Laco Pilot Series 1/0

[Chubbles]

Does anyone own the above mentioned watch? If so, How would you rate the quality compared to a Stowa Airman?

[stuffler,mike]

Does anyone own the above mentioned watch? If so, How would you rate the quality compared to a Stowa Airman?


Any pic to know about which watch your are talking ? The series 0 and series 1 have chronographs, three hand watches, automatic and handwounded watches. Are you eying on something concret ? Let us know.

This would be my favorite because it has a hw movement (ETA 2801-2):

http://www.laco.de/Produktbilder/861061.jpg

[XTrooper]

Any pic to know about which watch your are talking ? The series 0 and series 1 have chronographs, three hand watches, automatic and handwounded watches. Are you eying on something concret ? Let us know.

This would be my favorite because it has a hw movement (ETA 2801-2):

http://www.laco.de/Produktbilder/861061.jpg

Me too, Mike! I almost bought that watch! |>

[Chubbles]

Sorry bout that, well i was interested in the Series 0. This http://www.laco.de/Produktbilder/860884.jpg

[meenyc]

I had a serie 0 for a while. It has Unitar 6498 handwind movement with display back. Overal, it is very nice vintage Pilot watch.

http://www.thisispui.net/Watch/Laco/Laco%20001.jpg

The watch was a little too big for my 7.25" wrist. So it looks pretty much like the following picture when its on my wrist.

http://www.thisispui.net/Watch/Laco/Laco%20003.jpg

The display back shows standard finish of Unitar movement. It's cool, but it's not much to show. I wish to see more decoration on the movement.

http://www.thisispui.net/Watch/Laco/Laco%20009.jpg

The crown is relatively small compare to its size and thickness. The diamond crown would be perfect for this watch. (Like on Azimuth Bombardier.) (http://www.chronomaster.co.uk/B109_Az_bom_4.JPG)

http://www.thisispui.net/Watch/Laco/Laco%20011.jpg

The luminous grew bright at night, but not as good as of my Seiko diver watch. The sub second hand has no lum.

http://www.thisispui.net/Watch/Laco/Laco%20015.jpg

I never seen the Stawa Airman, so I can't make a side by side comparison. After some research, overall, this watch is the best replica of original Laco pilot from WWII German Luftwaffe out there. I also like the use of handwind Unitar movement over the autometic ETA movement. For me I believe Form should follow Function. To use an automatic ETA-28xx which is only 26-30mm fitting in 42mm dia. watch doesn't make sense to me. The Unitar-6498 fit in the case perfectly well.

Hope my opinion help you making decision more or less.

Cheers,
Mee+

http://www.thisispui.net/Watch/Laco/Laco%20007.jpg

[stuffler,mike]

Well, the Laco your are pointing it is powered by an automatic movement (ETA 2824-2) which is reliable, durable and known to the watch community as a work horse.

This Laco has a inhouse predecessor out of the 40ties (WWII pilot´s watch):

http://www.qahill.com/tz/b-uhr/laco-big.jpg

The Laco of WWII was pewered by an handwounded Durowe movement. Durowe belonged to Laco at that time.
For more info on pilot´s watches of WW II go to http://www.qahill.com/tz/b-uhr/b-uhr.html or visit www.knirim.de.
Have fun :-)

[Chubbles]

Thanks for the replies guys

[abraxas]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v83/abraxas/laco2.jpg


I had one for about 3 years and wrote a review of it here:
http://www.tz-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2709&highlight=laco (http://www.tz-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2709&highlight=laco)

The worse points of it are:

1. Of course there should be no date.

2. The crown was too small … and being a screwdown I was always worried it might shear the threads depending on the quality of the metal. Nothing happened to mine but I was extremely careful. A bigger crown and no threads would have been a better option.

3. The lugs could have had with a bit of a drop. They are just too odd.

I must admit that for the period I had the watch I really enjoyed it … eventually replacing it with one of these Czech airforce clones for my pseudo-pilot duties. :-D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v83/abraxas/world4.jpg

I have been considering the new 36mm (Ref. 861061)… pity they decided to put the brand name on the dial … the sterile ones look so much better. And of course the new prices are higher. I feel the Stowa are better built-quality but of course their cases are nothing like the old Bs. If you decide to go ahead with the purchase keep us informed.

john

[Chubbles]

Nah, I think i'll stick to the Stowa.