Jewellery & Watch News
In anticipation of their 100 year anniversary, Laco have begun their “MISSION 2025” project which sees the German watchmaker reveal a new special edition every year, starting from 2020, up until their anniversary year in 2025. Alongside the 2020-released Laco Edition 95 and the Laco Edition 96 unveiled in 2021, we’re treated to the third instalment with the Laco Edition 97 Bronze Pilot’s watch.
Like the new Laco Edition 97 Bronze Pilot’s watch, the previous two anniversary Laco special editions have held a story, one that embodies the spirit and heritage of the luxury watch manufacturer. The Laco Edition 95 remembered the brand’s history producing precise naval watches combining its maritime charm with the brand's hallmark standards of precision, durability and functionality. Meanwhile, the Laco Edition 96 watch took things in a more contemporary direction, boasting an all-black case and dial inspired by the Laco Skorpion series of sport and military watches. For the latest 97-piece Laco Edition 97 Bronze Pilot’s watch, Laco honours the B-Uhr pilot’s watches they created for German military during World War II.
The Laco Edition 97 Bronze Pilot’s watch perfectly tributes its history and the original B-Uhr watches in its design. The 42mm case is characterised by the aviation-inspired onion-shaped crown at 3 o’clock which is neatly decorated with the numeral “97” in relief to mark its special edition status. The case itself is also engineered from bronze, a material with its own vast history in aviation and watchmaking. The 12.8mm tall bronze case will develop a patina over time, changing colour and texture as it interacts with moisture in the air and in your skin, meaning every Laco Edition 97 watch will be completely unique to its wearer. The case also presents double curved sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective treatment, a 100 metre water resistant rating and a solid case back. The case back is the only element of the watch case not engineered from bronze, opting for steel for hypoallergenic reasons.
Our personal favourite feature of the Laco Edition 97 Bronze Pilot’s watch is the dial which mimics the original B-Uhr watches perfectly with the hours displayed on the inner circle and the minutes on the outer-ring. The unique layout of numerals pairs alongside two thermally blued hands for the hours and minutes. These hands and every other second numeral, like the original design, is coated in “Old Radium” Superluminova for readability in low lighting. There’s also a slender seconds hand in beige. All of the hardware is placed on a gorgeous military-esque dark green dial.
Responsible for running the hours, minutes and seconds function of the Laco Edition 97 Bronze Pilot’s watch is the automatic winding Calibre Laco 200. The movement takes its base from the Sellita SW200 and enjoys a stop second function, 26 jewels, a frequency of 28,800vph and a power reserve of 38 hours. Completing the limited edition is a distressed brown leather strap with cream stitching and a bronze pin buckle. Like all exclusive Laco editions, the new Laco Edition 97 comes with a colour matching gift case, including a limited pin and certificate of authenticity.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Laco Edition 97 watch and secure one of the 97 limited edition pieces for yourself, head over to the C W Sellors website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at sales@cwsellors.com.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 42mm x 12.8mm
- Case Material: Bronze
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Double curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Onion with “97” in relief
- Case Back: Closed, stainless steel
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: Laco 200 automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes and seconds
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Jewels: 26
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Dark green with “Old Radium” Superluminova hands and markers
- Strap: Dark brown leather
- Buckle: Pin, bronze
- RRP: £1,300
- Limited Edition: 97 pieces
- Reference: 862160
