Of the many noteworthy World War II watches, there have been few, if any, designs that have become more recognizable and influential than the original B-Uhr  (Beobachtungs-Uhren, or observation watch) pilots’ watch of the 1940s. Excluding this general style as a whole, still seen in watches from historical companies IWC, Laco, and Stowa, among others, the individual components of the design like the wide sword hands, focus on readability, large case, and crown, and the importance of anti-magnetism remain as relevant features on many watches today as almost eighty years ago.

Yet this style wasn?t formed in a vacuum, nor was it the only style of watch the German Luftwaffe was commissioning for its pilots during wartime. Often forgotten as an important manufacturer before and during the war years is Glashütte-based Tutima, which was actually two separate brands during that era, Uhren-Rohwerke-Fabrik Glashütte AG (UROFA) and Uhrenfabrik Glashütte AG (UFAG), though they are commonly referred to as UROFA-UFAG. The brands, led by their founder Dr. Ernst Kurtz since 1927, began producing the first German two-pusher flyback chronograph movement (the Calibre 59) in 1939, featured inside what is now known as the Tutima Flieger Chronograph.
This original watch had a nickel-plated brass case, prominent crowns and pushers, coin-edge rotating bezel, cathedral style hands, and a highly-legible black and white dial. While Tutima wasn?t an official brand, each of the watches pr...