Known as the Laco “Squad” watch, this is the smaller dimensioned quartz version than the larger and more common version. At 40mm diameter as opposed to 46mm and just over 9mm depth compared to 13mm, makes for a much neater watch and one that I definitely prefer. The heavy “articulated” lugs are quite striking and the top one shrouds and protects the large crown very well, which as you see is positioned at the 12 o’clock datum position.
- The Swiss movement is the quality Quartz ETA F06.111, the case is a well made and very solid brushed stainless steel with a slightly oversize anti-clockwise unidirectional bezel. A really excellent AR coated crystal makes the dial clarity something special as the matt black is in high contrast to the highly luminous hour markers and Super-Luminova C3 hands. There is also a minute track around perimeter coupled with a very clear centre second hand with luminous dot showing it’s position clearly. Simple date window @6 completes the layout.
- Water resistance is pretty good at 200 metres, assisted by the heavily knurled Screw Down crown and a luminous dot at the datum point on the bezel is another typical divers touch.
- The supplied strap however is a typical diver’s rubber ribbed divers affairs that’s fine for that purpose if worn on top of a dive neoprene suit or suchlike, but I prefer more comfort these days and I changed it and teamed it up with a neater Silicon deployment strap that properly holds these articulated lugs in the correct position for the wrist. It really makes for a very neat watch in wearing. The lugs incidentally coupled with the new deployment allow the watch to sit on a bedside table upright, so easily read (if you are a watch off sleeper) – personally I rarely take it off.
All in all an excellent choice for a “daily beater” – it looks good, perfect size, Quartz no fuss Swiss movement, very easy to read and very comfortable to wear –
Says it all really. . . . . but I would highlight one quite superb feature. The luminous quality of this watch is without doubt the best I have even come across.
The Super-LumiNova C3 is quite exceptional!
So good in fact that it’s actually better than the and of the older LumiNova C1 coated or Tritium light source watches I have.
Update March 2025 –
This Post was dated 2012, so 13 years ago almost to the day and as I was checking the luminance of my old Tritium light source models (I have 3) and I checked the Laco here as well.
I have three Tritium models. Two are Traser – one at (16 years old) with no light at all, the other at (13 years old) was very faint.
The other watch, a Uzi Defender (also 13 years old) is the only one which is still pretty good (incidentally it was also the cheapest!)
However as I said in this Post – the Laco luminance was and is superior to these 3 Tritium models even when I bought them new. Tritium is reliable for 10 to 12 years in practice, but after that they fade away.
I have many other luminous models and it’s fair to say that generally they’re very decent for night use. Many could be C1 Super-LumiNova, but often don’t specify) but regardless – perhaps it’s the thickness of the C3 coating, I don’t know, but nothing yet matches this Laco.
Watch space 