Good afternoon OF,

I just came across this watch, it was just given to me. It's a Laco that, if what the person told me is true, dates back to WWII. The caseback is signed with a Laco logo, as well as the movement, but not the dial. The watch currently doesn't run and I was wondering if it was worth servicing it.
I've looked across the web and came out with a price approximation: around 200€ for the working watch.

Also, I would very much appreciate if you guys could provide any information on the watch or the brand itself.

Thank you so much for your time.
Best,
Javi.

 

My guess is it just predates WWII. I’m pretty sure it’s not an issued piece for a variety of reasons.

http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&&2uswk&Laco_526

Search for Laco 526 or Laco kaliber 526

Some info out there and some sales history.

 

I don't really know what do you mean here

Thank you so much, appreciate it!

 

It’s not a military issued piece like the a/b Uhr watches as ordered by the German Air Force.

Also most issued items in Germany carried a specific mark on them that should be fairly obvious.

After WWII watch making in Germany was not exactly booming.

 

Got it! Thank you so much.

 

I had a look at an original and even next to a 44.25mm case they are big...

 

Interesting. The one that I posted is 33mm wide! But I've seen some more examples than the one you posted.

 

In the late 1930s, many watch manufacturers made "pilots watches" in support of, what was at the time, the trendy market for anything related to airplanes. Laco, Helvetia and others produced chrome (sometimes steel) cases with black dials featuring high-contrast large luminous numerals and large lumed hands, presumably for good visibility in the cockpit. These watches were often quite large (40-44mm in diameter or larger), but small diameter watches that followed the pilot watch style were also produced.

Laco is still in production today, and is still producing pilots watches.

 

Really appreciate the input. Thanks!

 

Not an issued piece, nor an original. That’s a B Uhr dial which came in 55mm as per the specs during the war.

That looks like the Stowa aged limited edition from a few years back with the B dial.

 

The Laco name came from the firm Lacher and company. For a time, they marketed Swiss watches with the Laco name on the watches. They supplied Laco watches to the German military in WWII. Eventually, they commenced production of German made watches. They were associated with the German manufacturer Durowe. From what I have read, I have been unable to decide whether Laco bought Durowe, or otherwise. Durowe was eventually acquired by Timex at a time that Durowe was producing battery movements. Early Timex Electrics (1960 or so) used Durowe Electric movements which were, in my opinion! Superior to Hamilton Electrics of the day. Laco was later acquired by SSIH.

 

Really interesting facts. Appreciate it!

 

Laco nowadays feature lots of "heritage" or "tribute" styles. (A great opportunity to show my Laco Navy 36).

 

Durowe 422 in my Laco from circa 1950. Note, the movement is marked FOREIGN. Perhaps because the watch was made for export, at a time when things German were out of favour.



A Durowe (Laco) battery movement from the early 1960s as used in Timex Electric Watches.



My Laco which contains the Durowe 422 movement shown above. Acquired as a basket case. Might have ended up in a parts bin, but I liked the watch. Dial also marked FOREIGN.

 

Your previous post mentioned that the original watch @rincondeltiempo posted was not a military issued piece like the a/b Uhr watches as ordered by the German Air Force. I just put my photo up as an example of the 55mm B-Uhr Type B along with the spec issued to the various manufacturers. Stupidly I did not note the details from this watch B-Uhr Type B. I saw it at
https://amsterdamvintagewatches.com/shop/ a while back. I did contact them yesterday to see if they kept a record but they changed systems and the details have been lost. I don't know much about these watches / how do you tell if they have been issued? They were selling it as a genuine vintage wartime piece (also unserviced)

 

The B-Uhr watches are very large, and it's not just the case, but the movement also. I managed to snag a partial movement from a local antiques dealer a few years ago - no case but it did have a dial on it:



As you can see it's a Laco, and unfortunately missing the balance:



If that was still there I probably would have kept it and maybe done something with it, but finding balances for these are very difficult to say the least - note that you can see some Omega movements on the bench there, and the movement to the right is a 30 mm Omega (Cal. 283) so you can see just how big these movements are.

I ended up selling the Laco to a guy in the UK who specializes in restoring these original watches, to use for parts.

While I was in Glashütte a few years ago, I visited the horology museum there, and they had all kinds of watches from the region on display, including some from WWII, so this is one from Lange:



Cheers, Al

 

I do like them but it also strikes me in that the Wehrmacht always went P for plenty compared to the UK options :0)

 

I agree
Cheers

 

My bad looked smaller then 55mm in the pictures.

 

Wow this turned out to be a pretty interesting and informative thread. Thank you guys for your inputs and knowledge