Based on the historical Flieger watch – which Stowa has been making since the late 1930s – a new variant of the Ikarus model has been released which improves on that classic sports watch.

Stowa, the German brand known for its equally German Bauhaus design influences, has been successfully producing Flieger (aviator) watches since 1939. The Ikarus variant of its aviator line is not entirely new; it has been in production and on the market for about 15 years. Now, Stowa has taken what has already been proven to work – not only on the wrist but also on the market – and released a new and improved model.

Most obvious is the slight change in tone of the watch, as this new model sports a military-like gray colour tone through galvanisation . The designers have also added a date display to the dial and a fine matt finish to the surface.

But the real improvements are beyond the superficial. The new Ikarus model comes in Stowa’s new 43 mm case, which boasts extreme water-proofness (up to 200 meters) and high shock resistance. The advanced level of protection is achieved by the so-called TESTAF technology, which provides the Swiss-made automatic movement excellent protection against shocks and vibrations.

This standard was developed in cooperation watch producers, defining qualitative, optical and haptic conditions which a Flieger watch must have. And just in case those rigorous criteria were not enough, the Ikarus comes with a special, thick sapphire glass on both the front and back of the watch, for added protection.

Apart from those improvements, time-tested Stowa components were also incorporated in this watch. They include extremely light-intensive dials filled with Superluminova, and luminous numbers and indices to maximize visibility. Coming with either a sporty rubber or a more classic leather strap, the new sport watch offering by Stowa comes in at a reasonable price point of just over 1000 euros.

As expected form German design, everything is precisely in order with this wristwatch. The only other thing that intrigues me is the selection of the name for this model. Ikarus, as you might know, was an important figure of Greek mythology.

As the story goes, Icarus and his father attempt to escape from Crete by using wings that his father made from feathers and wax. Icarus’s father warned his son about the dangers of flying either too high – where the sun’s heat would melt the wax – or too low, where the mist of the sea would weigh down and clog the wings. Not heeding his father’s advice, Ikarus flew too high, and the sun’s heat melted his wings and he plummeted into the sea.

The tale of Ikarus is a classic example of hubris. But this watch by no means displays hubris. Rather it flies right in that golden middle ground, just like Ikarus’ father suggested.