When spring rolls around, we tend to think about getting more colorful. Partly this is because we’re coming out of the monochrome of winter, but it can also be done to offset the dreariness that springtime can bring with cloudy skies overhead (or is that just a Midwest thing)? That said, I find grey to be a universal color – much like black, it just goes with everything, just a bit more subtly. If you agree with me, then the new Tutima Flieger Slate Grey is worth noting.
Now, to look at the Tutima Flieger Slate Grey, you’re going to note that, yes, it’s Flieger-inspired. But much like grey is more subtle than a crisp black dial, I think what they’ve done here is a subtle interpretation of the Flieger style. Sure, you’ve got the dotted triangle up at 12 o’clock. But the handset? While it follows the diamond-like Flieger handset shape, they are drastically slimmed down. In other words, this is a pilot watch in it’s dress uniform, not it’s flight suit, particularly when paired with the bracelet.
On the leather strap option, however, you find the degrade dial of the Tutima Flieger Slate Grey showing up in the strap itself, the Horween leather in grey with black edging. Many times we’ll have straps that try to match the dial, but this is one of the best I’ve seen, to be frank. And, you know, if you’re worried about getting weighed down in the monochrome, you’ve got a nice pop of orange via the seconds hand. Which means you’ve got some fun options out there when it comes to aftermarket straps, picking up that accent color.
Tucked into the 41mm case of the Tutima Flieger Slate Grey (which, for the record, is only 13mm thick, so should easily fit under a shirt cuff, even if we’re approaching short sleeve season) you’ve got the Caliber 330 keeping the time and date accurate. Nothing flashy with the 38 hour power reserve, but you’ll be able to see the gold seal on the rotor and the polished screws via the exhibition caseback.
Through this, I’ve focused primarily on the version of the Tutima Flieger Slate Grey that is paired to the leather Horween strap (which, for the record, Horween is from Chicago, so there’s that going for it), but really I’m a big fan of the version that comes on the bracelet, especially with the polished center links. I mean, I tend to prefer a bracelet on a watch anyways, but I find it makes the watch a bit more flexible, making it dressier in appearance. Then again, with my own grey dial watch (on a bracelet) it’s easy enough to pull off as more casual as well (say, for a single watch to bring with while you travel). Then again, warmer weather is a perfect time to swap to leather or rubber straps, so it’s great there’s a stock option out of the gate.
Looking to pick one up? It will be $1,650 on the Horween strap or $1,990 on the bracelet (surprisingly, no option to have both right out of the gate). Which, if you can swing the upcharge, I always recommend the bracelet, as finding straps in the aftermarket will be easy, but no so much with bracelets. You can find yours over at tutima.com
Tech Specs from Tutima
| Movement | Cal. Tutima 330 Automatic movement. Rotor rhodium-plated with gold seal. 25 jewels. Polished screws. Power reserve when fully wound 38 hours. Functions: Date display. Hour, minute, sweep second. |
| Case | Stainless steel Water-resistant 10 atm. Domed sapphire crystal anti-reflective. Screw-in crown. See-through back with sapphire crystal. |
| Dial | Gray dégrade |
| Band | Stainless bracelet or Horween Leather strap with pin buckle |
| Diameter | 41 mm |
| Height | 13 mm |
