The blue dial trend has been popular for several decades, but it appears to be peaking currently. At the watch shows, blue color dials are featured alongside traditional white and black dials. The same applies to brand boutiques, where blue dial is marketed as the “boutique edition”. It was only natural that this trend was embraced by flieger manufacturers. Blue dials give the fliegers a fresh look and make them more versatile as a casual dress watch.
We selected the top five flieger watches which have blue dial that made us want to say, “Please take my money!”. The beauty of these blue color dial is that they come in various shades, textures, and finishes. In our top five list there is sky blue, electric blue, and midnight blue colors. Some of the selected watches are limited editions, so they may be sold already as you read this article.
Sinn 103 A Sa B
This Sinn flieger chronograph was release in Baselworld earlier this year. This watch is not only photogenic, but also a stunner in-person. This watch has a blue dial with a sunray pattern, anodized aluminum blue bezel with lume-filled triangle, ivory (between white and green) lumed hands, and a domed sapphire crystal to give it the vintage appearance.
This is the first-time Sinn has used sunray pattern and anodized aluminum bezel. The sapphire crystal glass is ground out from an approximately 5 mm solid blank with five different curvature radii, and carefully polished afterwards.
The 103 Sa B E is limited to 500 pieces, which is displayed on the rotor with engraving ‘Eine von 500’ (One of 500). 103 Sa BE is $2,950 USD on bracelet.
Archimede Pilot 42 BL
Archimede offers a blue dial that is not only unique shade of blue, but when combined with a bronze case, it sets the Pilot 42 apart from any other blue flieger. This is much deeper and richer blue, like Namiki Iroshozuku Kon Peki (Deep Cerulean Blue) fountain pen ink.
The bronze case makes the blue dial appear much warmer. The case is manufactured by Ickler, who has been manufacturing cases for decades in Pforzheim, Germany. Pilot 42 BL comes in two configurations – Automatic with date and logo, and Hand Winding without logo on the dial.
Along with the striking blue dial, Archimede offers two very modern flieger leather straps – one in blue leather with white stitching and bronze rivets and Bronze buckle, and the other in black leather with blue stitching and bronze rivets and bronze buckle.
Archimede Pilot 42 BL Automatic starts at EUR 660 (including VAT), EUR 554 (without VAT), and Manual Hand Winding costs EUR 720 (including VAT), EUR 605 (without VAT).
Stowa Flieger Blue Limited
Stowa collaborated WatchTime online publication on a limited edition flieger with blue dial. On the forum, this watch is also known as IWC (Le Petit Prince) killer because Stowa offers a high-quality watch for a fraction of price you would pay for an IWC pilots watch.
The watch has a blue dial that is electroplated and has a sunburst finish. The dial is manufactured in the Glashuette Original dial factory in Pforzheim. Stowa offers “Top”-grade ETA 2824-2 movement with edition number (1 to 100) engraved on the rotor, rhodium plating and blued screws, domed sapphire crystal, heated steel-blued hands with Superluminova coating, and 40mm matt finished case made by Fricker (also based in Pforzheim).
Stowa Flieger Blue comes on a tan leather strap and the price is EUR 980 (including VAT).
IWC Mark XVIII “Le Petit Prince”
The Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition “Le Petit Prince” is a special edition watch dedicated to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s little prince. The watch has a midnight blue dial with a sunray pattern. The trademark of an IWC flieger is the soft-iron inner case which shields against the influence of magnetic fields.
The watch is powered by ETA 2892-A2 made to IWC’s specification. The movement has central hacking seconds. The date at 3’o clock has a white date field which fits in well with the white luminous hands, numbers, and minute markers. The sapphire crystal has anti-reflective coating on both sides to make the dial ultra-legible.
Mark XVIII “Le Petit Prince” comes on a handsome brown calfskin strap with cream colored quilted stitching made by famous Italian shoemaker, Santoni. The price of the watch is $3,950 USD.
Laco Augsburg Blaue Stunde
Laco has expanded their Augsburg series with a bright blue dial with nice sunray pattern. The watch is available in both Baumuster Type A and Type B dial configuration, and with either 42mm or 39mm case. All four variations have the Miyota 821 A automatic movement.
Laco does a great job in maintaining the vintage flieger look with their sandblasted stainless steel case. The slightly-domed sapphire crystal makes the dial perfectly legible. The legibility is enhanced for day and night with the generous coat of Superluminova on black hands, triangle at 12’o clock, the hour numbers, and minute markers.
The Augsburg Blaue Stunde is complemented with a light grey nylon strap. All four variations of the Laco watch is priced at $410 USD.
Picture credit: Scott Sitkiewitz and the respective watch brands