Berlin today, London tomorrow, New York the day after – businesspersons, globetrotters and pilots have long been travelling back and forth between different time zones. By displaying two time zones, GMT watches fulfil the needs of a sophisticated society in an era of global communication: – Laco Frankfurt GMT.
GMT watches as a cosmopolitan group trace their origins to the infancy of commercial flight, beginning a new chapter in the history of pilot watches in the post-war era. This inspired Laco to add two GMT watches to its collection, as the Pforzheim based firm has been setting high standards in the manufacture of professional pilot watches for more than 80 years.
Although Laco often looks back at its historic pilot watches and decades-long tradition with nostalgia and pride, it does not want to shut itself off to on-going development and innovation. Continuing the watch brand tradition, in fact, does not mean keeping hold of the ashes but continuously re-igniting the fire.
In line with Laco´s fine pilot watch tradition, the Frankfurt GMT Schwarz and Frankfurt GMT Grau focus on reliability, strength and precision, characteristics necessary to survival especially in the world of aviation. The striking stainless steel case with instrument visuals is an impressive 43 mm in diameter and pressure-resistant up to 20 bar.
Featuring a design similar to the original Laco pilot watches, it also has a dark, titanium sandblasted look. The black or grey watch face is protected by a double domed sapphire crystal. In keeping with the genre´s objectives, both designs strive to make readability as intuitive as possible. So that you can reliably see the time in the dark, numerals, indices, the brand triangle with two dots and the thermally blued hands are coated with luminous material. There is a lovingly crafted small stylised aircraft on the second hand. The 24-hour hand and the inner rotating bezel allow for a second-time zone to be displayed. This rotating bezel is ball-bearing mounted and can be adjusted quickly, precisely and safely with a second crown. Different colourings show if the time is during the day or night.
The calibre Laco 93, a mechanical movement with automatic winding mechanism is a guarantee for precision. It is based on the tried and trusted caliber ETA 2893-2, ticking behind a solid steel case back decorated with an aircraft relief. Both Frankfurt GMT models have black leather straps and are supplied in a modern silver gift box with a „Remove before flight“ keyring. The box also includes a coloured nylon band and a strap changing tool.
Frankfurt GMT black and Frankfurt GMT grey are expected to be available as from early spring 2020 at Laco directly and at official Laco dealers, at a price of Euro 1,650 each.
Tradition and passion
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 Frankfurt GMT Technical Specifications
Frankfurt GMT Schwarz (Black) Ref. 862120
Case:
- Stainless steel, ø 43 mm, lug width 20 mm,
- Water-resistant up to 20 ATM,
- Double curved sapphire crystal with an antireflecting coating on both sides,
- Stainless steel case back with aeroplane relief,
- Inset bezel (ball bearing mounted and bidirectional rotating),
- Two protected and screwed crowns
Movement:
- Automatic movement Laco 93,
- basic movement ETA 2893-2,
- 21 Jewels,
- Hour, minutes, seconds,
- 24-hour-hand,
- Date at 6h
Hands:
- Hour with luminous material Superluminova,
- Thermally blued,
- Second with luminous material and aeroplane,
- Tip of GMT-hand with Superluminova orange
Strap:
- Black Nytech strap,
- Additional two-piece nylon strap in orange/grey,
- Stainless steel buckle,
- Width 20 mm
Dial:
- Black mat,
- Arabic figures and indexes with luminous material Superluminova C3
Weight:
- Approx. 100 g
Packaging:
- Silver aluminium box including “Remove before flight” keyholder and strap changing tool
Frankfurt GMT Grau (Grey) Ref. 862120
Case:
- Stainless steel, ø 43 mm,
- Lug width 20 mm,
- water-resistant up to 20 ATM,
- Double curved sapphire crystal with an antireflecting coating on both sides,
- Stainless steel case back with aeroplane relief,
- Inset bezel (ball bearing mounted and bidirectional rotating),
- Two protected and screwed crowns
Movement:
- Automatic movement Laco 93,
- Basic movement ETA 2893-2,
- 21 Jewels,
- Hour, minutes, seconds,
- 24-hour-hand,
- Date at 6h
Hands:
- Hour with luminous material Superluminova,
- Thermally blued,
- Second with luminous material and aeroplane,
- Tip of GMT-hand with Superluminova orange
Strap:
- Black Nytech strap,
- Additional two piece nylon strap in orange/grey,
- Stainless steel buckle,
- Width 20 mm
Dial:
- Grey mat,
- Arabic figures and indexes with luminous material Superluminova C3
Weight:
- Approx. 100 g
Packaging:
- Silver aluminium box including “Remove before flight” keyholder and strap changing tool