Watches A to Z: Laco

Everyone pays attention to the big Swiss watch brands like Rolex, Tudor, and Tissot, but other European countries also have some fantastic brands. For example, the German town of Pforzheim is headquarters to Laco Watches. The company started as Lacher & Co in 1925 and made a name for itself as a producer of aviation watches. During World War II, the company was one of five watch producers for the German Luftwaffe.

The Laco Type B Miyota Movement (Amazon Photo)

The Laco brand uses a variety of Miyota, Sellita, and ETA movements in their watches. If you order from the factory, there are also some upgrade options on the movements for a few seconds per day improvement in watch accuracy. It's an option that I have never heard offered before, but it makes sense. On some of their watches, you can opt for a decorated movement. There are also many options for customizing watches through engraving, changing the step side, the calendar disc, crystal coatings, and swapping watch straps. The FAQ portion of the factory website explains the myriad options available. You can visit the Laco Watches site here.

Laco Augsburg Automatic (Amazon photo)

One of the things that I think makes Laco watches interesting to readers of this blog is attainability. Even with the brand's strong heritage and Made in Germany traditions, Laco offers watches that cost less than $3000. The majority fall around $1200 and the brand has many classic affordable watches that cost less than $600.  You can even find several models on Amazon. For example, the Laco Augsburg Automatic (shown above) is a replica of a World War 2 pilot's watch and it is available via my affiliate link here on Amazon for less than $500! 

Laco Type B Automatic (Amazon Photo)

If you like the Laco Type B Automatic with the hours on an inner ring within the dial (as shown above), it is also available on Amazon with a sub-$500 price tag. You can get it here on Amazon via my affiliate link. It's nice to know that you can still get a high quality watch from a historic brand at an attainable price point. It's definitely the kind of watch that makes collecting interesting.

TGIF: Time for Baseball Watches

It's almost baseball season. Opening day for Major League Baseball is Friday, March 27th. Whether you're excited for your team or news that summer is on the way, there are lots of great timepieces to celebrate America's pastime. If you're looking for a watch for a younger fan, the Timex Recruit might be the perfect choice. It has a mid-sized resin case and a fast wrap nylon strap.

Timex Recruit (Timex Photo)

You can get this model factory fresh from the source here using my Timex Affiliate link. Your purchase will generate a small commission to support this blog.

Cubs fans might like this Timex Men's Clutch model. It has a brushed stainless steel case, a woven nylon strap, and 50-meters of water resistance. You can examine and get it directly from Timex via my paid affiliate link by clicking the image: 

Timex Clutch Series Chicago Cubs Watch (Paid Affiliate Link)

These Timex watches are available for nearly every sport and every season. But, they stand the test of time and provide a great value to sports fans! Take one out to the ballpark!

Ten Dollar Tuesday Watch: EAJOMIN Gediyar G713 Sport Watch

 As we deal with a challenging economy, it can be fun to grab a good looking watch from time to time. This EAJOMIN Gediyar G713 watch recently caught my eye. I'm just a sucker for silver-on-silver watch case and dial combinations. This watch regularly sells for less than $10 and is currently 11% off on top of that to make for a low, low, price. It's a pretty tempting price.

EAJOMIN Gediyar G713 Sport watch (Amazon Photo)

The watch is 43mm in diameter and 9.5mm thick. It comes with a long silicone strap that is 25 centimeters long. That allows this watch to accommodate wrist diameter of up to 9.85-inches. The watch is advertised as waterproof for daily life. (I take that to mean a few splashes or light rain capable.)

The main drawback that I see to this timepiece include the unknown metal quality. There is a review that indicate the wearer got a rash from the clasp to this watch. I'll have to add this drawback to my TGIF post on The Drawbacks of Cheap Watches.

Still, it's a great look, a great size, and an incredibly low price. If you want to test your resistance to temptation, check this EAJOMIN Gediyar watch out here via my affiliate link.

Watch Deal Alert: Great Amazon Deals on Timex Chronograph Watches

There are two noteworthy Timex chronograph-style watches that have recently been featured as Amazon Deals. Both watches come from a premium watch series and both have great takes on a classic watch style. One is a Marlin and the other is a Q Series Chronograph.  

Timex Marlin 40mm Chronograph Amazon Deal

As of this posting on March 1, 2026, the Timex Marlin 40mm Quartz Chronograph is 39% off on Amazon. It's a great deal for a premium Timex watch.

Timex Marlin Quartz 40mm Chronograph (Amazon Photo)

If you'd like to check this watch out further and potentially purchase it, you can see Marlin Chrono right here via my Amazon Affiliate Link.

Timex Q-Series 40mm Chronograph Amazon Deal

The second Timex Chronograph watch is the reissued Timex Q 40mm Chronograph. This watch is steeped in Timex quartz watch history and provides the integrated bracelet style that has been recently popularized by the Tissot PRX. It's a great looking watch and it's a healthy 29% off.

Timex Q Series Quartz 40mm Chronograph (Amazon Photo)

To see this watch forthwith and directly, check it out here using my Amazon affiliate link. 

Affordable Alternatives to the Rolex Milgauss

The Rolex Milgauss was a very special watch. It was designed for engineers, scientists, and technicians who would encounter strong electromagnetic fields during the course of their professional work. The movement is surrounded by an internal soft iron shield that is often referred to as a Faraday Cage. It offered 1000 gauss resistance. More modern versions of the Milgauss added a paramagnetic blue parachom hairspring and an anti-magnetic escapement that used components like a nickel-phosphorus escape wheel. From a style perspective, the Rolex Milgauss has the very business-like demeanor of a tool watch.

Rolex Milgauss Oyster Perpetual Watch (Amazon Photo)

The Rolex Milgauss was actually discontinued back in 2023, but it still commands a hefty price tag. To take a look at this pre-owned Rolex Milgauss, you can use my Amazon affiliate link here. However, with a little luck and perseverence, we can find some more affordable alternatives to the Rolex Milgauss.

What kind of Rolex Milgauss Alternative is Right for You?

The first question to answer when seeking a Rolex Milgauss alternative is "what kind do you need?" Do you need the anti-magnetic properties of the milgauss because of the nature of your work or hobbies? Do you want a watch that looks like a Rolex Milgauss because of its no nonsense tool watch-style?

Anti-Magnetic Alternatives to the Rolex Milgauss

Watches like the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra and Railmaster are good alternatives to the Milgauss in terms of capability. But, they are still quite expensive with price tags in the $4000 to $6000 range. A more affordable alternative to the Milgauss comes from Tissot. The Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium uses an anti-magnetic silicium main spring for greater resistance to magnetic fields.

Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium (Amazon Photo)

There have been many tests online between the Rolex Milgauss and the Tissot Gentleman. In each case, the luxury level of the Rolex puts it in a class far above the Tissot. However, if you are looking for anti-magnetics capabilities and similar looks, the Tissot is not cheap. However, it is attainable by mere mortals. You can check out the Tissot Gentleman here using my Amazon affiliate link.

Homage Alternatives to the Rolex Milgauss

In the real world, employers are working hard to replace western workers with low cost work forces in far away lands or with AI bots and agents inside their own networks. It can make a luxury or ultra-luxury watch hard to afford for most people. Fortunately, there are homage watches that mimic the looks of high end watches like the Rolex Milgauss for a fraction of the price.

Benyar Men's Classic Automatic

This Benyar Men's Classic Automatic watch is an homage to the Rolex Milgauss. The watch sports a 36-hour power reserve, a lightning bolt second hand, and some minimal degree of water resistance. The watch is currently available for less than $70 right here via my Amazon affiliate link.

 

Wristwatch Review: Auriol GMT-style Quartz Watch

Hands-On With a LIDL Watch

The German discount grocery chain, LIDL, has an interesting business model that centers around low grocery prices in small footprint neighborhood grocery stores. The chain also offers other goods on an occasional or "special buy" basis. One watch that they offered was from their house-brand Auriol had the look of a GMT-watch. However, it did not have actual GMT functionality. I found one in a Georgia thrift store so we can take a closer look at it.

Auriol GMT-Style Watch from LIDL

LIDL Watch Features

The Auriol GMT style watch has a rotating bezel with 24-hour markings. However, it doesn't have a dedicated fourth hand to provide GMT time keeping. The watch has hour markings similar to those of a classic timepiece and the case protrudes to protect the crown.

Auriol GMT-Style Watch

LIDL Watch Dimensions

This watch isn't too little. The case is about 43mm in diameter and 45mm if you count the crown. The case is 12mm thick. Lug-to-Lug measures about 50mm. 

At 12mm, the Auriol GMT-style watch isn't too tall

The bracelet fits my 7 and 3/4 inch wrists without adjustment or link removal. I has a little rattle when you shake it. But, the bracelet looks pretty solid.

The LIDL Auriol watch metal bracelet

LIDL Watch Construction

The LIDL watch is made in China and appears to have a stainless steel case with a matching bracelet. The case has a shiny finish. The interior links of the bracelet are shiny and the exterior links have a flat metal finish. The brand claims 5 atmospheres of water resistance. For a non-name brand watch, I suspect that a bit. Still, the watch seems pretty solid and well-constructed for an inexpensive timepiece.

The caseback of the Auriol LIDL watch

LIDL Watch Overall Impression

This watch seems pretty solid and in keeping with the quality standards of sub-$50 watches. It's also a comfortable watch to wear. The main drawback seems to be the lack of an actual GMT function. Since I bought it for about $10 at a thrift store, I'm very pleased with it as a find. I think it would be a good deal up to about $35. Overall, this is an interesting addition to my collection.

The Auriol LIDL watch is a nice beater watchc

 

TGIF: The H. Moser & Cie Venturer - A Dream Watch on Amazon

We've been hitting the budget watches hard on this blog lately. Perhaps it is because my personal budget is super tight. But, sometimes it is nice to dream and look at the watches most of us can only imagine. One such watch that I recently stumbled across on Amazon is the H. Moser & Cie Venturer. It's a minimalist, manually-wound, watch with small-hands seconds. While it's a luxury timepiece, it's not dainty. This watch is 43mm in diameter. The H. Moser & Cie Venturer is a classy watch with an eye-watering price tag.

The H. Moser and Cie Venturer Manually-Wound Watch (Amazon photo)

It's amazing to see a high-end timepiece with a minimalist look. Somehow, even without accoutrements, extras, and even brand labels, it looks out of this world in comparison with everyday timepieces. Perhaps it is the Kudu leather strap? The exotic leather is sourced from sustainably managed African antelope. If you'd like to purchase this fine timepiece, it is available from my affiliate link here on Amazon.