Laco "B-Uhr"

World War II broke out. Since combat aircraft had become such a powerful wartime tool, navigator’s watches were put into full production along with the other more direct weapons. The German government demanded five manufacturers to build competent B-uhr watches which were both anti magnetic and able to be chronometer certified. It is believed that A. Lange & Sohne, a principal supplier of the time, could not deliver the watches in time for the amounts needed. The German government therefore brought the raw movements and cases to other watchmakers for mounting and regulating. The five companies that were assigned to build the watches were A.Lange & Sohne, International Watch Company, Laco, Stowa and Wempe. B-uhr was derived from the German word “Beobachtungs-uhr” meaning “Observation Watch”. It is also referred to as the “Navigator’s watch” or “Pilots watch”. Approximately 1200pcs were built in 1942 and they were eventually commissioned to German Luftwaffe pilots and British deck officers. To this day, no watch manufacturer can claim credit to its exclusive rights hence numerous companies can pay homage to the original design.