Stowa

Who are Stowa?

Stowa is a German watch company based in Pforzheim, founded in 1927 by Walter Storz in Hornberg, in the Black Forest’s Kinzig valley (Stowa). Its name comes from the first letters of his surname and first name (Wikipedia). It describes itself as a maker of pilot’s and marine watches (Stowa) and is also known for its Bauhaus-style Antea. Since 1 July 2021 it has been part of Tempus Arte GmbH & Co. KG (Stowa). This page covers its history, collections and ownership, then what to check when buying a second-hand Stowa in the UK.

Stowa sells most of its watches directly to customers, a model it adopted around 2001–02 (Wikipedia).

The history of Stowa

Stowa’s history runs from a Black Forest start in 1927, through pilot’s and marine watches made in Pforzheim before and during the Second World War, to a revival under Jörg Schauer from 1996 and a new owner in 2021.

The founding. Walter Storz founded Stowa in Hornberg in 1927 and moved the company to Pforzheim in 1935 (Stowa; Wikipedia). It began making watches in the Bauhaus style in 1937 and built its own premises at Bismarckstraße 54 in 1938 (Stowa).

Pilot’s and marine watches. In 1939 Stowa began making marine observation watches and large pilot’s watches, the B-Uhr (Beobachtungsuhr, or observation watch); Wikipedia says it was one of five makers of these watches for the Luftwaffe. These watches are the basis of today’s Flieger and Marine lines, a tradition it shares with other German tool-watch makers such as Sinn in Frankfurt.

After the war. The Bismarckstraße building was destroyed in the bombing of Pforzheim on 23 February 1945, and production restarted in Rheinfelden, near Basel (Stowa; Wikipedia). In 1954 the family founded RUFA, the Rheinfelder Uhrteilefabrik, to make shock absorbers (Stowa). Werner Storz, the founder’s son, joined in 1960 and ran the company until 1996 (Stowa). The name Stowa Seatime was registered in 1963 (Stowa). Walter Storz died in 1974, and that year Stowa joined the Pallas watch cooperative (Wikipedia).

Jörg Schauer. With no successor, Werner Storz sold the brand to Jörg Schauer in 1996 (Stowa). Schauer relaunched the Flieger with a 40mm pilot’s watch limited to 70 pieces for the 70th anniversary in 1997 (Stowa), and began selling most watches directly to customers around 2001–02 (Wikipedia). A new production building with a Stowa Museum was completed in Engelsbrand in 2009 (Stowa). Worn & Wound says Schauer was involved in nearly every part of the business, from design and watchmaking to the online shop and quality control.

Tempus Arte. Since 1 July 2021 Stowa has operated under Tempus Arte (Stowa), a group that also owns the Dresden watchmaker Lang & Heyne and the movement maker Uhren-Werke-Dresden (Atelier de Griff; Worn & Wound). Kevin Müller, who joined Stowa in 2017, has led the brand as general manager since 1 January 2022 (Worn & Wound).

Back to Pforzheim. In 2023 Stowa moved back to Pforzheim, which it describes as a return to its roots, and relaunched the brand with a new logo that revives its vintage “S” (Stowa; Worn & Wound). In 2024 it introduced its own M1 manufacture movement in a Flieger (Stowa). In 2026 it became official timekeeper and watch partner of the FIA World Rally Championship (Wikipedia; Stowa).

What is Stowa known for?

Stowa is known for pilot’s watches based on its wartime B-Uhr, for marine watches, for the Bauhaus-style Antea, and for selling mostly direct.

Flieger. Pilot’s watches are Stowa’s largest line: Kevin Müller told Worn & Wound in 2025 that Flieger models account for roughly 50 to 60 per cent of sales. Stowa’s current Flieger lines include the Classic, Verus, Vintage and Original (Stowa).

Antea. The Antea is Stowa’s Bauhaus-style line, which Stowa traces to its watches of 1937 and Wikipedia to its 1938 Bauhaus watches. In 2015 the designer Hartmut Esslinger reinterpreted the Antea (Stowa). It sits in the same plain, function-first German design tradition as Nomos Glashütte’s watches, though the two brands are unrelated and based in different parts of Germany.

Movements. Most Stowa watches use Swiss movements: Stowa lists the automatic Sellita SW 200, the hand-wound Sellita SW 210, the hand-wound Unitas 6498-1 and the Peseux 7001 (Stowa). Stowa calls its M1 a manufacture movement; its own listings and Worn & Wound say it is based on the Unitas 6498-1 (Stowa; Worn & Wound). Our guide to in-house and outsourced movements explains the difference.

Selling direct. Stowa sells mostly through its own online shop, where it also books services (Stowa; Wikipedia).

Which Stowa collections are there?

Stowa’s current range is grouped into Pilot (Flieger), Marine, Bauhaus (Antea), Fieldwatch, Chronographs, Classic and Sports (Prodiver) (Stowa).

The collections table on this page gives a line on each main family. A few points help when you read listings:

• Which movement. The same Flieger can come with an automatic Sellita, a hand-wound Sellita or Unitas, or the M1 (Stowa). Ask the seller which movement the watch has.
• Model names. Look for the full name, such as Flieger Verus 40 or Marine Classic 36 KS, and the case size, because each family comes in several sizes and versions (Stowa).
• Limited editions. Stowa makes anniversary and limited models, such as the Flieger Verus 40 Vintage 95 Limited and the Prodiver Vintage 95 Limited of 2022 (Stowa). Check the edition details against the papers.
• Pre-1996 watches. Vintage Stowa watches made before Jörg Schauer’s takeover are a different purchase, because Stowa says it cannot repair models built before 1996 (Stowa).

Who owns Stowa?

Stowa is owned by Tempus Arte GmbH & Co. KG, which has run it since 1 July 2021 and is named in Stowa’s legal notice as the operator of the brand (Stowa). Its commercial register entry is in Munich, with Stowa at Rastatter Straße 29 in Pforzheim (Stowa, imprint). Tempus Arte also owns Lang & Heyne and Uhren-Werke-Dresden (Worn & Wound).

From 1996 until 2021 the brand belonged to Jörg Schauer, who took it over from Werner Storz (Stowa; Wikipedia). When the 2021 deal was announced, Schauer said he would stay on as chief executive “for the time being” (Atelier de Griff); Kevin Müller succeeded him as general manager from 1 January 2022 (Worn & Wound). Tempus Arte does not publish its shareholders.

Buying a Stowa watch second-hand in the UK: what to check

Check the age of the watch, because Stowa only repairs models from 1996 on; ask which movement it has and when it was serviced; check the papers; and run a stolen-watch check.

1. Age and repairs. Stowa says it offers repairs for its models built after 1996, and that it cannot repair earlier models because spare parts are no longer available (Stowa). Ask the seller when the watch was made.

2. Movement and servicing. Ask which movement is fitted and when it was last serviced. Stowa recommends servicing mechanical watches every four to five years, and books warranty work, movement overhauls and case refurbishment through its online shop (Stowa). Its service includes new seals and a water-resistance check (Stowa). Our guide on how to care for a mechanical watch covers what a service involves.

3. Warranty. Stowa’s website did not show its warranty length when we checked. Ask the seller whether any warranty remains and for the original invoice.

4. Papers. Ask for the original papers and box, and check that the details match the watch. Our guide to what “full set” means explains what each item proves.

5. Buying from Germany. Stowa is a German brand that sells mostly direct (Wikipedia), so a second-hand Stowa may have been bought new from Germany, and some sellers are abroad. If you buy from a seller outside the UK, import VAT and duty may apply; see our guide to import duty and VAT on watches. Our guide on private sellers and dealers covers the protections that differ.

6. Dive watches and theft. If you plan to swim with a Prodiver, ask when the water resistance was last tested; our guide to water resistance explains what to ask. Before you pay, check the serial number against a stolen-watch register; our stolen-watch check guide lists the UK registers.

For the full process from setting a budget to collecting the watch, see the guide to buying a luxury watch.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Stowa?

Tempus Arte GmbH & Co. KG, since 1 July 2021 (Stowa). Jörg Schauer owned the brand from 1996 to 2021.

Where are Stowa watches made?

Stowa is based in Pforzheim, Germany, where it moved back in 2023 (Stowa).

When was Stowa founded?

In 1927, by Walter Storz in Hornberg (Stowa).

What does Stowa stand for?

It combines the first letters of the founder’s surname and first name, Storz and Walter (Wikipedia).

Did Stowa make watches for the Luftwaffe?

Yes. Wikipedia says Stowa was one of five makers of large pilot’s B-Uhren for the Luftwaffe from 1939.

Does Stowa make its own movements?

Stowa introduced its M1 manufacture movement in 2024 (Stowa); its own listings say it is based on the Unitas 6498-1. Most models use Swiss Sellita or Unitas movements (Stowa).

Can Stowa repair an old Stowa watch?

Stowa says it repairs models built after 1996, but not earlier ones, because spare parts are no longer available (Stowa).

Can I buy Stowa in the UK?

Stowa sells mostly direct through its own online shop (Wikipedia; Stowa). When buying from outside the UK, import VAT and duty may apply.

This page is general information. Watch60 is independent and has no commercial relationship with Stowa or Tempus Arte.

We check the facts on this page against the sources listed, and it is correct to the best of our knowledge as of October 2026. Brands change their warranty, servicing and sales terms, so confirm them with the brand or the seller before you buy.