9ct Gold Laco Wrist Watch, 1935

9ct gold Laco wrist watch, 1935.

The watch has a hand-winding movement which is working nicely. The movement is signed with the name Laco.

The Laco brand was first founded in 1925 by Frieda Lacher and Ludwig Hummel in Pforzheim under the names Lacher & Co. Originally the company imported movements, but Hummel left the company to set up Durowe, a movement manufacturing company. Indeed the movement we have in this watch is a Laco 550 (a Durowe 7.75x11''').

During the second World War, many of the jewellery and watch making factories in Pforzheim started manufacturing precision instruments for the War effort. Despite the town suffering heavy bombing raids, Laco continued production and supplied the German Luftwaffe with watches.

This particular watch is classed as mid-size. It measures 20mm wide excluding the winding crown and 37mm high including the lugs. The case is 9 carat gold and there are hallmarks inside the case back for London (import mark), 1935 together with the sponsor’s mark for George Stockwell and also the Laco name.

From 1 June 1907, Stockwells acted as assay agents, facilitating the import into Britain of foreign gold and silver items which had to be assayed and hallmarked in a UK assay office before being released for retail.

The case is in good condition for such an early piece, just light surface marks.

The curved lens has light marking but is very acceptable.

The dial is in its original finish with original blued steel hands, a subsidiary seconds dial and an outer minute track.

The watch has a vintage leather strap.

The watch comes in a vintage presentation box from a Doncaster jeweller.

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All of our watches are checked over before listing, and are also checked for accuracy which is usually within around +/- two to three minutes over 24 hours (unless otherwise stated), which is considered respectable for a vintage watch.

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