As a long time pilot (over 50 years now,) I've been through a bunch of watches trying to find a good balance for readability, comfort, weight, and lume. I've owned quite a few in that search. Last month I bought an Aristo from Marc, the one in this video. It checked all the boxes. The grade 5 titanium is wonderful. The watch reads very easily day or night. The lume is very good. And the size is just about perfect, fitting under flight suit sleeves and jacket cuffs without much difficulty. Since I've had the Aristo, watches I own that cost four or five times the Aristo's price have been gathering dust. The Sellita SW-200 movement in my Aristo has been accurate within a second or two every day. For under $500, it's one heck of a bargain!
Unless im buying something in the $5000 range which ive only done once, i buy for what appeals to me, not just history. Even Rolex was new kid on the block at one point.
I was considering those but For the price & specs I decided to buy the Islander 84 & isl 16. I made a Great decision & I Really Love both of them. Excellent job !
The Laco is beautiful, with the blue dial and the blasted finish, plus the grey nylon strap, it just works. Just bought a dive watch, but I'm still looking forward for your diver!
Today I purchased the blue dial 47mm Aristo Flieger (I have an 8.25" wrist) can't wait! I do already have 2 of Mark's Fliegers and love them, but it's time to level up! Enjoy!!
The best kept secret! I have the Vollmer titanium flieger as well as an Aristo carbon fiber model - they’ve held up very well over the years, and the customer service is great. Glad to see Aristo in the “lume light.”
Both great looking Watches in a more Comfortable size. I think the larger Pilots watches are more like Pocket watches. The lack of Bezel makes them look larger than they are in my opinion.
I bought an Aristo type B flieger from Mark a while back (I got the 3H80 Ronda quartz movement - not titanium) - fantastic lovely watch that will tide me over nicely until I get a Laco or Stowa. From what I've seen Messerschmitt also makes some nice and very interesting fliegers.
I have the discontinued Aristo Officer's watch on a bund strap and it's a great value for the money. Well regulated, mine stays at 0 worn the entire day and if placed in a certain angle in the watch box stays at 0 as well when I wake up in the morning. It's a no date watch though unfortunately has a ghost date position (I bought it around the time I started collecting). I would like to see a no date version of this Aristo flieger and if they can get rid of that ghost date position for a little more money, I'm in! Bracelet options would be the bee's knees!
I have 1 of those Lacos. It is a trully beautiful dial. They do make those with a different movement. I think its a miyota 9015 or some 90xx variation.
Thanks for sharing Marc, that Aristo watch is a great discovery (for me anyways). As for that Laco, I was hesitating to get it but I elected to get your Islander Aviator (B-Dial - ISL-17) - Which provides a great bang for your buck nonetheless (and I would have gone crazy with the Laco's ghost clicks 😖 ) No German watch in my roster just yet but I hope to get a Nomos as my first German version ($$$) ... oh well 🤷🏼♂
@@violinmke I also wear a different watch every day so fair point on the daily maintenance. I just treat it as part of the daily process of winding or restarting the automatics and resetting the time.
Thx for review! Beautiful watches both. Personally, I have Laco Aachen 42, 18cm wrist. I believe that pilot/observation watch should be at least this size. But sure, it really depends on the actual wrist size, recent fashion, etc. As a field watch, I have new Seiko SRPG35 which has diameter around 39.5 and as for field watch the smaller size is more practical in my opinion. Cheers,
I would agree that these are, but you have already showed us the Islander 39mm aviator that has yet to be released, and that will give both of these options some competition! 😄
I've owned a couple of automatic watches, and to be honest got a bit tired of the hassle and expense of maintaining and fixing them - my Fortis Spacematic with ETA 2893-2 just stopped again and the UTC hand keeps going out of sync. I wish I could find a classic flieger style watch but with a high quality quartz movement and sapphire crystal - they seem to be very thin on the ground. Years ago I owned a Kienzle flieger with a quartz movement which I loved, until I lost it in the sea. So how about it, Island watch - a classic Flieger with a quartz movement? That Aristo has got me thinking though...
Nice watches. But it's difficult to sell a pilot watch nowadays for anything even close to $500. In my case I really wasn't sure if I liked the flieger design and before spending a lot, I got a 39mm green "A" style dial brushed stainless steel Addies pilot watch with an NH35 movement with date on a NATO strap, + 7spd.....great lume, signed crown, engraved back, 200m water resistance.... for $70. I've had it 6 months now, and 1. I've decided I do indeed like pilot watches, and 2. I'm very happy with the quality, time keeping, and lume, and I don't need to spend any money buying another one because of a movement.
40mm Islander diver…Marc, you're killin' me: I'm awfully close to pulling the proverbial trigger on your "Spork" (and I might do it, anyway), but you keep popping up with other tantalizing stuff! (Can't *exactly* complain, of course…) BUT…the Aristo…yes, it's awfully good.
@@islandwatch I'm presuming you knew where I was going with this question. Looking at what I wrote, I just noticed that the dots I placed on both sides of the 🔼 for the A-Flieger did not stay 😒 after posting.
Sooo … when the back of the Aristo was shown, the automatic rotor with its section where it says “Swiss Made” stopped for a moment right where it says “Made in Germany” on the case back. Shouldn’t it say “Assembled in Germany from domestic and foreign components”? Hmmmm …..
@@islandwatch Lol thanks, I suspected it to be 38.5 but my ears definitely heard 30.5 several times in a row! 😂 Thanks for the video, great-looking watches!
The gloss paint looks like an oil accident. I wouldnt buy the Aristo for that money i suppose . Id rather pay 150$ for the San Martin Flieger and save to get a STOWA or Laco later on
One of the founder’s name was Lacher that’s where the La comes from and there was a companion so here’s the co (Lacher & Co). But “Lacher” in German means ‘laugh’ so that would have not sold well in Germany so Laco was a better choice.
As a long time pilot (over 50 years now,) I've been through a bunch of watches trying to find a good balance for readability, comfort, weight, and lume. I've owned quite a few in that search. Last month I bought an Aristo from Marc, the one in this video. It checked all the boxes. The grade 5 titanium is wonderful. The watch reads very easily day or night. The lume is very good. And the size is just about perfect, fitting under flight suit sleeves and jacket cuffs without much difficulty. Since I've had the Aristo, watches I own that cost four or five times the Aristo's price have been gathering dust. The Sellita SW-200 movement in my Aristo has been accurate within a second or two every day. For under $500, it's one heck of a bargain!
SW200 for under $500 with exhibition case, titanium case, sapphire crystal, under 40mm... Aristo take my money
Yup!
Mark, thank you for mentioning the weight of the watch. Very much appreciated.
Bought that Aristo last year, it's so great!!!! That leather strap is THE BEST I've ever felt.
Great to hear!
For the price, I'd prefer Laco which has the history. I dream of owning a Stowa for an extra 4-500.
Cool, thanks.
Unless im buying something in the $5000 range which ive only done once, i buy for what appeals to me, not just history. Even Rolex was new kid on the block at one point.
I have the Laco Aachen 39 in blue. That dial is beautiful and the lume is amazing.
I was considering those but For the price & specs I decided to buy the Islander 84 & isl 16. I made a Great decision & I Really Love both of them. Excellent job !
LOL. I cannot argue with you!
The Laco is beautiful, with the blue dial and the blasted finish, plus the grey nylon strap, it just works.
Just bought a dive watch, but I'm still looking forward for your diver!
Thanks for sharing!
I love the "I 💓 Islander" above the Instagram counter.
The laco's 18mm strap make the watch look like a bobblehead.
LOL. Thank you.
@@islandwatch my pleasure. 😉
I like that Aristo but I don't want to be distracted from saving for a Longines Spirit.
Aristo is a much classier looking watch and is the clear winner of the two for me personally.
Okay, thanks for the input!
Both are very nice but I have to lean more towards the Aristo. Thanks for sharing them Marc and have a great day!! 👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸
Thanks, you too!
Both really nice watches. I really like the dial on the Laco but the Aristo is a great package for the price.
Yes. A true bargain.
Show us that quartz 40mm Islander Diver (guessing but you've hinted before)!
Not yet!
@@islandwatch Just one little reveal: Quartz or auto?
Today I purchased the blue dial 47mm Aristo Flieger (I have an 8.25" wrist) can't wait! I do already have 2 of Mark's Fliegers and love them, but it's time to level up! Enjoy!!
I have the B-dial variant islander in black DLC and it's everything I ever needed
Cool, thanks!
Love the variety you offer! Keep it up Marc!
More to come!
The best kept secret! I have the Vollmer titanium flieger as well as an Aristo carbon fiber model - they’ve held up very well over the years, and the customer service is great. Glad to see Aristo in the “lume light.”
Thanks for sharing!
I have a Laco but that Aristo looks really nice. I'll have to put that on my radar now. Thank you Marc
Thanks so much.
Both great looking Watches in a more Comfortable size.
I think the larger Pilots watches are more like Pocket watches. The lack of Bezel makes them look larger than they are in my opinion.
For sure it does.
It's hard to apply lume evenly to non-frame hands so you usually see that only on more expensive German watches like Sinn and Damasko.
Very difficult.
I have the Laco, but with upgraded Miyota 8315 movement. I was curious about Aristo, seems like a great value for a watch
I bought an Aristo type B flieger from Mark a while back (I got the 3H80 Ronda quartz movement - not titanium) - fantastic lovely watch that will tide me over nicely until I get a Laco or Stowa.
From what I've seen Messerschmitt also makes some nice and very interesting fliegers.
Thanks for watching!
@@islandwatch always informative and enjoyable as are your collabs with TGV.
I have the discontinued Aristo Officer's watch on a bund strap and it's a great value for the money. Well regulated, mine stays at 0 worn the entire day and if placed in a certain angle in the watch box stays at 0 as well when I wake up in the morning. It's a no date watch though unfortunately has a ghost date position (I bought it around the time I started collecting).
I would like to see a no date version of this Aristo flieger and if they can get rid of that ghost date position for a little more money, I'm in! Bracelet options would be the bee's knees!
Nice to see the hour hand inside the inner circle unlike most cheap micro brand watches
I do it that way too; just my choice.
I also prefer that in a type b flieger.
Great video man, that Laco is ❤️ can’t wait to see the new Islander!
Thanks Miguel!
I liked the Aristo at first but on wrist the Laco steals. Both nice looking watches.
Love the Dial on the Laco.
I have 1 of those Lacos. It is a trully beautiful dial. They do make those with a different movement. I think its a miyota 9015 or some 90xx variation.
Interesting, thanks.
Thanks for sharing Marc, that Aristo watch is a great discovery (for me anyways).
As for that Laco, I was hesitating to get it but I elected to get your Islander Aviator (B-Dial - ISL-17) - Which provides a great bang for your buck nonetheless (and I would have gone crazy with the Laco's ghost clicks 😖 )
No German watch in my roster just yet but I hope to get a Nomos as my first German version ($$$) ... oh well 🤷🏼♂
Why do people hate on dates? I use my watch to check the date at least once a day; so useful.
I guess its ruins dial symmetry.
I dont wear the same watch regularily. So each time, I have to fart with the date which isn't always quick set unlike the time.
@@violinmke I also wear a different watch every day so fair point on the daily maintenance. I just treat it as part of the daily process of winding or restarting the automatics and resetting the time.
On paper I like the Aristo, but on your wrist the Laco stands out. Beautiful blue dial. Too bad it isn’t titanium and a little thinner.
You say 38mm so fast that even I, as a native speaker, had to rehear it a few times. lol.
a monster Islander!
:)
Thx for review!
Beautiful watches both. Personally, I have Laco Aachen 42, 18cm wrist. I believe that pilot/observation watch should be at least this size. But sure, it really depends on the actual wrist size, recent fashion, etc.
As a field watch, I have new Seiko SRPG35 which has diameter around 39.5 and as for field watch the smaller size is more practical in my opinion.
Cheers,
Thanks for sharing!
I would agree that these are, but you have already showed us the Islander 39mm aviator that has yet to be released, and that will give both of these options some competition! 😄
LOL. Thank you
@@islandwatch Also, I am really curious about that new diver. 😄
I would prefer the Laco 39 Augsburg with A type dial. Looks just fantastic.
Thanks!
Like the Aristo but the date just kills it for me.
I understand!
I preffer screwdown crown vs better lume.. so Aristo is a clear winner here
Thanks Neil.
40mm diver!! can u plz tell me more about it?
Nope. Not yet!
Damnit, I'm really curious to see what it is.
40mm seems to be the perfect size for a diver's watch. Not too big, not too small.
I have a Laco with the Myota movement. Rotor is really loud. Otherwise good watch
Crystals like portholes on a ship?😂
You just described the standard Invicta 😲🤯
I really shouldn't poke fun since I own a few that I really like 🤔🤓
LOL
I like the idea of using a H link bracelet
Thank you.
Between Typ A i B I would always choose A (aging eyes, prefer clean dials), but you are right, that date is an abomination.
;)
I opt for the Laco with the A dial in blue. Best regards from Augsburg.
Cool watch
thanks Marc - but I ment the town.
I really like the Laco, but I'm happy with my ISL-81 :)
Noted!
I've owned a couple of automatic watches, and to be honest got a bit tired of the hassle and expense of maintaining and fixing them - my Fortis Spacematic with ETA 2893-2 just stopped again and the UTC hand keeps going out of sync. I wish I could find a classic flieger style watch but with a high quality quartz movement and sapphire crystal - they seem to be very thin on the ground. Years ago I owned a Kienzle flieger with a quartz movement which I loved, until I lost it in the sea. So how about it, Island watch - a classic Flieger with a quartz movement? That Aristo has got me thinking though...
Nice watches. But it's difficult to sell a pilot watch nowadays for anything even close to $500. In my case I really wasn't sure if I liked the flieger design and before spending a lot, I got a 39mm green "A" style dial brushed stainless steel Addies pilot watch with an NH35 movement with date on a NATO strap, + 7spd.....great lume, signed crown, engraved back, 200m water resistance.... for $70. I've had it 6 months now, and 1. I've decided I do indeed like pilot watches, and 2. I'm very happy with the quality, time keeping, and lume, and I don't need to spend any money buying another one because of a movement.
I get it, thanks for commenting.
Did you buy a San Martin or an Escapement time from aliexpress? Just curious.
40mm Islander diver…Marc, you're killin' me: I'm awfully close to pulling the proverbial trigger on your "Spork" (and I might do it, anyway), but you keep popping up with other tantalizing stuff! (Can't *exactly* complain, of course…)
BUT…the Aristo…yes, it's awfully good.
Sorry about that!
I may be in the minority, but I like my watches to come with a date complication.⌚✌🏽
No worries!
You're not in the minority.
Definitely not alone in that!
Dates do not belong on a Flieger. There’s plenty of other watches that have it.
@@Bob_Smith19 Sure they do. There is only one universal truth, and that is "Disco Sucks". Everything else is personal preference.
The teasers!! Nice watches too. I'm tending to like more in the 39-41 range lately rather than 42-44.
Thanks Carlo
What a tease of an episode. A damasko no one can get and a secret Islander lol.
Ha!
I've been eyeing up Damasko dk32 which is lovely watch but now 1600 euros / £1450. Looking at these value for money beauties I'm reconsidering...
True. They are getting pricey!
Bellos!if could would buy both. Imagine youn like the blue
You know me!
which series is that laco
Man… I hope that Islander is a GMT
Not this one
Have you ever done a Watch & Learn on why the Flieger A has the *🔼* and the Type B only has the 🔼?
sort of, but I wasn't really to get a straight answer
@@islandwatch I'm presuming you knew where I was going with this question. Looking at what I wrote, I just noticed that the dots I placed on both sides of the 🔼 for the A-Flieger did not stay 😒 after posting.
Nice!
Thanks!
if i was in the market for an aviator I'd go with an ISL-45, 46, or 81. But that's just me
I like the readability of B dial, but not the history it comes with. Good lume through, not very often you see a watch with a fully lumed second hand.
Amazing lume!
Sooo … when the back of the Aristo was shown, the automatic rotor with its section where it says “Swiss Made” stopped for a moment right where it says “Made in Germany” on the case back. Shouldn’t it say “Assembled in Germany from domestic and foreign components”? Hmmmm …..
No, they aren't like the FTC
Nice! Juss Hold On......Amma go gemme a Pilot's License and BRB!
Do it!
@@islandwatch
Ahhhh...ummmm they gave me a Learner's Permit aka A Tricyle with Kite attached on the back. Will that be acceptable 😂
I can't undertand you when you say the case diameter.It's like thirty bla bla bla mil.It is so funy LOL
I'm in the market for a pilot's watch and the Aristo is tempting, but the date really sticks out. Does Aristo offer the same model sans the date?
I wonder if you could do a black date wheel mod. Then again having to mod a $500 watch that you literally just bought isn't the greatest feeling ever.
Not that I've seen. But probably would be a strong seller.
Dekla?
More than $500 but you spec it out how you want.
@@Bob_Smith19 You can get it at 500 with the basic customizations. I think it's the best value flieger for that price
30.5mm in diameter?
38.5mm. Listen again. It's the accent!
@@islandwatch Lol thanks, I suspected it to be 38.5 but my ears definitely heard 30.5 several times in a row! 😂
Thanks for the video, great-looking watches!
Can’t wait to see the mystery watch, it should have the new case back design right?
Yeah.
The gloss paint looks like an oil accident. I wouldnt buy the Aristo for that money i suppose . Id rather pay 150$ for the San Martin Flieger and save to get a STOWA or Laco later on
Laco
:)
One of the founder’s name was Lacher that’s where the La comes from and there was a companion so here’s the co (Lacher & Co). But “Lacher” in German means ‘laugh’ so that would have not sold well in Germany so Laco was a better choice.
@@andyc6736 thank you mate ❣️
As much as I prefer watches 40mm and under I would never get a flieger less than 45mm.
Understood!
A 40mm Flieger wears a lot larger than it’s size says it should. There’s no need for anything larger unless you’re an actual pilot.
👍
thanks!
I prefer pilot watches without date
Most do!
👻 pull - 🤔 🤫
👻 Click - 😭
H link? Please tell me you're releasing something German inspired. 😬😬😬
There will be fliegers eventually (again).
Don't understand the appeal of watches under 40mm.
For people with smaller wrists I'd say.
I know your new red pilot isn’t under 40mm butttttttttttt