HANDS-ON: The Laco Scorpion 39 collection delivers rugged, 39mm dive watches with a sense of fun
Fergus NashLaco are phenomenally popular with Flieger wearers as they’re one of the affordable brands to have made those original pilot’s watches during WWII. Now, the brand are as strong as ever and have branched out significantly from what could be considered their staple. The Laco Scorpion is a new extension to their Squad Watch collection with serious specifications, friendly dimensions and zesty accents.
The case
The case of the Laco Scorpion watches looks quite rough-and-tumble even from a distance, thanks to the gear-shaped bezel that offers huge grip and tough looks alike. Not only does this match well with the rest of the Laco Scorpion’s personality, but it means the bezel is super easy to handle with gloves when beneath water. The diving capability stands at 300m, which is more than adequate and impressive for its 13mm height that includes a double-domed sapphire crystal. The diameter has been brought down to 39mm from the 42mm originals, but the real magic comes with the lug-to-lug distance of 45mm that should suit all kinds of wrists both big or small.
If you’re worried that the Laco Scorpion may be too small for you in its reduced size, there’s no need to fear. The stainless-steel bracelet does a good job of filling out the extra wrist space, but even on one of the rubber straps the dial is clear enough to have good visual presence. The rubber straps to choose from are a black accordion strap, or a pull-through NATO style strap in colour-matched ribbed rubber. Should you wish to change things up with aftermarket options, you should have an easy time thanks to the 20mm lug width.
The dial
The dial layout is the same as some of the previous Laco Squad Watch entrants, with Arabic numerals everywhere except for luminous batons at the quarters. The fencepost hands are clear and easily legible, while the date window at 3 o’clock has a black background to blend in neatly. There are four colour variants to choose from, ranging from stern to fanciful. The first is the Himalaya, which has a fairly traditional black and white colour scheme except for the bright orange minute hand. If you’re a fan of Laco’s brooding aesthetic and always wear watches on the bracelet, then this is the model for you. The Mojave version is similar, except the orange has spread to the markers at 12, 6, and the 15-minute track of the diving bezel for an extra bit of punch.
The Atlantik brings a cool breeze to the summery vibes with a light blue highlight, reminiscent of tropical beaches and clear skies. Green is a popular colour to the point that it’s possibly overplayed, but the Amazonas carries a refreshing shade of green that hovers somewhere between lime and mint. Both of these watches were born to be worn with their matched rubber straps, and should bring a smile to your face as well as get a lot of outside attention.
The movement
The Laco Scorpion watches use the Sellita SW200 movement at the Elaboré grade, meaning that in addition to the 38 hours of power reserve and the 4Hz beat rate, you also get some more decoration on the movement and an accuracy of +/-7 seconds per day. The Laco Scorpion uses a solid caseback with a decorative scorpion engraving, so you won’t be seeing that decoration, but the extra artistry and structural solidity is appreciated over a sapphire window. You can also upgrade to the Top grade for an extra €130.
The verdict
It can be difficult to find watches that have a lot of masculine flair below 40mm, so the fact that Laco are catering to the 39mm market is incredibly welcomed. Plus, the addition of the colourful pops reminds us that not all masculine dive watches have to be totally devoid of charm and fun. The Laco Scorpion also offers pretty good value for money, costing less than €1000 on the steel bracelet, but still offering a high quality Swiss movement.
The Laco Scorpion 39 pricing and availability:
The Laco Scorpion 39 is now available from Laco’s web store here. Price: €930 (on rubber) / €980 (on bracelet)
| Brand | Laco |
| Model | Scorpion |
| Case Dimensions | 39mm x 13mm x 45mm |
| Case Material | Stainless Steel |
| Water Resistance | 300 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire with AR coating |
| Dial | Black with orange, blue, or green accents |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Strap | Steel bracelet or rubber straps |
| Movement | SW200 |
| Power Reserve | 38 hours |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | €930 (on rubber) / €980 (on bracelet) |