When discussing Laco, their iconic aviation watch designs immediately come to mind, representing a significant aspect of the brand’s legacy. Although these aviator timepieces are genuine and revered classics, our admiration for Laco stems from their dedication to crafting innovative designs without compromising the excellence they are recognized for. In this review, we are taking a closer look at the Frankfurt GMT, a great combination of classic pilot watch design elements and some modern features.
Specs:
- Ref # 862121.2
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: Laco 330 (SW 330-2 base)
- Power Reserve 56 hours
- Case Width: 43 mm
- Lug-to-Lug Distance: 50 mm
- Price: Under $2,000
Laco: The Brand
Established in 1925 as “Lacher & Co.”, Laco collaborated closely with Durowe, a renowned German movement manufacturer. The production facility was located in Pforzheim, a southwestern German city near Stuttgart. Laco watches, produced in Germany, blend the brand’s rich heritage with a vision for the future, marrying historical roots with cutting-edge technology under the prestigious “made in Germany” label.
Laco Frankfurt GMT (Ref # 862121.2): Overview
The first thing that catches our attention is the stainless steel case, inspired by the original Laco pilot watches, sporting a dark sandblasted finish and is equipped with magnetic field protection. The dark sandblasted stainless steel case and gray dial combination is counterbalanced by the light hour and minute markers, and a very vibrant orange secondary color used for the GMT hand’s arrow tip, and the 24-hour marker for the dial’s inner rotating bezel.
Overall, the Laco Frankfurt GMT is a very masculine watch, featuring classic pilot watch elements combined with a decidedly modern look.
Specs:
- Ref # 862121.2
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: Laco 330 (SW 330-2 base)
- Power Reserve 56 hours
- Case Width: 43 mm
- Lug-to-Lug Distance: 50 mm
- Price: Under $2,000
Dial
The overall dark gray dial creates a very serious look, and the white hour and minute indices, with the alpha hour and minute hands create the contrast that is of course very much functional for pilot watches. Arab numerals are only used for the 3 and 9 o’clock positions, while the 6 o’clock position has the date window, and the 12 o’clock position has the “Orientation Triangle” – an essential part of pilot watch design. Classic elements like the Orientation Triangle and the alpha hour and minute hands are paired with bright orange secondary color, and this modern feature creates a very dynamic look.
The inner rotating bezel mirrors the dial in coloring, making it an integral part of the watch, as opposed to visually splitting the design. Smaller Arab numerals are used for the 24-hour dial, which can be adjusted with the help of the crown at the 4 o’clock position.
Case
The dark sandblasted stainless steel case comes equipped with magnetic field protection, and its width is at 43 mm. The lug-to-lug distance is 50 mm, which makes this watch relatively big, but that is to be expected, since we’re talking about a pilot watch.
The height of the case is 12.5 mm, and the double domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides ensures great visibility and scratch-resistance.
The dark sandblasted stainless steel case is equipped with understated yet sturdy crown guards.
Our favorite part is the screw-down caseback with the engraved fighter jet, along with a map of Europe and Asia. A great representation of this modern pilot watch with GMT functionality.
The Laco Frankfurt GMT is water resistant up to 200 meters.
Movement
The Laco Squad comes with the Laco 330 automatic movement, which is based on the Swiss Sellita SW 330-2 caliber, a very reliable automatic movement with 25 jewels, providing 56 hours of power reserve.
Leather Strap
The Laco Frankfurt GMT comes with a black water-resistant leather strap, and it includes a second nylon strap in gray/orange. The lug width is 20 mm.
Pros and Cons
Let’s take a look at the summary of pros and cons, in our humble opinion:
Pros
- Great modern design from Laco incorporating some classic elements.
- Very serious look due to the dark sandblasted stainless steel case.
- Reliable automatic Swiss movement at a reasonable price.
Cons:
- Might be too big for smaller wrists.
- A very sporty appearance, and it might not be an appropriate wear for more elegant occasions.
Summary: Takeaway and Final Thoughts About Laco Frankfurt GMT
Laco watches have consistently prioritized quality, durability, while maintaining a sleek design. The Laco Frankfurt GMT is a unique solution for combining traditional pilot watch design elements with modern features in an overall modern look. We like the dynamic pops of color combined with a sturdy, masculine look. While Laco is undoubtedly gaining significant recognition and admiration from watch aficionados, in our opinion it still remains one of the more underrated brands out there.
Specs:
- Ref # 862121.2
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: Laco 330 (SW 330-2 base)
- Power Reserve 56 hours
- Case Width: 43 mm
- Lug-to-Lug Distance: 50 mm
- Price: Under $2,000
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