Laco is a historic German watch manufacturer located in Pforzheim. The brand is globally famous as one of the original five manufacturers authorized to produce the ‘Flieger’ (pilot) watches for the German Air Force during World War II, establishing them as an authority on military aviation timepieces.
Overview
Founded: 1925
Based in: Pforzheim, Germany
Typical Price Range: £300–£3,000 GBP
Known For: Paderborn, Aachen, Münster, Augsburg
Website: laco.de
Brand Story
Founded in 1925 by Frieda Lacher and Ludwig Hummel under the name Lacher & Co. (Laco), the company grew to become a major German watchmaker. During the 1940s, Laco was commissioned to build the oversized, highly legible observation watches (Beobachtungsuhren) for military navigators. Laco survived the post-war reconstruction of Pforzheim and has maintained production, focusing on reissuing highly authentic pilot watches alongside modern sports models.
Design Language
Laco’s core pilot watches utilize a strict military design. Dials are split into two layouts: Type A (featuring clean hour indices and a large triangle indicator at 12) and Type B (featuring a large outer minute track and a small inner hour ring). Dials are matte black with thick Super-LumiNova printing, matched with heat-blued hands and sandblasted cases.
Movements & Manufacturing
Laco utilizes Swiss automatic and manual-wind movements supplied by Sellita and ETA for their premium watches, and Japanese Miyota movements for their entry-level models. In their high-end models, Laco decorates and regulates the movements in-house to ensure high accuracy.
Notable Models
Paderborn: A premium Type B pilot watch featuring a sandblasted case, heat-blued hands, and a Swiss automatic movement.
Münster: A premium Type A pilot watch representing the classic observation watch layout in a 42mm case.
Aachen: An entry-level Type B pilot watch powered by a Japanese Miyota automatic movement.
Why Enthusiasts Care
Laco offers an authentic connection to watchmaking history. They are not copying the Flieger design; they are one of the original creators (along with IWC, A. Lange & Söhne, Stowa, and Wempe). For pilot watch enthusiasts, owning a Laco provides a piece of historical credibility that is unmatched at this price point.
Official Website
Featured Models
The Paderborn is Laco's authentic Type B Flieger pilot watch, featuring a sandblasted steel case, heat-blued hands, and a Swiss automatic calibre.
