Horologii

Laco Edition 97 Bronze Pilot’s Watch Review

The Laco Edition 97 Bronze Pilot’s watch marks the third special edition launched by the German watchmaker for their MISSION 2025 project, this time celebrating historic B-Uhren pilot’s design with a retro bronze case and dark green dial with the hours displayed in an inner circle.

Laco started celebrating their 100-year anniversary a little earlier than anticipated. Founded in 1985, the German watch manufacturer were expected to mark the occasion in the year 2025, and yet surprisingly they chose to extend the celebrations, launching a special edition watch every year for the next five years starting in 2020. Each special edition Laco watch honours different traits of the company’s heritage. The first of the “MISSION 2025” project was the Edition 95 designed to tribute Laco’s history producing high-precision naval watches. Then in 2021, the Laco Edition 96 was launched, a monochromatic diver based on the Laco Scorpion. Now, we’re welcomed to the new Laco Edition 97 Bronze Pilot’s watch which takes inspiration from the B-Uhren pilot’s watch that secured the company its reputation.

In every way, the Laco Edition 97 Bronze Pilot’s watch is B-Uhren in style. The traditional rounded case boasts a thin, unadorned bezel and a large onion crown at 3 o’clock, the latter marked with the numeral “97” in relief. Almost the entirety of the case is engineered from bronze and as always the bronze case will develop its own patina over time making each special edition completely unique to the wearer. The case of the Laco Edition 97 watch measures to 42mm in diameter and 12.8mm in height and features double curved sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective treatment on one side, a 100 metre water resistant rating and a solid case back in steel. The back features your personal limited edition number of out 97 pieces.

The dial of the Laco Edition 97 Bronze Pilot’s watch also wonderfully tributes B-Uhren pilot’s watch with a historical type B dial with the hours displayed on an inner circle and the oversized minutes on the outer ring. The printed numerals sit flat on a dark military green dial and are partially coated with “Old Radium” Superluminova for readability even at night. True to the original design, only every second number of the outer circle is luminous. The dial also presents two thermally blued hands for the hours and minutes filled with a beige luminous material joined by a slender beige-coloured seconds hand.

Powering the Laco Edition 97 Bronze Pilot’s watch is the automatic winding Calibre Laco 200 based on the well-known Sellita SW200. It comes with a stop-second function, 26 jewels, a frequency of 28,800vph and a power reserve of 38 hours. Completing the watch is a distressed brown leather strap with cream stitching and a bronze pin buckle to match the case.

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 Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.

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