2024 Laco Pilot Basic Aachen 42 Automatic 861690.2
Ref: 861690
Specification
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : Box & Unsigned Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with its Laco presentation box and unsigned Laco Paperwork. It comes paired with a 20mm vintage-style calf leather strap with rivets and a signed buckle. The watch is from Circa 2024 and is in like-new condition, as you can see from the photographs and comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Rgf3CutET67B2urQzUFfDcdmEYpebhkG?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 23:35 - https://youtu.be/TJeDD9BlfTA
The Watch
Here we have a 2024 Laco Pilot Basic Aachen 42 Automatic 861690.2, which represents one of their iconic pilot watches. The 42mm matte stainless steel case curves over your wrist with thick rounded lugs, a lug-to-lug length of 49.5mm and a case thickness of 12mm, giving the watch an impressive wrist presence. On the right side is a large onion crown with deep knurling, which is perfect when wearing gloves. A stepped bevel-edged smooth matte bezel holds a double domed sapphire crystal above a matte black Model B dial; an outer minute track is precisely executed with oversized Arabic numerals coated in C3 Super-LumiNova to mark the minutes and an inner ring with 12-hour numerals marks the hours coated in C3 Super-LumiNova. Long sword hands are infilled with the same luminance and complemented by a sweeping second hand; at 12 o’clock, we have the triangle used for navigation orientation, completing this faithful vintage-inspired tool watch. On the reverse, a screw-down exhibition case back, inside an automatic Miyota Cal. 82S0, 21 jewels, beating at 21,600 beats per hour, with hacking seconds. The watch comes paired with a 20mm vintage-style calf leather strap with rivets and a signed buckle, and it comes with its Laco presentation box and unsigned Laco Paperwork.
Personal Note
If you are considering a pilot watch but want to dip your toes in first before committing to something more expensive, I would recommend snapping this one up whilst you can. But be warned, whilst more affordable it still packs a punch and comes with serious history and heritage in the world of pilot watches and shouldn't just be seen as the "affordable one", the brand was founded in 1925 by Frieda Lacher and Ludwig Hummel in Pforzheim, Germany, under the name Lacher & Co. Towards the end of WW2, the RAF bombed the city, devastating the businesses and homes of the population. Under the USA's “Marshall Plan,” the city was able to rebuild itself, and Laco built a five-story factory that specialised in pilot watches!
The Brand
Laco was founded in 1925 by Frieda Lacher and Ludwig Hummel in Pforzheim, Germany, under the name Lacher & Co. Towards the end of WW2, the RAF bombed the city, devastating the businesses and homes of the population. Under the USA's “Marshall Plan,” the city was able to rebuild itself, and Laco built a five-story factory that specialised in pilot watches. In 1961, the company was sold to Timex and managed to survive the Quartz crisis of the 1970s. Today, it still produces pilot-themed watches.