Laco Flieger Frankfurt 40 GMT

The Laco Flieger Frankfurt GMT is a modern German pilot's watch with a 40 mm diameter that combines traditional Fliegeruhren elements with a GMT function. They feature a black dial with highly visible luminescence, an inner rotating bezel, and the Laco 330 movement based on the Sellita SW330-2.

What would an aviator’s watch look like if a designer were to create one today—but weren’t allowed to forget where it came from? In my opinion, this watch represents exactly that kind of experiment.

Z historie po modernu
Klasické principy pilotních hodinek
GMT luneta uvnitř pouzdra
Trend zmenšování i zde? Rozhodně!
Laco 330: osvědčený základ od Sellity
Dva řemínky a technický charakter
Fliegeruhren bez historického kostýmu
Parametry

From History to Modern Times

Laco is one of those brands whose connection to pilot’s watches is more than just a marketing story. The German manufacturer has its roots in Pforzheim, and its name is inextricably linked to German aviation watches. However, this new model is not an attempt to create yet another historical replica.

You’ll always have a piece of the legacy of German Fliegeruhren on your wrist, but you don’t have to pretend it’s 1940.

Instead of simply taking the old design, scaling it down to 40 mm, and adding a GMT hand, Laco has created a watch that uses historical principles as the foundation for a contemporary design. The case still has a distinctly instrumental look. The dial is black, extremely easy to read, and features large Arabic numerals. The hands are bold and luminescent. Yet the watch as a whole feels contemporary—mainly thanks to the dark-sandblasted case, sapphire crystal, and unusual GMT design. Laco itself states that the case finish is inspired by the brand’s original pilot’s watches.

Classic Principles of Pilot’s Watches

When people hear the term “German female pilots,” everyone immediately thinks of a few key characteristics:

maximum readability,
large Arabic numerals,
a clearly marked minute scale,
black dial,
large luminescent hands,
simplicity
and functionality over decoration.

Video Review: Laco Frankfurt 40 GMT

The Frankfurt 40 GMT makes no attempt to hide these principles. The black dial is designed to be as easy to read as possible at a glance. The numerals and hour markers are coated with Super-LumiNova C3, while the hour and minute hands are heat-blued and feature the same luminescent coating. The GMT hand is a striking orange color. The illumination is green for the primary time and orange for the second time zone. And that’s exactly how I think a modern timepiece should work. It should immediately tell you which information is important.

GMT bezel inside the case

The most distinctive design feature of the Frankfurt is, of course, the GMT. At first glance, you might expect a classic external rotating bezel. However, Laco opted for a different solution and placed the bezel inside the case. It is operated by a second crown located at the 2 o’clock position. The GMT hand then displays the second time zone against a 24-hour scale.

This solution has several interesting implications. First, it doesn’t add another rotating element to the outside of the watch. The silhouette remains cleaner, and the watch looks more like an instrument than a classic traveler’s GMT watch. There’s no need to flaunt the function. The bezel is there—it’s important—but it’s hidden inside. And the two crowns on either side of the case are reminiscent of the controls on an aircraft instrument panel.

Is the trend toward downsizing here, too? Definitely!

The new model has a diameter of 40 mm. That may sound like just a number, but size is one of the key changes in this model. The Frankfurt GMT is also available in a 43 mm version. Laco now offers the same concept in a more compact form and presents this smaller version as one that retains the full functionality and character of a pilot’s watch while being more versatile for everyday wear. And in my opinion, 40 mm is a very good choice for this type of watch.

Historically, pilot’s watches were created as tools. They were not meant to be fashion statements of grandeur. They had to be easy to read, yet practical. The Frankfurt, then, comes across as a modern interpretation of that original logic, rather than an attempt to produce the largest possible watch.

The 40-millimeter diameter is complemented by a height of 11.9 mm and a lug-to-lug length of 47 mm. It weighs 82 grams. These specifications make it suitable for everyday wear, rather than just as a novelty accessory.

Laco 330: A Tried-and-True Foundation from Sellita

The Laco 330 caliber is based on the proven Swiss Sellita SW330-2 movement. This allows Laco to build its model on a reliable and well-known platform without trying to pretend that it has created an entirely original mechanical movement. For watches of this type, this is a sensible decision.

The Frankfurt GMT doesn’t derive its value from an exotic movement. Its main focus is on design, construction, and story. When you turn the watch over, instead of a view of the movement, you’ll find a solid steel caseback embossed with an airplane. Once again, there’s no attempt to showcase the mechanics at any cost.

Two straps and a technical design

It comes standard with a black, water-resistant FiberTech strap and a second nylon strap in a gray-and-orange color combination. The package also includes a tool for replacing them.

The black strap gives the watch a rather serious and technical look. The nylon version, on the other hand, brings out its sportier, aviation-inspired side.

Pilot’s Watches Without Historical Costumes

The Laco Frankfurt GMT is not a historical replica. It is a modern watch that pays homage to its history through its design philosophy: functional, easy to read, and technical. The GMT complication isn’t included just to add more features; it fits into the narrative of traveling across time zones. Above all, it strikes a very well-balanced blend of history and modernity.

You’ll still have a piece of German Fliegeruhren DNA on your wrist, but you won’t have to pretend it’s 1940. And for those who’d prefer an even subtler contrast, Laco also offers a gray dial option—though, in my opinion, the blue hands stand out better on that one. So the choice wouldn’t be entirely easy.