New: Laco Edition 98

Laco begins their celebration of their 100th Anniversary (2025) with the Edition 98 to represent their 98 years in watchmaking. This novelty is a bi-compax chronograph. Now with two luminous totalisers.

Press Release with commentary in italics.

New: Laco Edition 98

The Laco Edition 98 Ref. 862166 will retail at EUR 2,950. Price is inclusive of VAT in EU. Limited Edition of 98 pieces.

Commentary

The novelty is part of the Laco chronograph collection. Though not labelled as such, we consider the Edition 98 to be the flagship, but virtue that it is the most expensive watch in the collection. It is currently the only bi-compax chronograph in the collection.

And part of the celebrations in what they call Mission 2025, to release new interpretations of limited-edition watches which have played an important part in the company’s history. This being the 98th anniversary, hence the nomenclature Edition 98. Mission 2025 is in its third year, and previous Editions have sold out quickly.

The main distinguishing feature of this novelty is the generous use of lume on both chronograph counters, as well as on the hour and minute markers and the hour, minute and chronograph hands.

Movement is the Sellita SW510BH b, with the elabore level of finishing ex-factory. This is the lowest offered by Sellita for this movement. The other two being the Top and Chronometer, and this chronograph is not offered in Standard form. And can be seen through the sapphire glass case back. This is Sellita’s alternative to the ubiquitous Valjoux 7750, and is based primarily on the same architecture. The SW500 family is common across the entire Laco chronograph family, but it appears that the Edition 98 is the only one to use the bi-compax SW510 as the base movement.

Pricing, though is the highest in the Laco collection, is still highly accessible at just below EUR 3k. The watch does look very nice, aimed squarely at the pilot watches or aircraft watch genre.

Release information

The „Edition 98“ lights up the darkness 

Pilot watch manufacturer Laco presents limited Bicompax chronograph 

Pforzheim, December 2023 – With the “Edition 98”, watch manufacturer Laco presents the next model of its “Mission 2025”. The new Bicompax Chronograph is the fourth model in a series of limited-edition timepieces, each of which presents a part of the company’s collection. The new watch features two luminous totalizers as a unique refinement and represents 98 years of first-class watchmaking artistry.

The luminous Bicompax chronograph “Edition 98” is a tribute to the adventurers of the skies and the explorers of the night. It was not only created to measure time, but also to show the way in the dark. Not only the strict limitation of only 98 pieces, but also the two luminous totalizers at 3 and 9 o’clock make it something very special.

The round displays are fully coated with luminous material Superluminova C3. This means that they provide orientation and precision even in the deepest darkness and are bright and clear to read with their greenish glow. In contrast to the simpler pilot watches with just three hands, the central stop second and the 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock provide additional functions. Thanks to the clear contrast between the black dial and the bright numerals and indices, the unique chronograph offers unsurpassed readability, also at daytime, for precise and clear timekeeping.

The stainless-steel case with a diameter of 43 millimetres has a double-domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inside. The combination of polished and satin-finished elements offers a successful blend of elegant and sporty. The thermally blued hour and minute hands, which are filled with Superluminova C3, are equally elegant and their design builds a bridge to the historic pilot watches. The frame hands of the small second at 9 o’clock and the 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock are thermally blued as well. The Arabic numerals and indexes are also coated with the luminous material. One further highlight is the large, easy-to-grip pilot’s crown with the raised number “98”, which refers to the limitation.

The heart of the chronograph is the Laco 510 automatic movement, which is based on the Swiss Sellita SW510BH b. The decoration of the caliber with ornamental cuts and thermally blued screws can be viewed through the large sapphire crystal back. A power reserve of 62 hours makes the watch a reliable companion that does not lose any of its precision, even after more than two days of rest.

The watch comes with a robust, black calfskin strap with the rivets typical for pilot watches and a pin buckle with Laco engraving. If you want to take advantage of the watch’s water resistance of 10 ATM, you can opt for the stainless-steel bracelet of the sister model Kiel.2.

Like the other Laco editions released in the last three years, which sold out in no time at all, the new “Edition 98” also comes with a matching color gift box, including a limited collector’s pin and certificate of authenticity.

Laco Edition 98 Specifications

*Limited up to 98 pieces*

Case:

Stainless steel, polished / sandblasted, Ø 43 mm, height 14 mm, lug width 22 mm, water resistant up to 10 ATM, double curved sapphire crystal, antireflective coating on the inside, crown with “98” relief, limited edition number engraved on the caseback

Movement:

Automatic movement Laco 510, basic movement: Sellita SW510BH b (Elaboré) decorated, hour, minute and small second, stop second, 30 min. counter, minute and hour counter, up to 62 hours power reserve with full winding, 27 jewels, stop-second function

Dial:

Black mat, arabic figures and indexes coated with luminous material Superluminova C3, design according navigator watch type A, two totalizers at 3 and 9 o’clock completely with Superluminova C3

Hands:

Hour and minute hand thermally blued, hour, minute, second with Superluminova C3, small hands at 3 and 9 o’clock also thermally blued

Strap:

Black calf leather strap with light stitching, 2 rivets per strap side, 22 mm strap width, buckle with Laco logo

Weight:

Approx. 105 g

Packaging:

Black gift box with matching cardboard box, including limited pin and certificate of authenticity