Laco?

I'm also into pilots watches as well. I love IWC the good thing there's many alternatives to IWC without having to break the bank too much and with heritage.

If you like the IWC big crown I would suggest looking into Alpina.

Here are my Type A and B

Laco and Stowa both got good fliegers and are just as historically important to flieger watches as IWC.

I actually don't love IWC. I just feel that a respectable collection should have at least one IWC just because they have been around for so long. Having said that, i can't convince myself that, say, their 7750 based fleiger chronographs are any better than Laco chronographs based on the same movement but at 1/3 or 1/2 the price. I also struggled to pick between Laco and Stowa and eventually picked up a Laco. But I went for a more premium offering, not the basic miyota version. I have had it since last December and it's really been my most worn watch. I hear really good things about their pro series which they recently revamped. Take a look at those I guess

Apologize for the poor photo quality but this is the best I managed with the left hand. Laco is on the right wrist because I'm also wearing a Zenith type 20 at the moment (on the left wrist)

Alpina I haven’t looked at but I will definitely look into it. Thanks for the suggestion.

I will definitely take a look at the pro version. You said that you went for more premium offering. What is the pros of the version you got and which one is that?

I bought an eta/sellitta based model vs miyota. I also went for the top grade vs elabore grade eta/sellitta which gives you more accuracy due to better materials in the movement, more adjustment positions, etc. If you google elabore vs top grade sellitta, you can find a side by side comparison of the two versions.

This is one of my recent pick-ups. I originally wanted a Stowa, but when I really looked at this limited edition offering from Laco, I pulled the trigger on this Augsburg 42 Polar. It's a refresh take on the fleiger style of watches, pulling color cues from the Rolex Explora Polar. It plus an additional strap and a movement upgrade was still half the price of the Stowa, though the way Stowa decorates their SW200 movements is super appealing to me.

All in all, you get a great watch, with heritage and the German quality is top tier.

I "accidentally" got elabore in one of my watches and was unhappy with accuracy. that's why I ditched it.

I’m wearing my Fleiger Pro today. It’s more expensive then some of Laco’s entry level models but I loved that I was able to customize it to be exactly what I wanted. Plus is has some more modern specifications like the case design and 200m of WR. I love it.

This is my BYOP Aviator. Affordable and really cool watch with internal rotating bezel.

Laco is really cool too.

Laco with the miyota 9039 no date movement would be a great choice :)

Just got the simple miyota caliber Laco LE in olive dial. Not very accurate I know. But I am just in it for a green watch and the flieger look. It doesn't disappoint and I enjoy it a lot. It does its job for me. 😉

This one is a Stowa with an ETA 2824 display caseback. I like the Laco though also very much .

I love aviation watches. However, like Field watches I find their design is pretty utilitarian. Of course I have eyed IWC Le Petite Prince on more than one occasion. But for me I think I would prefer something more modern. Enter the SWC Hyper-G. Swiss movement with that traditional aviator look with the added design of the minute track. All for a lot less than any of the other ones!

I own a few Laco watches and never had a single issue, another brand of pilot watch that I own and enjoy is Marc and Sons also German. Good luck!

🔥

I absolutely love mine and the finish.

The Laco Augsburg Blaue Stunde 39mm

I'm a fan of Laco and love the simplicity of the dial! I also picked up a couple more Type B models....😉

I have a problem.😀

Awesome watch! Have you been able to compare your flieger pro to some of the base laco models? I was wondering if there is much of a difference in finishing quality. I've thought about getting a pro, but haven't seen one in the metal and my concern is that I didn't love the quality of the base models I saw

Is that a bark and jack strap?

It’s not, it’s from B&R Bands.

I did compare a few. I preferred the modern turned down lug style, ability to upgrade the movement, the extra water resistance, and I’m a date window person, so being able to add a color matched date function sealed the deal.

I just bought a Seiko type b style pilots watch, but I am for sure gonna get a laco in the near future as well 😍 most likely a type a style (since I don't like lacos hands on the type b 🙈 but I love the hands on the type a 🥰 and also want some diversity 😊) leaning towards the Ausburg either the Grau, Bronze or Erbstück model (depending on the budget that I will set myself and it also has to fit my motorcycle gear, since I am not a pilot and will most likely wear it whilst riding 😊)

I love Laco, I think they have a bunch of stuff at different price points that are interesting. I had the Aachen 42 Type B dial and wore that a lot. But I got a chance to see the Speyer Type B in 39mm…I didn’t think I would go for a smaller flieger but it felt so nice and was so satisfying at that size that I gave up the Aachen and went for it. The Speyer has a more traditional flieger case that I think makes it more unique in my collection, and the other details also felt like a huge upgrade; the blued hands, beautiful subtly domed crystal, movement, blasted case finishing, strap. I would highly recommend putting in the extra cash for the higher end models…you will eventually want them, fliegers are addicting.

I also enjoy my other Laco’s- the Frankfurt GMT with 200m water resistance and internal bezel is just a complete do it all watch if you can wear the 43mm case, and the Bell X-1 edition is just a fun black case with full lumed sword hands and a cool 12,3,6,9 layout.

Love a Laco. Mine are all 39mm which is as big as my wrist will take. I find them well made and excellent value.

Beautiful #laco

I am lucky enough to own the Polar 42 version of this watch. It is one of the most beautiful, but disappointing feeling watches.

It's possibly just an issue with my model, but the rotor seems loose and VERY noisy. The miyota movements while reliable, don't stand up imo to what Stowa and others have to offer.

I'm sure the laco pro model is excellent, and I would love to own one in the future.

However I am bowled over by the quality and feel of Stowa, and Dekla (for the price!)

If you have a small budget, I would advise Dekla. If you have a larger budget, Stowa or Laco Pro would be the way to go. (Also Sinn/Damasko if you like the style)

The different brands have small design elements that I love/hate, and these are a great guide to which flieger is "the one", e.g. I think stowa and laco blow IWC out of the water with their hand designs.

Have a nice day :)

Laco gives you the option of Good and Better which is always appreciated. Plus little customizations.

I've got the Augsburg 39 on the brown leather strap, which I find very comfortable. If you like the pilot's watch aesthetic but IWC is far too expensive for now, I really don't think you'd go wrong with this.

I do have the Mark XX in blue as well - and I love them both. I think I'm several decades older than you (!) - so maybe IWC, if you still love them, could mark a significant birthday a long way ahead. Meanwhile, you'll get a hell of a lot of pleasure from the Augsburg.