I’ve seen some people chiding the cost of the bracelet online for being too low. It is incredibly difficult for brands to strike the right balance when it comes to pricing. Too expensive and they haven’t got a snowball’s chance in hell of selling watches. But too affordable and suddenly the community erupts. The criticisms I’ve seen levied are not based on actual experience, just perception. And having worn the bracelet for a couple of weeks I can say this: The criticism is unfounded.
Yes, it isn’t perfect, but it’s incredible for the money. So incredible, in fact, that it makes you feel a little bit sick that some brands will charge you as much as this whole watch costs for a replacement bracelet. It’s also crazy that the NATO option retails at €80/$95. The green is cool, but for me the value buy here is definitely the bracelet.
The Dial
There is an abundance of fonts on the Laco Amazonas Squad Watch dial, but I can’t say I found this distracting. With a mixture of markers and Arabic numerals, there’s quite a lot to draw the eye, but the balance is excellent. I have no qualms with the display, at all, and I found it unexpectedly charming after a few days on the wrist.
The dial garnered a lot of positive comments from my friends, who were mostly intrigued by the green. Everybody asked to try the watch on, and almost all commented on its weight and presence (but not in a bad way — the majority of my friends aren’t “watch guys,” so it’s always interesting to see how they perceive quality).
As a self-confessed “lume nut,” I couldn’t wait to give this thing a blast with my torch and see the light show. I was not disappointed with the quick reaction time and the brightness of the glow in the first instance, but I compared its longevity to a few of my other sports watches and found it did not hold out quite as long as I’d hoped. This doesn’t bother me too much. Certainly not as much as it would have, had this watch been marketed as a diving tool. Where it really excels, as mentioned in the opening, is in low-light conditions. In that environment, it is effectively wearing a high-vis jacket; it is perfect for trekking in inclement weather. Tough as old boots and highly legible, whatever style of markers you favor, it does exactly what it says on the tin.
The Movement
The Laco Amazonas Squad Watch is powered by the Laco 24. This movement uses an ETA 2824.2 as its base. It features a centrally mounted three-hand display and a discreet date window at 3 o’clock. The watch beats at an appropriate 28,800vph (4Hz) and is self-winding. This watch is fitted with the “elaboré” level movement as standard (boasting a daily variation of 0/+14 seconds per day). It can be upgraded to a “top-level” movement upon request (0/+8 seconds per day). The cost of the upgrade option is €130 and is something I would recommend, given the slight improvements to the hairspring, jewels, and regulation— that is, if you intend to use this watch in the wilderness. If it is more of an aesthetic purchase, and unlikely to be subjected to any extreme environmental conditions or shock, the elaboré is more than sufficient.
Conclusion
I came away from this review a surprised convert not just to the Laco Amazonas Squad Watch, but also to the brand in general. I’ve been around plenty of Laco watches in the past but never taken one to my wrist for any length of time. This one, I think, is an excellent value proposition with a price of €980/$1,190 on the bracelet, and €930/$1,130 on either of the rubber straps. Both prices include the 19% VAT charged in Germany.
The only difficulty I would have had with this watch before spending an extended period of time with it is one of visibility. I don’t mean being able to see the watch, of course, but knowing it exists. This €1,000 area is a difficult one for me to wade through. Most of the time, I’m looking to buy at half or twice that price. In this bracket, there’s not a huge amount of noise from big brands, whose most cost-appealing models don’t start until further up the price scale.
In this bracket, you’re looking at competition from entry-level luxury group brands like Hamilton and Tissot or even some TAG Heuer watches. I’d choose this over any of them. It just feels like a very nicely executed concept, and keeping the price just under the four-figure mark (in Europe, at least), was a really wise choice from the perspective of perception. It’s fun, credible, and accessible. Learn more at laco-watches.com
Necessary Data
>Brand: Laco
>Model: Amazonas Squad Watch
>Price: €930 ($1,130) on the rubber straps, €980 ($1,190) on the bracelet
>Size: 42mm
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Yes, as a beater for outdoor pursuits, when multi-function quartz is unnecessary.
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Someone starting out their watchmaking journey who values build quality and price over brand names or collectibility.
>Best characteristic of watch: The green, the scorpion, and the other green.
>Worst characteristic of watch: The laser engraving on the pin and tang buckle on both rubber straps is not the best. Another reason to choose the bracelet, in my mind.
