From the classic pocket watch to the modern wrist watch
With this navy watch, Laco combines function and design of two seafaring classics: the 1940s pocket watch and a model resembling the watches of the crew on board of the "U1" submarine. Manual wind movement, dial and casing are essentially just as they were in the watches predecessors. However, the modern wrist watch "Made in Germany" has been made to have a more optically pleasing appearance. One special feature is the prominently large transparent base which allows you to see the elegant clockwork.
Seafaring has hugely shaped the development of accurate timepieces. The pocket watch originally served as a means of exact time measurement and to determine geographical distances independently from landmarks. From a visual perspective, the features officially decided upon by the German naval observatory have become popular because of their clear readability - for example, matt-black Arabian numerals and the railway-themed minute circle have been characteristics of Laco pocket watches for ages. This is shown by both the model produced for the German Navy in the 1940s and the modern "Wilhelmshaven" edition. Similar details can in turn be found in the submarine watch with the Unitas clockwork 6498 - a wrist watch which was made in limited edition in collaboration with Deutsche Post in the mid-2000s.
The advent of the new navy watch enables Laco to close the circle and present a modern wristwatch which combines the qualities of the two prototypes. For example, it includes a sturdy stainless steel casing, a subsidiary seconds display in the number 6 position, numerals and indices treated with afterglow Superluminova C3 paint and a wind-up calibre. The Laco 98 clockwork is based on the Swiss ETA 6498.1. Its high-grade components such as the thermally blued screws and various decorative cuts are visibly highlighted by the sapphire glass base.
There are two models in this product line, each with a diameter of 42.5 mm: The bright-coloured "Cuxhaven" variant is beautifully adorned with a white dial and a cream-coloured leather strap, whilst the dark-coloured "Bremerhaven" variant is fitted with a black dial and black strap. The names are evocative of maritime cities - just like with the "Wilhelmshaven" pocket watch. Both of these innovative models reflect past eras and yet have a contemporary maritime look.
