LACO CuxHaven 862168, a classic watch re-born

 

LACO is well known among watch enthusiast for their long history of manufacturing observation or pilot watches, however in the field of Navy Watches the company also has a rich history that goes back to the 1940’s.

The LACO Cuxhaven, ref: 862168, belongs to the Navy watches category and is named after a Northern German Harbor town.

Case and bezel:

The Cuxhaven is available in two sizes, 42.5 mm and 39 mm, this smaller case is the perfect size for me as I have small wrists, I find this watch offers well balanced proportions.

The stainless-steel case is finished with brushed surfaces, while the coin edge bezel is finished in a polished like mirror, an interesting combination. The case is very well made, the brushing is exquisite, it does not have any sharp edges, and it is a very comfortable case to wear.

The lugs are spaced at 20 millimeters, the height of the case is only 10 millimeter and the distance from lug to lug is 46mm.

The caseback is screw down with a sapphire see thru window. Around the caseback we find the typical information including the brand name, water resistance, which is 100mts, and the made in Germany stamp.

The overall case is fascinating as its design is very modern but when combined with the coin edged bezel and the classic white glossy dial, the whole package becomes very charming and vintage looking.

The smaller size of the 39mm version of this watch opens up new possibilities for enthusiasts who prefer a more compact size than the 42.5 mm version, but without having to sacrifice the captivating classic look that this watch offers.

Crown:

The onion style crown is perfect, it offers amazing grip, it turns very smoothly and its design pair very nicely with the design of the bezel and the overall look of the watch.  At the front of the crown we find LACO’s logo.

Dials:

These watches are offered in two different dial versions, the black dial named Bremerhaven and this white dial named Cuxhaven.

The dial is finished in glossy white, that looks like enamel, it has a railway style minute circle that high lights the 5 minutes interval with markers painted with Superluminova C3, hours are tracked with big and easy to ready Arabic numbers which are also painted with Superluminova C3.

The small second hand which is located at 6 o’ clock, sits on a sub-dial that appears to be underneath the main dial, it is finished with circulars and textured details that add a nice depth to the design.

As normal on vintage style watches, this Cuxhaven does not have a date window, the dial design is very classic, it is very easy to ready.

Hands:

The modern style hands are thermally blued and on the inside, there is also painted with Superluminova C3.

Crystal:

This watch comes standard with a Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inside, buyers can opt to apply anti-reflective coating on the outside for a small additional charge. At Just Watch Me we are not really a fan of this option as the coating is susceptible to scratches which defeats the purpose of having a sapphire glass in the first place.

Movement:

Inside the case we find a Swiss made Sellita SW261 manual wound movement with 23 jewels on its Elabore version, which looks very good, there is the option to upgrade to the top version of this movement for an additional charge. The movement comes with hacking second hand, the beat rate is 28,800 beats per hour, and power reserve is about 38 hours.

The movement is decorated with Côtes de Genève, thermical blued screws, the ratchet wheel and crown wheel with sun ray finishes, and the ratchet wheel is also engraved LACO’s logo.  

Strap:

The watch is mounted on a 20mm tan leather strap handcrafted in Germany and decorated with tan stitching, secured with a polished stainless-steel buckle branded with LACO’s name.

As it is common in all LACO’s straps the leather is soft and very comfortable to wear.

Conclusion:

In a time where trends are about the latest disposable technology, the Cuxhaven from LACO remind us of what watchmaking is all about, an extraordinary combination of art, top engineering, resilient and classic watch design, all encapsulated in a timeless 39mm package.

This is timepiece that deserve a spot in the collection of any serious watch enthusiast, but it is also perfect for a person who wants to own a real timepiece that will last for ever.