The Laco x Circula ProLab Combines 170 Years of Shared Pforzheim History

Pforzheim is known as Germany’s “Golden City” for its jewellery and watchmaking (alongside Glashütte) activities, and both Laco and Circula have deep roots there. Each brand is celebrating an anniversary, 100 years for Laco and 70 years for Circula, and they’ve partnered to celebrate with a pair of watches honouring each brand and German watchmaking history. The collaboration name, ProLab, comes from “Pro” in the collections that inspired the set – Circula’s PROTrail and Laco’s PRO line – and “Lab” that refers to a collaborative space to develop ideas. Lab also stands for (co)lab for collaboration. A single piece was initially planned, but two watches were chosen to better represent each brand and a shared vision.

Laco’s Field Watch

The Laco piece starts with a sandblasted stainless steel case at 40mm in diameter and 11.3mm in height (with crystal), built on the case of the Laco PRO. A screw-down crown ensures 200 metres of water resistance, impressive for a field watch, and the solid case back has the limited-edition number and engraving of Pforzheim with two gold markers showing the homes of each brand. An AR sapphire crystal protects the sand-coloured dial with circular graining on the inside, with 24-hour time and a matte finish on the outer ring with black Arabic numerals.

Old Radium Super-LumiNova is used on the entire outer ring, and the thermally blued hour and minute hands have Super-LumiNova BGW9. Both Laco and Circula are printed on the dial of both watches, with the watch-specific brand name at the top. The watch is fitted with a 20mm sand-coloured sailcloth strap with leather lining and quick-release levers. Powering Laco’s watch is a Sellita SW200-1 Elaboré automatic with 26 jewels, a beat rate of 28,800vph (4Hz) and a 41-hour power reserve. It’s adjusted in three positions for an accuracy rating of +/-7 seconds per day. Functions include central hours, minutes, hacking seconds and date (the latter not utilised here).

Quick Facts – 40mm diameter x 11.3mm – sandblasted stainless steel case – AR sapphire crystal – solid case back with limited edition number and marked map of Pforzheim – 200m water-resistance – sand-coloured dial with circular graining on inside and Old Radium Super-LumiNova on the outer ring – thermally blued hands with Super-LumiNova BGW9 – Sellita SW200-1 (Elaboré) – 26 jewels – 28,800vph (4Hz) – 41h power reserve – central hours, minutes, hacking seconds and date (date not utilized) – sold with Circula as limited set of 170 at EUR 2,390

Circula Type-B Flieger

Circula’s piece starts with the 40mm stainless steel ProTrail case that’s treated for scratch resistance to 1,200 Vickers hardness. It’s a bit thicker than the Laco counterpart at 12.3mm and has additional antimagnetic protection. The screw-down crown ensures 150 metres of water resistance (50m less than the Laco), and the solid case back is engraved as the Laco piece. An AR sapphire crystal protects the black dial with circular graining on the inside and 12-hour numerals and a matte finish on the outer ring with a Type-B-inspired setup (large Arabic numerals going from 5 to 55).

Moving on, the thermally blued hour and minute hands are finished with Super-LumiNova BGW9, along with the outer numerals and five-minute marks. This case is fitted with a 20mm black sailcloth strap with leather lining and quick-release levers, and the buckle is also treated for scratch resistance. Powering the Circula is the same Sellita SW200-1 Elaboré automatic as the Laco.

Quick Facts – 40mm diameter x 12.3mm – treated stainless steel case for 1,200 Vickers hardness – AR sapphire crystal – solid case back with limited edition number and marked map of Pforzheim – 150m water-resistance – black dial with circular graining on the inside and 12-hour time and a matte finish on the outer ring with Type-B-inspired numerals – thermally blued hands with Super-LumiNova BGW9 – outer numerals and five-minute marks with Super-LumiNova BGW9 – Sellita SW200-1 (Elaboré) – 26 jewels – 28,800vph (4Hz) – 41h power reserve – central hours, minutes, hacking seconds and date (date not utilized) – sold with Laco as limited set of 170 at EUR 2,390

The ProLab – 170 Years set can’t be separated, so both watches are sold together as a limited package of 170 – that number comes from 100 years of Laco and 70 years of Circula. The sets come in an aluminium case with a gold (coloured) coin with the limited-edition number. Uwe Rücker and Cornelius Huber, Owners & Managing Directors of Laco and Circula, respectively, have formed a unique partnership highlighting competitors coming together to honour watchmaking in the same city of Pforzheim.

For more information, please visit Laco.de or Circula.com.