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Watches serve a purpose beyond just telling time. They are regarded as a fashion statement and a reflection of one’s personal status, style and taste. Tufina Watches, a German-based company, is a known brand in the world of mechanical watches, thanks to its distinctive designs and exceptional craftsmanship. This blog aims to give a fresh evaluation of the brand’s collection of timepieces, covering both its traditional designs and newest additions, while also evaluating their performance in the fiercely competitive luxury watch industry. Read on if you want to learn more about this promising brand!
Rising Popularity in The High-End Market
This brand has gained recognition for offering German watches at affordable prices, which caught our attention. Their approach of making luxury brands more accessible is noteworthy in the industry. They have successfully positioned themselves as a popular brand in the German luxury market by prioritizing authenticity, quality, and affordability. This has resulted in a strong and loyal customer base. Given their reputation, we were intrigued to review their offerings and see what they have in store for us.
The Brand’s History
Tufina comes with a rich history that dates back to the 1800s and spans generations. Its origins can be traced back to Ismail Tufina, a distinct watchmaker known for installing the mechanism of the Clock Tower of Tirana, one of the country’s most famous landmarks. This family of watchmakers had established a name for themselves as craftsmen who could assemble all sorts of timepieces and clocks. Tufina’s craftsmanship extended to other areas as well, with the family involved in jewelry and eyeglass production.
At the beginning of the 1900s, Tufina had established partnerships with many reputable Swiss and German watch companies such as Longines, Junghans, Eberhard, and Omega. However, during the communist dictatorship regime in Albania, many of the Tufina family members were persecuted, killed or arrested, with their properties, stores and assets forcefully confiscated.
Tufina’s history took on new life with Enis Tufina, who re-established Tufina’s activities in Germany. Enis, a former professional football player, moved to Germany seeking asylum. In Germany, he continued his footballing career playing for several other teams. Due to sustaining a knee injury in the 90s, he had to give up football. That’s when he decided to fully invest his efforts into the watch manufacturing business. In 2004, he launched and licensed Tufina’s representative German brands – Theorema and Pionier. From that point forward, Tufina has been producing Made-in-Germany timepieces available in a variety of models.
Made in Germany Engineering
Tufina watches are known for their exceptional quality and precision, thanks to their hand-assembled production. Their timepieces boast the Made-in-Germany label. The manufacturing process is carried out in Tufina’s workshops located in Oberhaching near Munich. The brands Theorema and Pionier are trademarked and licensed in Germany (information on both licenses can be found at the official website for the German Patent and Trade Mark Office).
All parts of the manufacturing process are carried out in the country, including the design, hand-assembly, rigorous testing phases and final packaging.
In-House Movements
Tufina watches do not rely on batteries but operate on kinetic energy. To keep the watch running, the wearer can manually wind it or wear it consistently to keep the wrist movements going. This makes the user responsible for the proper functioning of the watch, leading to a close connection between the wearer and the timepiece.
Ruby jewels are incorporated into these watches to reduce friction and promote energy preservation, enhancing the precision and durability of the watch. The balance wheel and balance-spring work together to ensure stability and accuracy. Tufina’s modern mechanical wristwatch movements operate at a frequency of 4 Hz, or 28,800 VPH (vibrations per hour), equivalent to 8 semi-oscillations per second. This amounts to 28,800 VPH in an hour.
Workshop
Their production facility located in Oberhaching, near Munich, is renowned for its excellent craftsmanship and the production of top-notch products. Every year, their watchmakers create a wide range of German mechanical and automatic watches in this workshop. They have an in-house setup for designing, producing, assembling, and packaging each watch, ensuring that all watches meet the highest manufacturing criteria.
Process
Their team of designers starts by creating the shape and structure of the watch’s internal and external architecture. Then, they evaluate the initial drafts and incorporate any innovative ideas from each watchmaker to make each timepiece unique. The assembling process is done by hand with great care and attention to detail, following a systematic approach that involves brainstorming, creating, designing, and examining. To ensure quality, each watch goes through four rigorous testing rounds, with the entire process taking up to a year to achieve the desired results.
The Theorema Watches
The Theorema watches come in intricate dials with skeleton compositions that display the engineering marvels of the gears inside the movement of the watch’s inner workings. To add to their uniqueness, each collection is named after famous architectural and historical destinations around the world, and we have listed the most famous ones in this section.
Kingston
Kingston Theorema is a watch that truly captures the art of watchmaking. Its open heart composition showcases the intricate movement within, allowing you to appreciate the craftsmanship involved in its creation. The automatic movement is powered by the wearer’s wrist motion, making it a truly practical mechanical marvel.
The watch’s functionality is just as impressive as its design. The full calendar compilation allows the wearer to easily keep track of the date. Most importantly, the multi-dial tone makes this wristwatch very convenient, with separate dials for the date, day, and month. In addition, there is also a sun/moon sub-dial at 12 o’clock.
The 44 mm case is made of the finest grade stainless steel, which is polished to perfection, providing a mirror-like shine. The scratch-resistant sapphire coated crystal guarantees longevity. With seven models to choose from, Kingston’s modern and elegant look is complemented by its versatility.
Istanbul
Theorema Istanbul has become a hit with watch enthusiasts and collectors of German timepieces. What makes this watch such a stand-out timepiece are its unique design elements. This distinct collection is adorned with intricate patterns and motifs which draw inspiration from the rich history and culture of Istanbul.
The architectural arrangement and half-circle secondary dial make it a perfect fit for the stylish gentleman. The dots and Roman numerals add a nice touch to its overall appearance. It comes with a 43mm case and an in-house Made in Germany mechanical movement with 20 jewels to power. Meticulously engineered, this line features options for both leather and steel straps. Istanbul’s durable build and impeccable attention to detail simply radiate opulence.
Zurich Tourbillon
Zurich Tourbillon is one of the best creations from this brand. Made from scratch using top-grade materials, this timepiece is one for the best affordable tourbillons in the market. Sapphire crystal is used on both sides for optimal scaract resistance. The tourbillon hand-wound movement is finely engraved displaying elegant details.
This gorgeous piece has a dual-time sub-dial that can be adjusted counterclockwise to 9 o’clock as well as a sun/moon indicator conveniently placed at the 3 o’clock position. Moreover, the skeleton blue hands are nicely paired with the blue screws on the open heart window at 6 o’clock. Last but not least, Zurich Tourbillon guarantees exceptional precision with its 28,800 VPH balance. The high-beat movement ensures stable timekeeping and greater accuracy.
The Pionier Watches
Pionier’s collection of watches showcases an impressive range of timepieces with open-heart dials, akin to Theorema’s style, but with a contemporary, modish, and athletic look. Pionier’s unique selling point is their incorporation of automatic movements in some of their fashionable watches, which have undergone years of development to ensure unmatched dependability and functionality. Here are some of Pionier’s best-selling watches that you might want to check out.
Miami
Pionier deserves immense appreciation for their exceptional work on the Miami watch. It harmoniously combines sophistication and contemporary design, resulting in a distinctive and fashionable timepiece that has gained immense popularity. The 46mm case size is just perfect, making it a versatile watch that can be worn on both formal and informal occasions. The full calendar compilation is an added advantage, simplifying the task of keeping track of the date, day, and month.
This watch stands out due to its unique multi-pattern checkered dial that is accentuated by bold baton markers. The big Arabic numerals on the bezel add a touch of modernity and practicality to it. The face is overall easily readable and makes the design favorable for urban men. The stick hands maintain the watch’s balance, making it a perfect fit for any attire.
London Diamonds
Pionier’s London Diamonds is a rare sunny dial watch featuring an open back design. The see-through composition allows the wearer to see the gears of the automatic movement inside. Moreover, a special skeletonized date window is placed at 3 o’clock, adding an element of elegance combined with utility.
The watch has golden Roman numerals on the face and measures 44mm in diameter. The numerals are complemented by six sparkling diamonds, making this piece a real eye-catcher. The bezel of the watch is engraved and polished to the highest standards, with a thickness of 5 microns to ensure durability and protection against erosion under normal wear. With eight distinct styles to choose from, London Diamonds seamlessly blends traditional components with contemporary flair.
Newport Dual-Time
Pionier exhibits their dedication to keeping up with evolving tastes and trends through Newport, a departure from their usual timepieces. The watch boasts a 43×43 mm case and a face with a dual time display and a nautical feel by the cannon pinion. This stylish piece showcases an urban aesthetic with its multi-tone dial and prominent baton markers. The contemporary top ring, featuring 12 screws, adds a unique touch.
The skeletonized hands are a subtle yet important detail that creates a holistic look. At the 3 o’clock position there is a small seconds sub-dial, often considered a traditional element. A genial way of combining classic designs with modern fashion. Meanwhile, the practical dual-time sub-dial is placed on the 9 o’clock position. It is not hard to see why the Newport Dual-Time has become one of their most popular timepieces.
The Reputation of Tufina Watches
Searching them online, I noticed that Tufina has received great reviews from numerous watch critics. The customers who bought a timepiece from either Theorema or Pionier have commended the watches’ quality, construction, and finishing. Tufina has distinguished itself from other rising watch brands by focusing on mastering a single niche, which has been a successful strategy. By offering cost-effective luxury watches that meet high-end standards, Tufina has attracted many new customers. The company’s reputation is based on its commitment to providing value for money and exceptional quality. If you want to make a statement, Tufina is a brand that is sure to catch people’s attention.
Warranty For Their Timepieces
Tufina offers a warranty that spans up to two years from the date of purchase. This warranty covers any mechanical defects that may arise. If you encounter a mechanical issue due to manufacturing, Tufina will either repair or replace without any additional cost.
It’s worth mentioning that the warranty doesn’t cover damages resulting from careless handling, water contact, or natural wear and tear. Tufina watches are typically designed to withstand water pressure of up to 3 ATM or 5 ATM, so the brand advises against using them for extended periods in water and while showering or swimming.
Is Tufina A Good Watch Brand?
Definitely! I personally own a Tufina watch, the unique Florida Diamonds from the Pionier, and I am extremely satisfied with my purchase. I can even say that it exceeded my expectations in terms of both style and function. The case is expertly crafted and nicely polished, and the quality is exceptional from every perspective. The power reserve is truly impressive, lasting up to 40 hours, which is a great feature for someone like me who may not wear the same watch every day. I have absolutely no complaints with the automatic movement as the accuracy it provides is truly amazing! I can trust Florida Diamonds to help me be on time for all my meetings.
What I love the most about this watch is the comfortable stainless steel bracelet. The weight feels just right, it doesn’t tug on any hairs and it doesn’t irritate my skin even after hours of wear. Moreover, setting up and winding the watch was so simple, thanks to the perfectly positioned crown. The knob is easy to turn and it provides a secure grip, ensuring quick and hassle-free adjustments. It really is difficult to find any imperfections with Tufina’s wristwatches, which confirms the brand’s strong position in the market. In addition to their visually appealing designs, these watches boast exceptional functionality and practicality. Their extensive collection comprises numerous other models, providing a wide range of options to cater to individual styles and preferences.
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Photos provided by the author.