ASFlieger
Our pilot chronographs have a tradition, are timepieces of the first hour, classic and highly functional – so, following this tradition, it is the time to introduce a 3-hand clock.
The watch
The high beat Pilot watch with AS1920 movement, short "ASFlieger" is something special - the movement is technically a delicacy, as is the visual impact, the case is classical and the dial is consequently reduced.
A real understatement watch, only the smoothly moving seconds hand, almost free of jerks, gives an unobtrusive indication of the special feature of the ASFlieger with 36,000 A/h.
The limited stock of AS1920 calibers allows a small run of 75 pcs. of the ASFlieger.
The housing
During the development of the new case we had to take into account the special feature of the movement - the quick date adjustment by firm pressure on the crown. So, a screwed crown construction is out of the question - nevertheless, the crown should be robust, easy to handle and of course watertight. The crown is protected by an inconspicuous, but effective side edge protection, a real safety reserve for this exposed component.
As with our Pilot chronographs, the case also carries a sapphire crystal on the front as well as on the back in our high beat pilot's watch.
The movement
1896 Adolph Schild, the brother of Urs Schild in Grenchen, founded the clock movement factory "Adolph Schild S.A." (Also AS or ASSA). The company specialized in small calibers, later on wristwatches. In 1915, the company founder and his sons Adolf, Ernst and César took over the management. In 1926, the Adolph Schild, S.A. merged with the Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon (FHF) and the Ad. Michel S.A. to Ebauches AG.
At the beginning of the 1970s, an automatic caliber, referred to as AS1920, debuted with 36,000 semi-oscillations / hour and a particularly comfortable quick-date-setting. This movement has been used by selected Swiss watchmakers like Mido (in the Oceanstar models) and Girard-Perregaux (in the "Gyromatic highfrequency" models, as movement 41). In the middle of the seventies the production had to be stopped - the idea of a mechanical movement with fast oscillating balance to compete with quartz clocks with regard to accuracy was overrun by the force of the "quartz crisis". Due to the rather short construction period, the production numbers are very manageable compared to popular clock movements and make the AS1920 a collector's item. At the beginning of 1980, the brand name AS (Adolph Schild) completely disappeared as an independent brand. A clockwork with special technology and contemporary functions has remained, that is now resurrected in a Guinand watch.
We were able to purchase original movements and parts in small quantities, which are used for the new AS-Flieger after complete disassembly, revision and re-work. Our AS1920 is red gold-plated, has a quick date-adjustment by repeated pressure on the crown, an AS2-regulator with lever reduction and oscillates with 36,000 half-oscillations / hour.
The used movements are stored new material from approx. 1971. In spite of complete overhaul and reprocessing, small bearing tracks on the movement parts might be present, which could not be removed without impair the original character of the movement.
The dial
For the high beat pilot watch we have developed a dial with the best-readable DIN-type font. The large, slightly wedge-shaped hour indices, which are covered with white light, and hour and minute hands, ensure the best readability and provide for the distinctive instrument character of this pilot's watch. The indices and the pointers were covered with white luminous color.
Technical details
Special features
- date quickset by repeated pushing the crown
- fast-beat movement, 36000 vibrations per hour
- limited edition
Movement
- Caliber AS 1920
- Self-winding mechanical movement
- 17 jewels
- 36000 vibrations per hour; 5 Hz.
- Movement diameter 12½" (28 mm)
- Incabloc shock protection
- Power reserve approx. 48 hours
- movement red gold plated
- AS2 lever regulator
Functions
- Hours, minutes, seconds
- Date display
Case
- Case made of stainless steel, polished
- Sapphire crystal glass, domed, anti-reflective on the interior
- Screwed back with sapphire crystal glass
- Crown double O-ring sealed with flank protection
- Pressure resistant up to 10 bar
Dimensions and weight
- Case diameter: 40.6 mm
- Case thickness: 13.8 mm
- Band lug width: 20 mm
- Weight without strap: 73.5 g