Back in December 2018, Laco announced the arrival of two new vintage marine watches called the Bremerhaven and the Cuxhaven. The former with a black dial and latter with a white dial were inspired by 1940’s pocket watches and timepieces once worn by crew members of the U1 Submarine. Now five years after its initial success, the Laco Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven watches return in both their original 42.5mm form and as a smaller variant of 39mm.
Cuxhaven - Credit Laco
The new Laco Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven watches are basically identical to their 2018-counterparts - other than the new case option. The cases are still engineered from 316L stainless steel with brushed satin finish across most of the surface, a polished, coin-edged bezel and flat sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating. The height of the 42.5mm model remains the same at 11mm tall while the new 39mm case comes in a little lower on the wrist with a height of 9.8mm.
Cuxhaven - Credit Laco
The overall aesthetic of the case screams 1940’s pocket watch. The knurled bezel is largely to thank for that as is the large onion-shaped crown at 3 o’clock. The crown is flat on its tip where it presents an embossed version of the Laco logo. Finally, the case honours its marine heritage by offering a decent 100 metre water resistant rating.
Cuxhaven - Credit Laco
The Laco Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven watches differ only in their dial colour. The Laco Bremerhaven has a definitively military vibe with its black backdrop, matching black snailed small seconds counter and black varnished hands. The Laco Cuxhaven has a more classically vintage persona with a white display, white small seconds counter and thermally blued hands. Both dials have a railway minute track around the circumference, large Arabic numerals and pipette-shaped hands generously painted with glow in the dark Super-LumiNova C3.
Bremerhaven - Credit Laco
Beating at the heart of the Laco Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven 42.5 watches is the familiar Laco 98 hand-winding calibre. It’s based on the Elaboré grade ETA 6498.1 movement which itself is based on a pocket watch movement from the 1950’s. It features 16 jewels, a frequency of 18,800vph and a power reserve of 46 hours.
Bremerhaven - Credit Laco
To fit the new smaller case size, the Laco Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven 39 watches opt for the Laco 261 hand-winding movement. This is another Elaboré grade movement based on the Sellita SW 261. It offers the same central hours and minutes and small seconds at 6 o’clock alongside 23 jewels, a frequency of 28,800vph and a power reserve of 45 hours. Both movements are put on display through the case’s exhibition backs.
Cuxhaven and Bremerhaven - Credit Laco
Finally, the Laco Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven watches complete their military personalities with leather straps in cream or black to match their dials. Both straps have cream stitching and stainless steel pin buckles. The watches are available to order now at a reasonable price of £1,290 for the 39mm variant and £1,590 for the 42.5mm model.
It’s nice to see Laco bring back a fan favourite and think of those of us with smaller wrists in the process. I have no doubt lovers of vintage-inspired watches will appreciate having a more compact case size, and finding a manual-winding watch at this price point is a nice treat.
Cuxhaven - Credit Laco
Technical Specifications:
- Brand: Laco
- Model: Bremerhaven & Cuxhaven
- Price: £1,290 (39mm), £1,590 (42.5mm)
- Material: 316L stainless steel
- Movement: Manual winding, Laco 261 (39mm) or Laco 90 (42.5mm)
- Complications: Hours, minutes, small seconds
- Dial: Black or white with Super-LumiNova C3 hands and numerals
- Size: 39mm or 41.5mm
- When the reviewer would personally wear it: I’d definitely try the 39mm Cuxhaven on for size. I can see myself wearing it on beach holidays, and in most casual situations.
- A friend we’d recommend it to first: Someone with a penchant for vintage-inspired timepieces.
- Best characteristics of the watch: The coin-edged bezel is lovely and I like the colourings used on the dial of the Cuxhaven.
- The worst characteristics of the watch: There isn’t anything to hate.
