Archimede Watches Pilot 45vsLaco Friedrichshafen
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Measurements
Catalog photos are all shot at the same flattering size. These aren't: every case below shares one millimeter scale.

Pilot 45

Friedrichshafen
Diameter
45mm
45mm
Lug-to-Lug
53mm
n/a
Thickness
10.5mm
n/a
Water Resistance
30m
100m
highest
MSRP
$1,115
lowest
$1,350
Movement
Sellita SW200-1
Sellita SW200-1
Case
3 specsCrystal & Dial
1 specsMovement
1 specsPricing
1 specsReviews
Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.
Archimede Watches Pilot 45 is widely praised for its value and case craftsmanship, with owners highlighting the excellent finishing and clean design. The 45mm case size is noted as suitable for larger wrists, and one owner appreciates the symmetrical sub-second dial and excellent lume. Accuracy reports vary, with one owner experiencing poor timekeeping and intermittent stopping, while another notes it runs at approximately +10 seconds per day. On balance, owners rate the Archimede Watches Pilot 45 highly for its casework and value for money.
Owners praise the Laco Friedrichshafen for its uncluttered Type B dial, legibility, and utilitarian look, with one owner noting a manual wind feel superior to other automatics and consistent accuracy of +2.5 seconds per day. The 45mm case and 22mm strap are considered suitable for larger wrists, and the blue dial satisfies a desire for an IWC Big Pilot aesthetic. One owner points out a bright metal slit beneath the FL23883 engraving on the case back, contrasting with the bead-blasted grey finish, while another notes a slightly misaligned hour hand on their new watch. The traditional rivet strap lacked sufficient adjustment holes, leaving it too large on the smallest setting for one owner. Overall, owners rate the Laco Friedrichshafen highly for its flieger aesthetics and legibility.
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