Review: the Stowa Fieldwatch Terra

More commonly found in the sky than the field, Stowa watches are well known for their lineup of

classic Pilot’s watches. They’ve branched out a bit over the years, but the Pilot lineup is what comes to mind for me most often when thinking about the brand. Today, we’re taking a look at their modern take on the field watch, aptly named the Fieldwatch Terra. The Terra comes in at 38mm, features a PVD coated steel case, and an impressive spec sheet that makes for an excellent watch to complement your EDC. Let’s take a closer look.

Case

Measuring in at a very comfortable 38mm wide by 46.9mm lug-to-lug, the Terra complements my 6.75” wrist nicely. The compact proportions are balanced out by the relatively large, wide open, and highly legible dial. Now that I’m thinking about it a little bit more, the watch probably wears bigger than the measurements imply, and that’s due to the slim outer bezel and large dial. More on that later.

The case itself is crafted from stainless steel and then treated with a dark grey PVD coating. PVD stands for physical vapor deposition — it’s a technique that turns a solid material (the coating) into a vapor, and then condenses it onto the target material inside a vacuum. It’s a complex procedure that’s not totally uncommon in the world of watches and EDC gear, but you can’t argue with the results. Instead of something like paint or even Cerakote, the PVD coating is harder, more durable, and more corrosion resistant. It also makes the case look pretty darn cool, sporting a dark matte finish.

One of the details about the case I appreciate is the curved crown guards. They’re unobtrusive and match the curves of the case nicely, all while adding an extra level of protection to the crown during activities without jabbing you too hard in the wrist. Another thing I like about the shape of the case is how the ends of the lugs angle in towards the case. It’s a good look, that when combined with the crown guards, takes the standard field watch formula and sets it apart a bit.

During everyday wear, you’ll appreciate the 11.5mm thickness to keep the watch well out of the way. A huge, double AR coated sapphire lens tops the dial. It’s nearly invisible thanks to the double coating, making legibility a top priority. The textured screw-down crown is easy to manipulate to change the time and ensures the 200m of water resistance that the watch supports. It’s nice to see an outdoorsy field watch that can stand up to any activity, whether in or out of the water.

Dial + Hands

For a 38mm watch, the dial sure does make an impression. It’s large, legible, and features some interesting architecture and texture to set it apart. Clearly drawing from their storied history of creating pilot’s watches, the inspiration is clear. The green dial features a subtle texture all over, with a small sector-style ring that houses the 13-24 hour markings. A stubby hour hand (styled somewhere between a sword and a syringe) stays within this inner ring, similar to how the Type B pilot’s watches do. The result is a little off balance, but you can’t really argue with the legibility factor.

Moving toward the outside of the dial, you’ll find a comparatively long minute hand that points to the hour indices. Each index is marked with a plot of red lume, with hash marks in between. An arrow-tipped seconds hand rotates around the dial, sporting a red accent to coordinate with the dial.

When the lights go out, you’re in for a surprise. Instead of your standard lume, the Terra uses both white and red SuperLuminova for the indices, minute marks, inner hour ring, and hands. The mix of white and red is really interesting. I love a good application of multi-colored lume and the Stowa knocked this one out of the park. I did find that in testing, the lume didn’t glow all that long, but I enjoyed the show while it lasted.

The contrast is great, with the forest green providing a handsome background for the rest of the dial markings. I also liked how Stowa opted for just a simple logo at 12 that’s nested within the hour track. There is no text on the dial, making for a refreshingly clean appearance. The words “no-nonsense” come to mind. The Terra is interesting, while at the same time never over does it.

Movement

Inside the Terra, you’ll find an automatic winding Sellita SW 200 movement. Sellita are known for their quality Swiss-made movements. This one features 26 jewels, beats at  28,800bph, and features a 38 hour power reserve when fully wound. If you’re looking to get a watch with a Swiss-made movement at a reasonable price, there’s a pretty good chance that there’s a Sellita inside. Given the price of the Terra, the Sellita makes a lot of sense as a more premium choice while retaining that sub-$1000 price tag.

Strap + Wearability

I was immediately intrigued by the stock strap on the Terra. It’s crafted from a super soft, stretchy

elastic nylon weave. The strap reminded me of Apple’s “Nylon Braided Loop”. While I don’t wear an Apple Watch regularly, I’ve always appreciated the attention they give to comfort. It’s no surprise that this lookalike on the Stowa is super comfortable. The first thing that comes to mind is pajamas for the wrist. The soft weave, perfect amount of stretch, and coordinating deep green color complement the Terra nicely. The material itself is pretty thick, and in order to accommodate a wider range of wrists, there’s a slide buckle integrated into the strap. While it’s always great to accommodate as many people as possible, the buckle combined with this thick fabric results in a pretty significant bump under your wrist, with the thick fabric stacking up as many as three times in a single place. It’s not a dealbreaker, but I prefer the underside of my straps to be as svelte as possible so they go unnoticed when I’m sitting at a desk typing.

In terms of wearability, all watches are pretty much wearable. But do they wear well? That’s the question. I think the answer here is yes. The comfortable strap, reasonably sized case, and 11.5mm thickness result in a watch I could easily see myself wearing all the time. Since the overall design leans outdoorsy, I can see this being an ideal camping, hiking, fishing, and general everyday watch.

Conclusion

Stowa’s new Terra Fieldwatch (stylized as such) is a solid addition to their lineup. They cater to everyone, whether your preference falls towards dressy, rugged, and everything in between. I like that the brand manages to hit a wide range of styles while retaining their own design DNA and a relatively affordable price tag, with most of their lineup coming in right around $1000. If you’ve been looking for a rugged, go anywhere, do anything EDC watch, the Fieldwatch Terra is certainly worth taking a look. Let us know what you think in the comments!