[Uwe W.]

This thread is ONLY for comments that pertain to the Special Edition Project but don't fit into any of the other existing threads in this sub-forum.

 

[Uwe W.]

Hi everyone! :-!

I would like to start off by welcoming everyone to the 2011 Special Edition Laco Project with a reminder that above all, this is meant to be a fun experience for all participants. As always, all forum rules apply here and I'd like to ask that we all respect that this is an Official Forum for Laco.

The structure of this project is very simple. We will design our own Laco watch using the appropriate threads to discuss, design and then vote on each of the required design elements.

To make my job easier, I please ask that you make sure to post your comments in an appropriate thread. I'd like to keep this project nicely organized so that anyone joining later on can easily follow what has been going on and get up to speed quickly. Comments placed in the wrong threads will be automatically moved without any further warning or explanation.

There are a couple of things that we should decide upon before we roll up our sleeves and dive into this project. I'd like to hear everyone's opinion on who they feel should be eligible to participate. Obviously this project is open to all WUS members, but do we leave the floor open to everyone and anyone who visits this sub-forum, or should they be a registered participant first - or even committed to paying the purchase price of the watch?

With a limited run of only 50 watches, do we design it democratically with whoever wants to participate and then see who is willing to buy it - or do we see who is serious about buying one and then let those people design it?

I will create new design threads as they are needed. The first one has already been opened for the the project's theme and name. Before we dive into figuring out a dial and hands, we should decide what this project should be about.

Subsequent threads will include one for the case, the dial, the hands, and engraving.

Let the games begin! :-!

 

[Uwe W.]

The se should be a watxh that Laco has yet to make, and that is a 47mm buhr type b with handwinding movement, laco case/lug design, 15-18mm case thickness, 24mm lugs, solid case back, old style strap, domed saphire glass...large onion crown on extended stem like the 55mm.

As described in the OVERVIEW thread, the scope of this project limits us to using an existing Laco case. With a run of only 50 units, having a custom 47 mm case would cost prohibitive. Also, the movement has already been decided: a NOS (I believe) Durowe handwinding movement, which I think is from the early '60s? More specs and photos will be forthcoming.

 

[Uwe W.]

I am sure most WIS, wanna know the range of the special edition of laco cost?

That's being discussed at Laco right now. I hope that they'll be able to provide us a base price - a minimum cost given what we already know. Of course the final price can vary greatly if the design becomes elaborate, but I agree that it's difficult to say you're interested without having some idea of the potential costs.

 

[Uwe W.]

What I would like to see

Hi Alan. It's great that you have such a concise and well though out wish list. However, please read the OVERVIEW sticky at the top of this forum. The case must come from stock and the movement has already been decided. Also, project watches need to be designed step by step, the first of which is to determine a theme for this watch. If everyone just presents their 'list' of wants we would never get anywhere; I think you'd find that no two lists would be identical.

 

[Uwe W.]

I like stock Laco cases. I'd just pick one in the range I've given in my list. With regard to the movement, I'm not sure why it's been decided, but I thought Laco sometimes uses quartz. Whatever they pick, I'm still interested. With regard to the theme, some of the things I've listed may make the pilot theme more appealing.

Alan, the movement was selected because of its manufacturer's history with Laco. Please visit the THEME thread, which is were all the discussion is happening at the minute.

 

[Uwe W.]

REGISTRATION List

As everyone has no doubt already noticed, I haven't started to build the Registration List yet. The reason for this is that too many people have 'qualified' their participation based on certain design elements. What I propose to do is this: allow everyone and anyone to vote in the THEME thread, then go back through the Registration thread and only add names to the list that don't have any restrictions on their participation, or if they do, only if the outcome of the THEME vote satisfies their caveats.

Like everything else in this project, this is open to discussion if someone feels it should be done differently. Remember, my role here is only to manage the project, not dictate it. I welcome all comments on the logistics of this project; however, in the absence of contrary opinions I will proceed based on my experiences with other projects.

 

[Uwe W.]

I'm on a business trip; I've been monitoring the forum but haven't had time to contribute - my apologies. With voting I was planning on using the STV system (Google it); we used this for another project watch and it truly is a fair way to resolve close decisions. I have no intention of deciding close votes - we tried this first in the other project and it was a disaster. Essentially, everyone will be allowed to rank the choices in order of preference - and that weighting will decide the outcome definitively without any chance of a tie. I will explain more when the time comes. Also, I wasn't going to create a ballot with extremely specific choices, just loose themes. Once we have a theme decided we can move on to the other aspects of the design and fine tune the theme to our liking.

 

[Uwe W.]

Before starting the vote, I feel we need to know some more details of given conditions. Movement(Durowe 7425) - Possibility of modification(=hack etc.) and/or decoration. Case - Which LACO stock cases are available. Price - At least, a bottom price should be presented.

I will ask about the possibility of modifying the movement, however, everyone should be aware that this would add a substantial cost to the project. I'm concerned that an elevated cost will hinder the success of this project.

The cases are the Pilot 42 and 45 mm - Navy 44 mm. The 36 mm Pilot and Navy cases might also be available but they have as of yet not been mentioned by Laco.

As I stated earlier, Laco is working on giving us a base price; everyone should keep in mind that patience will be needed throughout this project. Laco will work as quickly as possible to accommodate our requests, however, their day to day business will of course take precedence.

 

[Uwe W.]

I just wonder why they offer DUROWE 7425 for the project, while only offering rather larger cases for the movement. They could use such a precious movement in a modest size case as their own special edition just like edition 1969. I am puzzled.

There is news from Laco.

I've already updated the OVERVIEW thread with the information, which essentially outlines the cases being offered and a base price for the Special Edition.

The list of cases: Flieger 42 and 45 mm (with FL engraving), Marine 42 mm (without FL engraving), Einsatz Black 46 mm, and Laco 69. I don't want this thread to turn into a discussion of cases, so please save your comments for when that specific thread is started once the theme has been decided.

The other item is the base price: 1,498 EUR. IMPORTANT to remember is that this is a rough estimate; Laco will only be able to calculate a firm price once we have finished the design process. Obviously, the more elaborate the project becomes, the greater its cost will be.

 

[Uwe W.]

Dose the price include minimum decoration like blued screws or just cleaned and timed movement without any decoratin?

It's a base price for the movement as photographed but fully serviced. Of course modifications to the movement will only increase the cost.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Uwe W.]

Apologies for a noob question: how does a Laco 69 case look like?

I will post photos in the CASE thread that I'll create later today. As I said, I don't want to start a discussion on cases in this thread.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Uwe W.]

Almost 1500 Euro is considerably more than the WUS LE B-uhr ended at.

What was the cost of that project watch?

 

[Uwe W.]

I paid 654,50 € in Oct.2008.

As with this project, you used an existing case but with a custom designed dial and hands. And instead of a NOS Durowe, a modern ETA movement?

 

[Uwe W.]

Uwe, any possibility to ask Laco to reconsider the cost? Even with a complex dial, a max cost of 900 - 1000 euro should be possible.

I'll bring the dissent being voiced over the price to their attention.

 

[Uwe W.]

I agree with the price range. We are not really "creating" a new watch. We basically modify some existing dials and hands. And as long as the NOS movement is working, I don't really care if it is decorated or not. After all, it is not the movement by A. Lange or Patek.

There might be another way to bring down the cost. If we increase the numbers of watches of this limited edition from 50 to 80 or 100, the price per watch will be lower also.

Just a couple of things I wanted to clear up: the dial and hands are not existing, nor are they being modded. They would be manufactured from scratch especially for this watch. And there is no option to increase the number being produced as there are only a limited number of the NOS movements to begin with.

 

[Uwe W.]

I already wrote this before, if we are really keen to do a "Special" and Laco does not want to give us a fair price, we can always source the required number of Laco watches from an Online source (50 units = big discount) and ask a resident friendly watchmaker to do the hands and dial.
I would think we can buy a 42mm ETA Laco B-uhr for maybe 450 Euro (listprice 490 - approx 10%).

It can be difficult to increase the number of interested to more than 50 people.

I think it's a little unfair to be stomping on Laco - certainly not in their sponsored and official forum. They're a reasonable group of people; I will be discussing the negative reaction to their base price and let's see where that leads to first. I can somewhat understand that they don't want to be caught in the opposite problem where they quote a price that is too low and then everyone freaks out when the price is much higher. Keep in mind that they were hesitant to come up with any price in the first place. The problem with these projects is that often people will suggest all kinds of elaborate specifications for a watch without any conception of the costs involved.

 

[Uwe W.]

When will the poll be up?Also, any news on the price? Is it firm?

THEME vote will start tonight (EST). I've been extremely busy with work, so I haven't been in contact with Laco, however, I'll take care of that as well tonight.

 

[Uwe W.]

On option #2, does it include variations for both type A and type B dials? I only see the photo for type A dial.

Yes, both dials. I didn't think to add both dials; just as with the photos of all the other watches, they are only representations of the theme, not an absolute range of choices.

 

[Uwe W.]

any news on the price? Is it firm?

Just heard back from Laco: Yes, the price is firm.