The fully polished case of the Stowa Marine Classic 36mm wears well because the lugs are angled just right to hug the wrist. Speaking of the lugs, namely of their thickness, this case wears like a 38mm, giving it more presence, from lug to lug, it measures 44.6mm. The case thickness is at 11mm including the slightly domed sapphire crystal which has AR coating. The crown at the 3 o’clock is onion shaped, a tribute to the pocket watches this model was based on. The dimensions help the watch slide comfortably under the cuff. The water resistance is rated at 5 atm which is well enough for my everyday use.

Dial and Handset:

The lacquered dial has an “enamel like” sheen to it, an homage to the enamel dials used during the days of the marine chronometer. The handset are tempered steel blue hands has that appear black and changes to a vibrant metallic blue depending on lighting. The hour hand is spade shaped while the minute hand has a double leaf look to it – their design remind me of the wall clocks of my childhood. The thin seconds hand and minute hand reaches the rail road track at the edge of the dial. Stowa offers the dial in arabic or romans, with date and no-date, and the handset changes slightly depending of the size of the case. The date is at the 6 o’clock, maintaining symmetry with the Stowa logo at 12 o’clock.

Strap and Wearability.

The strap included is a high quality black leather strap made from calf. It is soft and supple and almost doesn’t require a break-in period. I ordered as well a brown crocodile strap with deployant clasp from Stowa which is has that luxurious feel and elevates the overall look of the watch. But on most days, I put it on a grey perlon strap to have a more neutral look to it to match any outfit I would wear, plus it’s more breathable than the leather straps. This watch is a versatile and very wearable piece.

Movement:

Stowa offers the ETA 2824-2 in three flavours for this model. An elaborate-grade automatic, a top-grade automatic, and a top-grade manual wind. I went for the top-grade auto because I meant for this watch to be my everyday wearer. The movement is decorated to its fullest extent with blued screws, stripes, brushing, and a custom rotor. Performance wise, I am getting +/- 2 seconds per day after regulation – the upgrade is well worth it! The movement does well with shocks as I drive frequently on not so well paved roads that makes my steering wheel jittery.

Final Thoughts:

This particular configuration of the Stowa Marine Classic 36mm is a perfect example of an everyday watch in my own opinion. You can’t go wrong with a robust movement along with a highly legible dial. The style of the watch evokes a sense of classicism and timeless design, plus it is a strap monster! Stowa itself is a brand of heritage and has significance in the history of time keeping. The watch has its quirks and no watch is perfect, but if you’re looking for an everyday watch with an ETA movement, has rich history and good overall quality, then this Stowa is a no-brainer.