Is this going to be your next Teutonic-otastic dive watch? It just might be. New from flies-under-the-radar Laco comes the Squad 1,000 Meter dive watch collection. Looks like a few other German "pro" watches? Well that is because Laco is German. The Squad 1000 Meter joins the ranks of pieces from brands such as Sinn and Tutima, with elements from scores of other brands. While the Squad 1000 certainly doesn't score high on the originality scale, it is a great composition of known styles and features that people want and love.
There are two versions of the Squad 1000. The standard Squad 1000 Meter Automatic in sandblasted matte steel, and the Squad 1000 Meter Black Automatic... done in PVD black. The case is 45mm wide with off-centered lefty crown located at 10 o'clock. The design of the case along with the dial reminds me a lot of the Fortis B-42 MarineMaster. Whether or not Laco used that Fortis as inspiration is unclear, but the similarities are uncanny. The dial is good looking and very easy to read with its combo of large indicators and Arabic numerals. Laco opts for a white hour hand mixed to a orange minute hand. The design decision does tend to add some welcome color to the otherwise highly functional look. While perhaps not as "showy" as the Fortis, the Laco Squad 1000's dial feels better proportioned.
Water resistant to 1000 meters, the case also has an automatic helium release valve. Feel like going down real deep anytime soon? The case is also anti-magnetic. I like this and it adds to that German tendency to make things really durable. Crystal is double AR coated sapphire. Inside the watch you'll find the reliable workhorse Swiss ETA 2824-2 automatic movement. Of course as a dive watch it has a rotating diver's bezel.
Laco mentions that the watch was made in collaboration with the German army. Not sure what that means, but it might mean that it has "ensured" functionality built in. That might also make "das Laco" a bit more desirable to military watch buffs. Attached to the watch is a dive style rubber strap. Like Bathys, Laco places the Squad 1000 in a water and dust resistant case.
Price isn't too bad, and you can order them online. The sandblasted steel Squad 1000 Meter retails for 1,748 euros, while that price jumps up a bit to 1,798 euros for the PVD black version. All around a nice watch from a brand that you don't see on wrists too often.
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