Fortis Flieger F-39vsVario 1918 Medic Brass

Owners and reviewers widely praise the Fortis Flieger F-39 for its robust build quality, excellent finishing often compared favorably to more expensive watches, and legible utilitarian dial with distinctive color accents. The watch is noted for its precise bidirectional bezel action, excellent lume, and comfortable wearability, with one owner reporting accuracy of 1 second fast per day. Some reviewers flag the 39mm case as wearing large due to its lug-to-lug distance, and the 38-hour power reserve of the Sellita SW 200-1 based UW-30 movement is cited as a limitation, though newer versions feature a 70-hour power reserve. Overall, owners and reviewers highly regard the Fortis Flieger F-39 for its tool watch aesthetic and impressive machining and build quality at its price point.

Owners widely praise the Vario 1918 Medic Brass for its crisp enamel dial, easy-to-read numerals, and cathedral hands, noting the brass case develops an attractive patina over time. However, the soft brass scratches easily, and one owner found the lume to be poor. Accuracy varies, with one example running slow by about 10 seconds per day and another owner deeming the Miyota 82s5 movement just okay. On balance, owners rate the Vario 1918 Medic Brass highly for its unique dial and the evolving character of its brass case.