Laco presents for Baselworld 2019 new watches inspired by the traditional, vintage pilots watch. With an exceptional look, the watches are available in hand-wound and automatic versions. Please read the official press release below.
The history of aviation with a glamorous new appearance
Pforzheim, March 2019 – time for some nostalgia! With the ever-increasing speed at which current innovation cycles are running, nostalgia takes away our fear of this surge and
evokes memories of the “good old times.” There are currently nostalgics in many areas – art, music or in the world of watches. These little marvels are just the right thing for dressing the popular styles of the past in a contemporary outfit.
One proven specialist in this area is the Laco watch brand. This company based in Pforzheim, southern Germany, has been expertly crafting professional pilot‘s watches for over 80 years. These 1940‘s-style watches are particularly sought-after among keen collectors, and they form a quintessential part of company‘s history. To recapture the charm and authenticity of the original, Laco has been developing an innovative surface finish technique that triggers an artificial ageing process. The result is all those special characteristics valued by enthusiasts of the old B-watches: hints of rust on the casing, minute scratches and subtle discolourations. They are genuine “Erbstücke” (means: heirlooms).
Four new members, each of which is individually named after a bustling metropolis, are now here to enrich our current clockwork collection: Venedig Erbstück, Wien Erbstück, Graz Erbstück and Florenz Erbstück. Each model interprets the expressive appearance of historic pilot‘s watches in its own unique way.
One special highlight are the cream-coloured dials that are covered entirely with a layer of luminous Superlumi- nova C3 paint. Unlike most watches of this sort, this paint layer isn‘t just restricted to the hands and figures. This makes the dial much easier to read in the dark. In keeping with the line‘s dial layout, both the dials and stainless steel casings are given individual ageing treatment by virtue of meticulous handicraft. The same applies to the luminous hands which are additionally thermally blued.
Each watch is thereby made unique thanks to exquisite visual effects. The authenticity is complemented with the B-marked case back and the engravings on the flanks of the casing.
It refers to the „FL 23883“, which formerly specified the requirements for observation watches for use by the Luft- waffe. Another stylish feature is the brown calfskin strap with vintage charm. Along with ageing treatment, it is furnished with the two characteristic rivets on each side of the strap. In contrast, the technology in the new heirlooms is completely modern. The hands tick away inside a 42 mm- large case. They are driven by the automatic calibre Laco 24, based on the ETA 2824-2 in Elaboré grade.
Another new option offered by Laco is the watches in the TOP grade for an extra value of 130 euros.
Laco: Manufacture with passion and tradition
The German watch brand Laco, based in the black forest town Pforzheim, has a corporate history that stretches back to 1925. The „Golden City“ has been the location for this small but long-established manufacturer from the very beginning. This traditional company earned its fame by constructing the legendary 55 mm sized observation watch, as one of only five licensed firms in the 1940s. Around twenty years later, with more than 1200 employees, Laco was counted as one of Germany‘s largest watch manufacturers. Today, the small team places emphasis again on handcraft. It is quality that counts in production, not quantity. The products range from pilot and navy watches, through to elegant chronographs and the purist Classic Line. But all Laco models have one thing in common: the highest quality, outstanding design and functionality in use.
In addition to their own online shop, Laco also offers for sale at the factory in Pforzheim. From Monday to Friday, this offers an opportunity to pick up a new watch directly from where experienced watchmakers have manufactured it intricately by hand.
Laco Pilot Watches Technical Specifications and Prices
Laco Venedig Erbstück
Case: Stainless steel, elaborately hand-finished in an antique look, ø 42 mm, height 12 mm, lug width 20 mm, water resistant up to 5 ATM, double curved sapphire crystal with antireflecting coat, sidewise marking FL 23883, case-back with B-Uhr marking, crown execution according original B-Uhr, every watch case is absolutely unique
Movement: Automatic movement Laco 24, basic movement ETA 2824.2 (Elaboré), 25 jewels, 3 hands, second hand stop
Hands: Hour, minute thermally blued, all hands with luminous material Superluminova C3, elaborate hand-finishing ages each watch individually
Strap: Brown, closed calf leather strap, 2 rivets per band side, antique look, stainless steel buckle
Dial: Completely filled with luminous material Superluminova C3, arabic figures and indexes black, execution according B-Uhr Baumuster A, like the case in antique look, aged manually
Ref.: 861943 Retail price: 1.950 € EAN: 4260314415938
Laco Florenz Erbstück
Case: Stainless steel, elaborately hand-finished in an antique look, ø 42 mm, height 12 mm, lug width 20 mm, water resistant up to 5 ATM, double curved sapphire crystal with antireflecting coat, sidewise marking FL 23883, case-back with B-Uhr marking, crown execution according original B-Uhr, every watch case is absolutely unique
Movement: Handwind movement Laco 01, basic movement ETA 2801.2 (Elaboré), 17 jewels, 3 hands, second hand stop
Hands: Hour, minute thermally blued, all hands with luminous material Superluminova C3, elaborate hand-finishing ages each watch individually
Strap: Brown, closed calf leather strap, 2 rivets per band side, antique look, stainless steel buckle
Dial: Completely filled with luminous material Superluminova C3, arabic figures and indexes black, execution according B-Uhr Baumuster A, like the case in antique look, aged manually.
Ref.: 861945 Retail price: 1.950 € EAN: 4260314415952
Laco Wien Erbstück
Case: Stainless steel, elaborately hand-finished in an antique look, ø 42 mm, height 12 mm, lug width 20 mm, water resistant up to 5 ATM, double curved sapphire crystal with antireflecting coat, sidewise marking FL 23883, case-back with B-Uhr marking, crown execution according original B-Uhr, every watch case is absolutely unique
Movement: Automatic movement Laco 24, basic movement ETA 2824.2 (Elaboré), 25 jewels, 3 hands, second hand stop
Hands: Hour, minute thermally blued, all hands with luminous material Superluminova C3, elaborate hand-finishing ages each watch individually
Strap: Brown, closed calf leather strap, 2 rivets per band side, antique look, stainless steel buckle
Dial: Completely filled with luminous material Superluminova C3, arabic figures and indexes black, execution according B-Uhr Baumuster B, like the case in antique look, aged manually.
Ref.: 861944 Retail price: 1.950 € EAN: 4260314415945
Laco Graz Erbstück
Case: Stainless steel, elaborately hand-finished in an antique look, ø 42 mm, height 12 mm, lug width 20 mm, water resistant up to 5 ATM, double curved sapphire crystal with antireflecting coat, sidewise marking FL 23883, case-back with B-Uhr marking, crown execution according original B-Uhr, every watch case is absolutely unique
Movement: Handwind movement Laco 01, basic movement ETA 2801.2 (Elaboré), 17 jewels, 3 hands, second hand stop
Hands: Hour, minute thermally blued, all hands with luminous material Superluminova C3, elaborate hand-finishing ages each watch individually
Strap: Brown, closed calf leather strap, 2 rivets per band side, antique look, stainless steel buckle
Dial: Completely filled with luminous material Superluminova C3, arabic figures and indexes black, execution according B-Uhr Baumuster B, like the case in antique look, aged manually.
Ref.: 861946 Retail price: 1.950 € EAN: 4260314415969
Laco Mülheim an der Ruhr Erbstück
Case: Stainless steel, elaborately hand-finished in an antique look, ø 39 mm, height 12 mm, lug width 20 mm, water resistant up to 5 ATM, double curved sapphire crystal, antireflecting coat, sidewise marking FL 23883, case-back with B-Uhr marking, crown execution according original B-Uhr, every watch case is absolutely unique
Movement: Handwind movement Laco 01, basic movement ETA 2801.2 (Elaboré), 17 jewels, 3 hands, second hand stop
Hands: Hour, minute thermally blued, all hands with luminous material Superluminova C3, elaborate hand-finishing ages each watch individually
Strap: Brown, closed calf leather strap with light stitching, 2 rivets per band side, antique look, stainless steel buckle
Dial: Black mat, arabic figures and indexes with luminous material Superluminova C3, execution according B-Uhr Baumuster A, like the case in antique look, aged manually.
Ref.: 862096 Retail price: 1.890 € EAN: 4260314415198
Laco Heidelberg Erbstück
Case: Stainless steel, elaborately hand-finished in an antique look, ø 39 mm, height 12 mm, lug width 20 mm, water resistant up to 5 ATM, double curved sapphire crystal, antireflecting coat, sidewise marking FL 23883, case-back with B-Uhr marking, crown execution according original B-Uhr, every watch case is absolutely unique
Movement: Automatic movement Laco 24, basic movement ETA 2824.2 (Elaboré), 25 jewels, 3 hands, second hand stop
Hands: Hour, minute thermally blued, all hands with luminous material Superluminova C3, elaborate hand-finishing ages each watch individually
Strap: Brown, closed calf leather strap with light stitching, 2 rivets per band side, antique look, stainless steel buckle
Dial: Black mat, arabic figures and indexes with luminous material Superluminova C3, execution according B-Uhr Baumuster A, like the case in antique look, aged manually.
Ref.: 862098 Retail price: 1.890 € EAN: 4260314415211
Laco Kempten Erbstück
Case: Stainless steel, elaborately hand-finished in an antique look, ø 39 mm, height 12 mm, lug width 20 mm, water resistant up to 5 ATM, double curved sapphire crystal, antireflecting coat, sidewise marking FL 23883, case-back with B-Uhr marking, crown execution according original B-Uhr, every watch case is absolutely unique
Movement: Handwind movement Laco 01, basic movement ETA 2801.2 (Elaboré), 17 jewels, 3 hands, second hand stop
Hands: Hour, minute thermally blued, all hands with luminous material Superluminova C3, elaborate hand-finishing ages each watch individually
Strap: Brown, closed calf leather strap with light stitching, 2 rivets per band side, antique look, stainless steel buckle
Dial: Black mat, arabic figures and indexes with luminous material Superluminova C3, execution according B-Uhr Baumuster B, like the case in antique look, aged manually.
Ref.: 862097 Retail price: 1.890 € EAN: 4260314415204
Laco Speyer Erbstück
Case: Stainless steel, elaborately hand-finished in an antique look, ø 39 mm, height 12 mm, lug width 20 mm, water resistant up to 5 ATM, double curved sapphire crystal, antireflecting coat, sidewise marking FL 23883, case-back with B-Uhr marking, crown execution according original B-Uhr, every watch case is absolutely unique
Movement: Automatic movement Laco 24, basic movement ETA 2824.2 (Elaboré), 25 jewels, 3 hands, second hand stop
Hands: Hour, minute thermally blued, all hands with luminous material Superluminova C3, elaborate hand-finishing ages each watch individually
Strap: Brown, closed calf leather strap with light stitching, 2 rivets per band side, antique look, stainless steel buckle
Dial: Black mat, arabic figures and indexes with luminous material Superluminova C3, execution according B-Uhr Baumuster B, like the case in antique look, aged manually.
Ref.: 862099 Retail price: 1.890 € EAN: 4260314415228
