When it comes to Laco, we instantly think of their classic Flieger watch designs, as they play an essential part in the brand heritage. While these pilot watches are true and cherished classics, what we love about Laco is their commitment to creating new designs while maintaining the quality they are known for. In this review, we are taking a closer look at their modern Squad Watches / Sport watches collection.
Specs:
- Ref # 862108.MB
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: Laco 200 (SW 200-1 base)
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Case Width: 42 mm
- Lug Distance: 20 mm
- Price: Around $1,200
Laco: The Brand
Laco was founded in 1925 under the name “Lacher & Co.”, and they worked side-by-side with Durowe, a German movement manufacturer. The factory was in Pforzheim, a city in southwestern Germany, not too far from Stuttgart.
Laco watches are made in Germany, and the brand prides itself on maintaining the brand heritage while striving to be forward-thinking, combining history with innovative technology under the “made in Germany” label.
Laco Squad Watches: Overview
The Laco Squad Watch is an exciting dive watch, combining classic design elements with a fresh and new look. As the name suggests, the case width is 42 mm, a great size for sport watches. The combination of the dark dial and bezel with the bright green secondary color creates a very robust and dynamic look. The back of the case has a scorpion engraved on it, a visual reminder of the sturdy quality of the watch: made to last even in extreme conditions.
Overall, the Laco Squad is a very masculine-looking watch, featuring a classic and understated case paired with a dynamic, vibrant secondary color to stand out in a tasteful way. Currently, the Squad watches are available in four different designs that represent tough terrains, from the mountains to the desert. The four watches are:
- Himalaya
- Amazonas
- Atlantik
- Mojave
Specs:
- Ref # 862106.MB
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: Laco 200 (SW 200-1 base)
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Case Width: 42 mm
- Lug Distance: 20 mm
- Price: Around $1,200
Dial
The dial contributes to the serious appearance of the watch due to its matte black color. The Arabic numerals with white color have more angles than curves, which helps in creating a more understated, rugged look. No Arabic numerals are displayed at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock positions, creating a very balanced appearance, and the subtle date window at 3 o’clock position is perfectly visible without stealing the show.
The use of pencil hour and minute hands is not surprising for a sports watch, however, Laco’s solution was to have the entire minute hand in a bright green color (other variations like blue, and orange are also available). Additionally, the lollipop second hand also has the same bright color, as well the 6, and 12 o’clock positions’ hour indices.
Bezel
The unidirectional rotating ceramic bezel has a slightly different design than the usual serrated bezel we often see. The Laco Squad watch has bigger “teeth”, therefore the bezel resembles a mechanical gear. A great look for a classic count-up bezel, that’s combined with the vibrant secondary color indexes with luminous Superluminova coating.
Case
The Laco Squad watch has a case width of 42 mm, and the lug-to-lug distance is 50.5 mm. The height of the case is 13.4 mm. These dimensions are to be expected with a sports watch, but this also means that the Squad could be a bit too big for small wrist sizes.
The brushed stainless steel case is equipped with sturdy yet understated crown guards and double domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal, providing great protection and visibility in all conditions.
Our favorite part is the screw-down caseback with the engraved scorpion. From the mountains to the desert or tropical rainforests, this flexible sports watch is ready for daily use in outdoor environments. The names of the four models reflect its purpose, namely Himalaya, Amazonas, Atlantik and Mojave.
Movement
The Laco Squad comes with the Laco 200 automatic movement, which is based on the Swiss Sellita SW 200-1 caliber, a very reliable automatic movement with 26 jewels, providing 38 hours of power reserve.
Strap
The Laco Squad watches are available with either brushed stainless steel oyster bracelets, or rubber straps. Both of these variations look great with the watches, and it’s completely up to your preference. We love the stainless steel option as it’s a bit more versatile and fitting for more occasions. In case you want to update the look of your timepiece and change the strap, the lug width is at 20 mm.
Pros and Cons
Let’s take a look at the summary of pros and cons, in our humble opinion:
Pros
- Unique, fresh design from Laco.
- Great bright secondary color options
- Reliable automatic Swiss movement at a reasonable price.
Cons:
- Might be too big for smaller wrists.
- While the bright colors are great, the overall appearance might not be the most appropriate for more formal events.
Summary: Takeaway and Final Thoughts About Laco Squad Watches
Laco watches have consistently prioritized quality, durability, while maintaining a sleek design. Wearers can always depend on these qualities. Laco Squad watches provide a sturdy solution for everyday use in challenging environments, all while sporting a straightforward and distinctive design.
The Squad watches bring fresh design solutions combining vibrant pops of color with a sturdy, masculine look. Laco is getting a lot of attention and love from watch enthusiasts but we think they might be somewhat of an overlooked brand, definitely worth checking out.
Specs:
- Ref # 862107.MB
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: Laco 200 (SW 200-1 base)
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Case Width: 42 mm
- Lug Distance: 20 mm
- Price: Around $1,200
All Variations of the Laco Squad Watches
If you like the overall design the the Laco Squad watches, and looking for the perfect color combinations, you’re in luck! Here’s the full list of the different variations:
Laco Atlantik 42 MB
Specs:
- Ref # 862108.MB
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: Laco 200 (SW 200-1 base)
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Case Width: 42 mm
- Lug Distance: 20 mm
- Price: Around $1,200
Laco Amazonas 42 MB
Specs:
- Ref # 862107.MB
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: Laco 200 (SW 200-1 base)
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Case Width: 42 mm
- Lug Distance: 20 mm
- Price: Around $1,200
Laco Himalaya 42 MB
Specs:
- Ref # 862106.MB
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: Laco 200 (SW 200-1 base)
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Case Width: 42 mm
- Lug Distance: 20 mm
- Price: Around $1,200
Laco Mojave 42 MB
Specs:
- Ref # 862109.MB
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: Laco 200 (SW 200-1 base)
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Case Width: 42 mm
- Lug Distance: 20 mm
- Price: Around $1,200
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