Laco Replika 55 Revives a Historic 55mm Pilot’s Watch
Built to the scale of the original
With the Laco Replika 55, Laco revives one of the most distinctive designs in its history. The faithful reissue draws on the German brand’s observation watches of the 1940s, retaining their imposing dimensions and functional design while incorporating a specially modified hand-wound movement.
Laco Replika 55 Baumuster A
Laco
Faithful to the Original
Historical authenticity takes precedence over contemporary styling in the Replika 55. Its 55mm stainless-steel case features a dark sandblasted finish, straight lugs and a prominent onion-shaped crown. The matte surface recalls the original watches, whose finish was intended to minimize reflections in the cockpit. The substantial dimensions also reflect the watch’s original purpose. Observation watches were designed as navigation instruments, with large dials that allowed pilots and navigators to read the time quickly and clearly. Historically, they were worn over flight clothing rather than like conventional wristwatches.
Laco Replika 55 Baumuster B
Laco
Laco offers two dial configurations. Baumuster A features a traditional hour scale, while Baumuster B places the minute track around the outer edge and the hour circle in the center. As with the historical models, there is no brand logo on the dial. Thermally blued hands and luminous dial elements coated with Super-LumiNova C3 combine period-inspired styling with contemporary legibility.
The brown leather pilot’s strap also follows the original construction. It is permanently attached to the case and designed to be slipped over the hand, a feature intended to reduce the risk of accidentally dropping the watch when putting it on or taking it off. At 21mm thick, the Replika 55 is imposing in profile as well as in diameter. The case also incorporates antimagnetic protection and is water-resistant to 50 meters.
Laco Replika 55 Baumuster B
Laco
Hand-Wound Movement with a Central Seconds Display
Inside the case, Laco uses its hand-wound Caliber Laco 97, based on the ETA 6497.1. Originally designed with a small-seconds display at 9 o’clock, the movement is modified for the Replika 55 to provide a central seconds hand. Laco assembles, individually regulates and tests the movement in its Pforzheim workshop.
Laco Caliber 97
Laco
The hand-wound caliber offers a 46-hour power reserve and features a stop-seconds function, Incabloc shock protection and a swan-neck fine adjustment. Its relatively large dimensions make it well suited to the oversized case, while the hand-wound construction preserves the character of the historical observation watches. The watch’s individual serial number appears on both the movement and the solid caseback, whose interior also carries historical observation-watch markings.
Both dial configurations are priced at $4,780.
