Can someone explain LACO pricing to me like I'm a complete idiot?

[IamtheToph]

So, I like to think I know SOMETHING about watches, not much, but a little. I have a Maratac Mid Pilot, which is a perfect size considering it's an "A" style pilot's watch. I think I want to go bigger with a B type, somewhere around 42-44 would be ideal, even 46 if the look is right. I see LACOs varying in price from 400 - 1000 or more depending on store and type. I was wondering if someone could break down Laco pricing and what you get at each price point, including a description of the movement. Or if someone can point me in the right direction, that would be great. I checked the website, and nothing jumped out at me, is it the crystal type and movement that is the difference of $500? Would going for a lower end result in immediate buyer's remorse? Alternative type Bs that would be more cost-effective? Thanks so much, WUS!

[Perdendosi]

Toph--
I'm looking at Laco Type-Bs too. Looking at the Laco website, the prices start at 166 Euros (that's the price you see once you register and they deduct the European VAT), but plus 40 Euros shipping, for the Aachen -- the Type B with a Japanese Myota automatic movement and the not-as-strong-as-sapphire mineral crystal. Japanese Myota movements are fine... lots of people love them... but they're not Swiss.

Next higher is the Bielefeld -- same stats, but an ion-plated black case (plus a free strap for the month of May-- this is the one I want). 208 Euros.
https://shop.laco.de/en/Bielefeld-sp...ffer-2012.html

Next higher is the Nurnberg -- same size, same mineral crystal, but now with a hand-wind Myota movement. 294 Euros (I don't understand why this is so much more than the Myota automatic -- I'm sure someone with knowledge here will tell you. Maybe because the handwind movement is rarer?)
https://shop.laco.de/en/Nuernberg-sp...-May-2012.html

At 294 Euros is the Bonn. It has the harder-than-nails sapphire crystal. But it's got a regular old Swiss quartz movement. Some people think that not all quartzes are the same, some people say "quartz is quartz." But even a really nice quartz doesn't cost as much to make as a decent automatic.
https://shop.laco.de/en/Pilot-Watches/Bonn.html


Next higher is the Erfurt. This one has the cool, sandblasted case (to look darker), but is otherwise appears to be the same as the Bonn. It's 411 Euros.
https://shop.laco.de/en/Erfurt.html


The Paderborn, at 546 Euros, seems to be the same as the Nurnberg, except (a) is has a solid caseback, instead of an exhibition caseback that the Myota movements had below (I guess that makes it more authentic, but, in my opinion, less fun to look at) and (b) It's got the ETA 2824-2 automatic movement. (This is the "workhorse" Swiss automatic with a date-- you can read about it at Wikipedia: ETA SA - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia It's not the finest Swiss movement, but it's high quality, runs well, and is very easy to get repaired and serviced, because any good jeweler has seen a ton of them.) My "nice" watch, a Hamilton Square Jazzmaster, has this movement. This is the watch I would get if I could spend more than $300.
https://shop.laco.de/en/Paderborn.html


The Frederichshaufen, at 711 Euros, seems to be the same as the Paderborn, except it's larger--45mm instead of 42mm for the other watches listed. It's got the ETA 2824-2 automatic, too.
https://shop.laco.de/en/Friedrichshafen.html



Next up is the Dortmund, with the same stats as Fredrich up there, but with an ETA Swiss handwind movement. Don't know why this is more expensive; I'm sure the watch experts can help you out.
https://shop.laco.de/en/Dortmund.html

I think the answer is yes... the crystal and the movement make up a good portion of the price difference. The other difference is this dark sandblasted finish vs. the standard stainless steel. I've read a few posts here about how awesome the sandblasted finish is, and that probably also adds to the cost.

If you find other alternative Type-B's, please share them with me. I've looked at lots of other brands -- Aeromatic (Chinese but pretends not to be), Parnis (Chinese, but doesn't pretend to be something else), Junkers, Steinhart, Ticino (Myota innards, with reports here that they're not finished nearly as nicely as the Lacos)... nothing quite seems to measure up. Either they're crazy expensive, or just not quite right.

Long Island Watch sells lots of Flieger/Uhr-B-type watches. Maybe you'll find a brand and a price there:
Aeromatic 1912 Watches - German Aviation, Pilot, Marine, and Retro Watches

Good luck! Let me know what you come up with (because I need the help, too!)

[Perdendosi]

Oh, and two differences between the Myota and the ETA--
The Myota doesn't "hack" (meaning that when you pull the crown to set the watch, the second hand doesn't stop), whereas the ETA does.
The Myota ticks at 21,600 bph, or 6 ticks per second, and the ETA ticks at 28,800 bph, or 8 beats per second. That means second hands run by the ETA movements "sweep" more smoothly. I have watches with both, and I can attest that my ETA watch second had is smoother, but only on close inspection.

[Bluefrenzy]

In my opinion, the Laco versions are truest to the original WW2 watches for the price. They are one of the original companies that made them anyways. The ones with the ETA movement and grey case (with military inscription) are supposedly the most faithful reproductions.

I have the Miyota PVD version and am very satisfied with it. If you want alternatives Perendosi mentioned quite a few. Others include Aristo. Wilson Watch Works custom makes a decent one with Seagull or Swiss movement. There's a guy named from North Carolina who makes custom watches (drudy) for under $200 --> has Seagull movement and has the option of upgrading to ETA movement.