Laco’s classic chronograph returns with the Laco Kiel.2
Fergus NashAs one of the clear leaders of German-made pilot’s watches, Laco’s chronograph releases are few and far between. While the flieger essentials Type A and Type B get lots of attention – an archetype that Laco summited with their customisable Flieger PRO – the chronographs of the German air force were far less common but no less significant. The Laco Kiel chronograph was a staple of their catalogue before its discontinuation in 2018, however the Laco Kiel.2 is now here in bold white and black versions for those who want a slice of history in a modern package.
As with most flieger watches, you’re not going to see a huge amount of variation in designs, but it’s the tiniest of details and the execution that separates the decent from the great. The Laco Kiel.2 case uses a three-piece construction with fine brushing all over, keeping the shine to a minimum except for the very edge of the bezel, adding a bit of visual intrigue when viewed at an angle. The conical crown with deep grooves makes winding it trivial, and adds to the overall authenticity of the look. While the original flieger chronographs from the ‘30s and ‘40s were often at least 44mm if not larger, they were designed to be worn on the outside of flight jackets and read when flying through dark clouds at night. The new Kiel.2 takes the edge off with a 43mm diameter and a 51.5mm lug-to-lug that retains all of the heft a classic flieger should have.
The Laco Kiel.2 Schwarz may be the more traditional of the two references with it’s easily legible white-on-black colour scheme, but it also has much more room for lume with all hour markings in green Super-LumiNova, as well as the three centre hands and the running seconds hand at the 9 o’clock subdial. While the Weiss dial version has less luminous paint, its focus is more geared towards showing off its blued hands with clarity and a hint of class. The iconic double-dot and triangle marking can be seen at 12 o’clock, with a slight curve on the base of the triangle to accommodate the minutes subdial.
One of the customisable options of the Laco Kiel.2 is the choice of movement, based around the Sellita SW500, itself based on the Valjoux 7750. It has a beat rate of 4Hz and a power reserve of 62 hours, and the default option is the Elaboré grade with an accuracy of +/-5 seconds per day. For an extra €120, this movement will have extra decoration. For €150 extra, you get to the undecorated Top grade with its accuracy of +/-4 seconds per day, or €270 extra for the Top grade with decoration. Other optional extras include engraving on the side of the case or the automatic rotor, whether or not you’d like an extra anti-reflective coating on the outside of the sapphire crystal, and whether you’d like the day wheel to be in English (+€70) or German (default).
The Laco Kiel.2 pricing and availability:
The Laco Kiel.2 is now available from Laco’s website here. Price: €2,190 – €2,630
| Brand | Laco |
| Model | Kiel.2 |
| Case Dimensions | 43mm x 51.5mm x 14mm |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100m |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Black or white |
| Lug Width | 22mm |
| Strap | Riveted leather |
| Movement | Sellita SW500 |
| Power Reserve | 62 hours |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | €2,190 – €2,630 |