By Brent Robillard
A Centennial Conclusion to Mission 2025
Laco has spent the past several years revisiting the defining chapters of its long history, releasing a series of limited models under the “Mission 2025” banner. Each watch in the sequence spotlighted a different facet of the brand’s identity—navy watches, tactical pieces, pilot instruments, even a chronograph—and each was produced in a quantity matching the corresponding year in Laco’s timeline. Now, as the manufactory marks its 100th anniversary, that count-up finally reaches its summit.
The Laco Edition 100 is the closing entry in the series: an exclusive run of just one hundred pieces that bridges the aesthetic language of the 1950s with the sensibilities of modern watchmaking. Rather than reissuing a single historical reference, Laco has drawn from a broader mid-century design vocabulary—slim bezels, crisp typography, clean balances of light and shadow—and interpreted these elements through contemporary proportions.
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A Dial Rooted in the 1950s, Refined for Today
The Edition 100 feels immediate in its simplicity. A deep black centre contrasts against a softly shimmering champagne-coloured outer ring, creating a gentle two-tone effect without leaning into retro dramatics. Applied gold-tone numerals and recessed indexes enhance the play of depth while maintaining the understated elegance of the period. The hands, also polished in warm gold hues, complete the composition.
Modern practicality arrives in the form of Super-LumiNova C3, which boosts low-light legibility without disrupting the vintage palette.
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Proportions with Presence
At 38 mm, the case follows the footprint of its 1950s inspiration, but subtle adjustments—chief among them an exceptionally slim, almost invisible bezel—give the watch a larger visual presence on the wrist. The profile tapers lightly, reinforcing the refined mid-century character.
The case carries a gold-tone IP coating, and its double-domed box sapphire crystal is one of the most evocative details. Flat on top but steeply angled at the edges, it recreates a silhouette that was once standard in traditional watchmaking but is now surprisingly rare due to its complexity.
Flip the watch over, and you’ll find a closed caseback engraved with a vintage sun logo—a Laco hallmark from the 1950s and ’60s making a quiet return.
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A Slim Automatic Heart
Inside the Edition 100 beats the Laco 300, a customised version of the Sellita SW300 chosen for its exceptionally slim construction. The movement keeps the case below the 10 mm mark, giving the watch a slender profile that feels appropriate for the era it evokes. With a 56-hour power reserve, it offers the reliability expected of a modern daily wearer.
The watch is paired with a black Shell Cordovan strap—dense, smooth, and famed for the rich patina it develops over time. Tone-on-tone stitching and a gold-tone buckle engraved with the Laco signature round out the package.
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Limited to One Hundred Pieces
As with each entry in the Mission 2025 series, every Edition 100 is individually numbered, accompanied by a collector’s pin and a certificate of authenticity. It is available as of today, at a price of $1,760 USD (approx. $2450 CAD).
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Final Thoughts
As an anniversary piece, the Edition 100 doesn’t attempt to summarise Laco’s century of watchmaking in a single gesture. Instead, it chooses a quieter path—honouring the clarity and restraint of 1950s design while showing how adaptable that legacy still is. It serves as both a conclusion and a point of transition, bringing Mission 2025 to a close while opening the door to whatever the next chapter for Laco may hold.
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About the author
Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.
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