U-BOAT Flightdeck 45 CAS BE (6251) – A Couple of weeks ago this very interesting U-BOAT Flightdeck appeared on my desk and I say interesting because of the Marmite effect it has on people. It’s that simple, you either love it or loathe it – there is no middle ground in my humble opinion. However, I must admit, when anybody (mostly men) spotted me wearing this very imposing timepiece they were simply blown away by the looks and some – not so much….
First off, there is no denying that for whatever reasons this timepiece grabs your attention. The very brutish, handcrafted, stainless steel case and bright beige dial; with chocolate covered hands and arabic numeral markers will be the first things that catch your eye. The case has a very unique protective crown cover, almost like a tyre valve cap, at 9 o’clock; with chrono pushers either side, at 8 and 10 o’clock – with the date window also positioned at 9 o’clock. The personalised U-Boat specific, 25 jeweled 44 hour power reserve movement, can be seen through the case back. The 45mm x 7mm case, is a little bit too large for me and even when I tried, it was just a bit too large to squeeze under my shirt cuff. Now, this nicely brings me to my next point.
The manly, brut like traits of U-Boat can mostly be seen throughout the catalogue. The reason behind this, is because the initial designs by Ilvo Fontana came about after he was commissioned back in 1942 by the Italian Navy to produce a watch that met their strict needs. It had to be technically precise, guaranteeing maximum visibility and reliability in any light and weather conditions. Due to unforeseen circumstances the original project did not see the light of day. Until in 2000 Italo Fontana, Ilvo’s grandson came across these designs which were to be the source of his creations for the first U-Boat watch.
With that said, despite the cumbersome dimensions of this timepiece, once on the wrist they’re not felt as much as one would have thought. The brown Italian handmade racing style alligator strap, at first, feels quite rigid but it soon comes good and does actually feel quite snug. Mind you, the weight of the Flightdeck doesn’t really wear off as quickly.
In conclusion, the U-Boat Flightdeck just isn’t my cup of tea but I can’t speak for everyone. On my travels while wearing this timepiece I bumped into to a fair few admirers of U-Boat watches, so they must be doing something right. This U-Boat Flightdeck currently retails for £2,450.
For more information on this timepiece visit the official U-Boat website.
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