Please identify this Laco?

[MoFauxHawk]

I just won this on eBay from a German-seeming person (who lives in California). It looks different from any Laco I've seen. Here's his description on eBay:

I would like to offer for your consideration this rare vintage watch WWII Military Laco. Good working condition,keeping the right time.This rare vintage piece has an original signature on back of its case,movement.. 17 jewel signed manual wind hack setting movement, with [frosted gilt] finish, caliber 550, near mint stainless alloy signed rectangular case (39x21mm), near mint original signed dial, with luminous numerals, sub seconds. Fairly hard to find: signed Laco, made for the German market, circa 1930s!






Thank you for your help.

[stuffler,mike]

Most likely made 1935-1940, the 550 is called a "formwerk" and was not only used by Laco.

I wouldn't say it is a military watch and I dare to say it is not even military inspired.

[Uwe W.]

The caveat with this argument is that many civilian watches were worn by men in active military service. I've seen many images of men in every service branch wearing watches with this type of case. Even though this particular model was never an officially issued watch (that I'm aware of), that doesn't preclude it from having been in the thick of the action. Alas, since watches don't come with data recorders we'll never know if your watch was one that survived the cauldron at Stalingrad or sat in a Bavarian farmer's drawer for the duration.

[Uwe W.]

I thought that I would include a photo to illustrate the point I was making in my previous post. I'm not stating that this is necessarily a Laco in the picture, however, it is a rectangular cased civilian watch. Maybe it's even the one you bought...

[MoFauxHawk]

Thank you for the helpful posts, guys. I guessed as well that it was a civilian watch. But like you said, assuming our idea of the circumstances of its production is correct, it is indeed a WWII watch even if it wasn't specifically made for military use. But I agree that the seller lied when he said it was a military watch, even though he seemingly contradicted himself later by saying it was made for the German market. I bought it assuming that he was lying or mistaken. I really like how it looks in the pictures and I think it looks unique.

So do I still get to be in the Laco club even though it's not a military or military reproduction watch? I don't seem to see any non-military Laco watches in this forum. I think it's important to recognize Laco's history as a company that also released non-military watches!

[Uwe W.]

So do I still get to be in the Laco club even though it's not a military or military reproduction watch? I don't seem to see any non-military Laco watches in this forum. I think it's important to recognize Laco's history as a company that also released non-military watches!

Absolacolutely. On all counts. I've actually been keeping my eyes open for a vintage Laco Sport, so it really isn't all about military watches here. However, like most forums for brands with a long history (Doxa comes to mind), the focus tends to be on models that are currently in production. And let's not remember that until quite recently, Laco was still selling non-military models.

Make sure you give us a report on your new watch when it arrives.

[Janne]

You are definitely in the Laco Club!!
And even better, you have a VINTAGE Laco! One that is maybe 10 years older than mine!!


Uwe! On your picture, the guy holding the board (map?) can you see what is on his left wrist? It looks like he is wearing a B-uhr over the sleeve?

[MoFauxHawk]

Yay, thank you, everybody! I will give a report when I get it.

[MoFauxHawk]

The seller just shipped it today. His name is actually very Eastern European seeming rather than German (first four letters of last name removed to protect his identity): Igor ____oshnikov. Maybe he killed a German and took his watch? I should ask him how he got it in case there's a cool story. I'm sure there isn't though.

[Uwe W.]

The seller just shipped it today. His name is actually very Eastern European seeming rather than German (first four letters of last name removed to protect his identity): Igor ____oshnikov. Maybe he killed a German and took his watch? I should ask him how he got it in case there's a cool story. I'm sure there isn't though.

There are an incredible amount of vintage German/Swiss watches coming out of Russia and the Ukraine. Many are frankenwatches, some so outlandishly built that it defies comprehension why anyone would buy them. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a shortage of buyers for those sellers who prey on ignorance.

On the other side of that ruble there were literally a few million Germans taken as prisoners of war by Russia during World War II. Over 100,000 Germans alone were captured during the battle of Stalingrad (only 5,000 lived through their captivity to return back to Germany nearly ten years later). In light of those numbers, and when you also factor in the looting of the civilian population by Russian troops, it's little surprise that so many German watches are currently in the hands of Russian eBayers.

I doubt your watch has a cool story. If anything I'd be more inclined to believe that it was a sad one.