Description
The Laco Augsburg 39 MB brings one of the most recognisable pilot-watch designs into a compact, contemporary format, pairing the classic Type A dial with a stainless-steel bracelet rather than the traditional leather strap.
At 39mm, it retains the strong legibility and functional character associated with Laco's historic Flieger watches while offering proportions that work particularly well for smaller wrists or anyone who prefers a more restrained pilot watch. The steel bracelet gives this MB edition a cleaner, more versatile character for everyday wear.
Inspiration & Design
Laco's pilot-watch heritage dates back to the 1940s, when it was one of the manufacturers entrusted with producing observation watches for German aviation. Those original instruments were designed around function above all else: immediate legibility, robust construction and clear timekeeping in the cockpit.
The Augsburg belongs to Laco's Pilot Watches Basic collection, translating that historic design language into a more accessible modern watch.
Its Type A dial follows the simpler of the two classic Flieger layouts, with large Arabic hour numerals surrounding a clear minute track. There is little decoration because there doesn't need to be - the strength of the design comes from proportion, contrast and clarity.
The MB version adds a stainless-steel bracelet, giving the familiar Augsburg a noticeably more contemporary presence.
Dial & Case
The black Type A dial is deliberately straightforward, with bold Arabic numerals and markers treated with Super-LumiNova C3 for strong low-light visibility. The hands are similarly filled with C3 lume, maintaining the high-contrast readability central to the pilot-watch format.
The matt-finished stainless-steel case measures 39mm in diameter, 11.55mm high and 46.5mm lug-to-lug. Combined with an 18mm lug width, these proportions make the Augsburg 39 considerably easier to wear than the oversized observation watches that inspired it.
A sapphire crystal protects the dial, while the understated matt case finish reinforces the watch's instrument-led character.
Water resistance is rated to 50m/5ATM.
Movement
The Augsburg 39 MB is powered by the Laco 2S automatic movement, based on the Japanese Miyota 82S0.
The movement features hacking seconds, allowing the seconds hand to stop when the crown is pulled for more precise time setting.
The Laco 2S provides a straightforward, proven automatic foundation for the Augsburg, keeping the focus where it belongs: on reliable mechanical timekeeping and the clarity of the classic Flieger display.
Bracelet / Strap
The defining difference of the MB - metal bracelet - version is its high-quality stainless-steel bracelet with curved end pieces.
Rather than the traditional leather pilot strap fitted to the standard Augsburg, the bracelet creates a more integrated, contemporary appearance and makes the watch particularly versatile for everyday use.
With an 18mm attachment at the case and sizing suitable for wrist circumferences of approximately 15 to 22.5cm, the bracelet complements the compact proportions of the 39mm case.
Final Thoughts
The Augsburg 39 MB gets the fundamentals right.
It preserves the legibility, functional simplicity and historical design language that make a Laco pilot watch immediately recognisable, but packages them in dimensions that feel particularly relevant today.
The stainless-steel bracelet also changes the personality of the Augsburg more than its specification sheet might suggest. It feels less overtly vintage and more like a contemporary everyday watch - while remaining unmistakably rooted in Laco's aviation heritage.
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Technical Specifications
| Case size: |
39mm |
| Case material: |
Matte finish stainless steel case |
| Case back: |
Exhibition caseback with sapphire crystal |
| Movement type: |
Automatic
|
| Movement no.: |
Laco 2S based on Miyota 82S0
|
| Power reserve: |
Approx 42hrs |
| Dial: |
Black matte dial with SuperLuminova C3-coated hands, numerals and indices
|
| Glass: |
Sapphire crystal |
| Water resistance: |
5ATM |
| Strap type: |
Bracelet
|
| Strap material: |
Stainless steel with curved end pieces
|
| Buckle: |
Deployant buckle
|
| Warranty: |
2 years
|
