A watch amateur meets the awesome Augsburg ...
There were two more watch types I wanted to complete my collection, a pilots watch and a divers watch.
Pilot's watches appeal to me greatly as sometimes you want the simplest clearest dial you can look at, and a some leather propeller cache thrown in is very appealing.
However many companies make pilot watches, many companies make diving watches, etc, there are few who were actually originally manufacturing a particular type either when the genre started, or when they started.
I was first looking at the usual suspects, IWC, Zenith, etc. I don't watch to disparage any make, they are all beautifully made, but £3.5k for a simple watch with a ETA 2624 - not my style. The brass Zenith is absolutely wonderful though, but my wrist can't handle 45mm. it operates in the 40-42mm range. Then I came across Laco ....
So lets skip to the summary. I am going to introduce the Laco Augsburg 1925. Flat sapphire crystal glass, stainless steel, thick leather riveted flying strap, large solid onion crown, automatic mechanism with 42 hour reserve, 21 jewels with a display back. Ok, and the clincher, a real pilot watch heritage. Actually Laco was initially set up to supply pilot watches to the Luftwaffe along with 3 other original suppliers and this design is pretty much unchanged, except for the smaller size. the heritage flat strap bars and sandblasted metal, which is reserved for the more expensive Munster and other members of the original series.
Here is the clincher, its £250 (from Page and Cooper at least, but only a little bit more ordered directly from Germany). Yes, that's £250 - you heard correct.
The watch arrives in a long black cardboard box. On opening there is a long black leather case with a zip around it. Smart and functional, very much the character of a pilot's watch. It kind of makes you want to take out your leather flying gloves, cap and white scarf ;)
The metal design is simple matt stainless steel with curved lugs. The crown is oversized with a tapering onion design. The watch is not too deep but is deep enough to feel solid. Despite that its surprisingly light
The movement is a Japanese Miyota Caliber 821A, this must be where the greatest cost saving is. It has 21 jewels and beats at 21.6. Unbelievably it has a longer reserve then the ETA 2624 (the respective Laco model is 3x the price give or take).
Miyota Caliber 821A Watch Movement | CaliberCorner.com
These movements obviously can not go through the Swiss COSC process and are measured to -20/+40 seconds a day, but generally are within a much finer tolerance. The movement looks to me like it has a large part of it machine made, with is not a bad thing at all, and a trend for the Swiss manufacture mechanisms as well
It feels completely different from an ETA movement. The pendulum has a higher pitch sound as does the winding. There is no hacking second hand, so it continues to tick whilst you change the time. An oddity is that the crown has a middle position that does nothing, I assume this is where the date adjustment goes for another version of the movement.
The face is beautifully simple and an homage to the original pilots watch
If has the standard 1920s German pilots mark at 12 o'clock and has the printing Laco 1925 just below. Actually this is one thing I like more then the more expensive version with the ETA movement and sandblasted metal.
After so many watches with a small second hand, it is nice to see a full size sweeping second hand. The second hand is straight but the hour and minute hand are the classic squashed diamond.
The font is just beautiful and beautifully clear.
The lume is nice and seems to kick in quite early
The sapphire crystal is not coated (another difference from the more expensive version), but its something quite different and makes the watch sparkle
I am really thrilled with this watch. Its beautiful, light and clear. The slight refinements it lacks compared to a top Swiss movement are vastly outweighed by the cost and sheer presence. Also at this price one can afford some different straps, and a black leather one is on the way for more formal occasions.
Its a lovely watch and I can confidentially give it 5 stars. Probably my first 5 star watch rating, taking into account everything from presence, heritage, beauty, movement and value.
Pilot's watches appeal to me greatly as sometimes you want the simplest clearest dial you can look at, and a some leather propeller cache thrown in is very appealing.
However many companies make pilot watches, many companies make diving watches, etc, there are few who were actually originally manufacturing a particular type either when the genre started, or when they started.
I was first looking at the usual suspects, IWC, Zenith, etc. I don't watch to disparage any make, they are all beautifully made, but £3.5k for a simple watch with a ETA 2624 - not my style. The brass Zenith is absolutely wonderful though, but my wrist can't handle 45mm. it operates in the 40-42mm range. Then I came across Laco ....
So lets skip to the summary. I am going to introduce the Laco Augsburg 1925. Flat sapphire crystal glass, stainless steel, thick leather riveted flying strap, large solid onion crown, automatic mechanism with 42 hour reserve, 21 jewels with a display back. Ok, and the clincher, a real pilot watch heritage. Actually Laco was initially set up to supply pilot watches to the Luftwaffe along with 3 other original suppliers and this design is pretty much unchanged, except for the smaller size. the heritage flat strap bars and sandblasted metal, which is reserved for the more expensive Munster and other members of the original series.
Here is the clincher, its £250 (from Page and Cooper at least, but only a little bit more ordered directly from Germany). Yes, that's £250 - you heard correct.
The watch arrives in a long black cardboard box. On opening there is a long black leather case with a zip around it. Smart and functional, very much the character of a pilot's watch. It kind of makes you want to take out your leather flying gloves, cap and white scarf ;)
The metal design is simple matt stainless steel with curved lugs. The crown is oversized with a tapering onion design. The watch is not too deep but is deep enough to feel solid. Despite that its surprisingly light
The movement is a Japanese Miyota Caliber 821A, this must be where the greatest cost saving is. It has 21 jewels and beats at 21.6. Unbelievably it has a longer reserve then the ETA 2624 (the respective Laco model is 3x the price give or take).
Miyota Caliber 821A Watch Movement | CaliberCorner.com
These movements obviously can not go through the Swiss COSC process and are measured to -20/+40 seconds a day, but generally are within a much finer tolerance. The movement looks to me like it has a large part of it machine made, with is not a bad thing at all, and a trend for the Swiss manufacture mechanisms as well
It feels completely different from an ETA movement. The pendulum has a higher pitch sound as does the winding. There is no hacking second hand, so it continues to tick whilst you change the time. An oddity is that the crown has a middle position that does nothing, I assume this is where the date adjustment goes for another version of the movement.
The face is beautifully simple and an homage to the original pilots watch
If has the standard 1920s German pilots mark at 12 o'clock and has the printing Laco 1925 just below. Actually this is one thing I like more then the more expensive version with the ETA movement and sandblasted metal.
After so many watches with a small second hand, it is nice to see a full size sweeping second hand. The second hand is straight but the hour and minute hand are the classic squashed diamond.
The font is just beautiful and beautifully clear.
The lume is nice and seems to kick in quite early
The sapphire crystal is not coated (another difference from the more expensive version), but its something quite different and makes the watch sparkle
I am really thrilled with this watch. Its beautiful, light and clear. The slight refinements it lacks compared to a top Swiss movement are vastly outweighed by the cost and sheer presence. Also at this price one can afford some different straps, and a black leather one is on the way for more formal occasions.
Its a lovely watch and I can confidentially give it 5 stars. Probably my first 5 star watch rating, taking into account everything from presence, heritage, beauty, movement and value.
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