Watch Review: Tutima Elevates German Watchmaking with 90th Anniversary Tempostopp In-House-Made Chronograph Watch

There are  a lot of exciting new timepieces coming from German watch brand Tutima this year, but none as breathtaking and complex to build as the bi-compax chronograph designed to celebrate the brand’s 90th anniversary: Tempostopp.  Before you get too excited – we have to warn you of the worst thing about this watch: just 90 pieces will be made. That said, there is so much great about this watch, that you may want to start getting your running shoes on to get to the nearest Tutima watch retailer.

Here, we bring you a close-up look at this masterpiece and explain why it is so special.   Those who know Tutima know that it was about six years ago that the brand announced the opening of its new workshops in its home city of Glashutte, and four years ago iunveiled its today much-coveted Hommage Minute Repeater with in-house  caliber. While that watch wowed the world, the brand continued to make German watchmaking strides, unveiling the dual time in-house caliber, shortly thereafter, followed by the small seconds movement. The writing was on the wall: the brand had come full circle as a complete Manufacture … watch lovers should be expecting more. Well, that “more” has come — in the form of the brand’s fourth in-house movement: Tempostopp chronograph.

The Inspiration for the Tutima Tempostopp Chronograph

Inspired by a vintage 1939 Fliegerchronograph timepiece that was referred to in the day as the Tempostopp and whose movement specifications were destroyed after World War II. The new watch had to be completely re-invented from the existing timepiece of the era. The caliber is an exact replica of that original. Those who know watchmaking know that the chronograph is one of the most difficult complications to build due to its many extra teeth, gears, pinions and other parts that must consistently jump into action with the push of button.  This means it is hard enough to build the movement  when you have the plans, but even more difficult when you don’t. However, having no blueprints didn’t stop Tutima. In fact, it is challenge that we constantly see Tutima rising to conquer — and doing so with stellar results.

Details of the Tutima Tempostopp Chronograph Movement

The movement that powers the new Tempostopp chronograph is the caliber T659 — a superb hand-wound column-wheel chronograph with flyback function. Consisting of 237 components, the chronograph is equipped with a horizontal clutch,a Breguet hairspring and a balance with gold adjustment screws.  The manually wound mainspring offers 65 hours of power reserve.  As mentioned, the Tempostopp features a flyback function so that the chronograph can be instantaneously restarted when running with a single press of the pusher at 4:00, instead of the wearer needing to push stop/reset/return.  The meticulously finished movement is visible via a transparent caseback.

Aesthetics of the Tutima Tempostopp Chronograph:

Making the watch ever more alluring is the fact that it is crafted in an 18-karat pink gold Patria case that measures 43mm in diameter. It is just under 13mm thick, however, making it the perfect watch for a suit jacket. The stunning dial is incredibly harmoniously balanced with two subdials (for chronograph 30 minutes and continuously running seconds) opposite one another at 3:00 and 9:00. An outer chapter ring denotes the fractional seconds scale for the chronograph. Red accents against the ivory dial with gold hands and numerals ties the entire look together.  The watch is sold with an alligator strap and retails for $29,500. 

Impressions of the Tutima Tempostopp Chronograph

While the price of this watch may surprise some, it is actually attractively priced for the package and what’s under the hood.  The watch, while generously sized, is curved and shaped in all the right places to look classically elegant.  The two-level dial is a study in classic watchmaking design, and the fact that this piece is a flyback chrono is icing on the cake.  If you don’t fly quickly – you may lose the flyback aviation-inspired chronograph of a lifetime.