case allowing full view of the handsome movement, and a highly resistant Cordura textile strap secured by a stainless steel deployment clasp.
The bold white hands of the Grand Flieger Airport range are powered by Tutima’s self-winding chronograph Calibre 310 (base Valjoux 7750) or the non-chrono Calibre 330 (base ETA 2836-2), with a distinctive gold seal on the rotor and 25 jewels. The chronograph 310 movement powers counters for 12 elapsed hours, 60 elapsed seconds and 30 elapsed minutes.
With both models being water-resistant to 200m the new Airport range offers a highly practical watch which can be worn on any voyage and will appeal to buyers who prefer to travel with as single watch and are seeking that elusive one-stop-shop model; the perfect travel and business partner, smart enough for an evening and robust enough for outdoor exploring.
The New Tutima Grand Flieger Airport - Image Credit: Tutima Glashütte/SA
Specifications:
Case width: 43mm both models
Thickness: 16mm with calibre 310, 13mm with 330
Movement: Tutima calibres 310 (chrono) and 330 (non-chrono)
Functions: Both variants day/date. Chrono counters for 12 elapsed hours, 60 elapsed seconds and 30 elapsed minutes
Power reserve: 48 hours chrono, 38 hours non-chrono
Case: Stainless steel
Water-resistance: 200m
Dial: Dégradé Green or Blue
Strap: Cordura textile with deployment clasp or stainless-steel bracelet
Price: From £1,690 to £3,690 depending on spec
Availability: Now
First Impressions
It is rare to find a hand-crafted timepiece which fulfils the brief of a truly holistic watch which you can use almost anywhere. The Grand Flieger Airport in either chrono or non-chrono could possibly be it. The style is pristine and clear, and it is hard to find fault with the symmetry and visual impact. For an older classic brand with some very traditional designs, this watch is a modern take on a timepiece they have successfully made since the 1940s. With a militaristic (almost field watch) look the Airport really enhances the Tutima portfolio and we eagerly look forward to our first sample for a review.
Click here to find out more about Tutima and their new Airport models.
