STOWA is a German luxury watchmaker founded by Walter Storz in 1927, and is based in Pforzheim, Germany. The name is a portmanteau of the founder's name, Storz Walter. From 1996 until 2021, STOWA was owned by Jörg Schauer, who also owns the Schauer watch brand and the DUROWE watch movement brand. July 1, 2021, Stowa became part of Tempus Arte GmbH & Co. KG, which also owns Uhrenmanufaktur Lang & Heyne Dresden, UhrenWerke-Dresden (UWD), as well as the Munich-based company Leinfelder Uhren München.[1]
Timeline
1927: Founding of STOWA by Walter Storz in Hornberg/Kinzigtal, Germany. The name derives from "STO," for Storz and "WA," for Walter.
1935: Moved to a new rented building in Pforzheim, Germany.
1938: Construction of STOWA owned building at Bismarckstraße 54 in Pforzheim, Germany.
1938: Presentation of Bauhaus watches (on which today's Antea line is based).
1938: AbwehrZeitArbeit ausf.b developed to manufacture timepieces for the military.
1939: Production launch of STOWA Marine Beobachtungsuhr ("Observation Watch") and the big pilot B-watches (55mm), (commissioned by the Luftwaffe in World War II).