When it comes to using bits of historical aviation equipment in the physical construction of a watch, it would seem Bremont has some competition, and from Germany no less. We have showed you watches from Bavaria Crono in the past and today’s watch features a handmade dial which uses original metal from the last known Fock-Wulf FW 200 Condor. The Condor was a very advanced (for its time) commercial airplane and is known for being the first airplane to travel from Berlin to New York without stopping.
The Bavarian Crono Aviator´s Focke-Wulf FW 200 is a 46mm stainless steel watch powered by a lightly-decorated ETA 6498 hand wound movement. Along with sporting original metal from an actual FW 200 Condor, the FW 200 watch features a hand design which is similar to that seen in the gauges of the original plane and the hands, minute and chapter markings have been fully lumed for low-light legibility. The dial is protected by a sapphire crystal while the display case back employs a mineral crystal to allow a view of the internals.
The Bavarian Crono Focke-Wulf FW 200 is limited to only 500 units selling for 1990€ each (~$2400 USD). A portion of the proceeds will be used to support the restoration of the original plane, which was salvaged in 1999 and has been in various phases of restoration since 2003. Even with the bits vintage plane used in the dial, the FW 200 seem really expensive to me, especially given its ETA 6498 movement. Hand wound pilot’s watches are not exactly in short supply and I feel that while the Bavarian Crono FW 200 is an interesting and attractive spin on the Flieger design, I also feel that its success will be limited by its lofty price tag.