Hands-On: Laco Stuttgart PRO with a green dial

There are watch designs that hardly need any explanation. The classic pilot’s watch is undoubtedly one of them. Clear displays, striking hands, and a design that has always prioritized readability. With the Stuttgart PRO, Laco remains true to these principles—but with the new green dial, it introduces a color that complements the familiar look exceptionally well.

For our hands-on review, we were able to customize the Stuttgart PRO ourselves using the Laco configurator. We opted for a 40-millimeter case and the green Type A dial, complemented by a decorated automatic movement with an “Elaboré” finish and a sapphire crystal case back. We wore the watch in two different configurations: on a stainless steel bracelet and on a dark brown leather strap with rivets and a folding clasp.

The result is unmistakably Laco and unmistakably a pilot’s watch. At the same time, after just a short while on the wrist, it becomes clear just how much the color and strap significantly influence the impact of such a well-established design.

A familiar dial in a new shade of green

The green dial is the standout feature of our Stuttgart PRO. Laco hasn’t changed the familiar Type A design, but simply altered its appearance. Large Arabic numerals, the striking minute track, and the characteristic triangle at 12 o’clock continue to set the tone.

The new color softens the functional design’s usual austerity. Depending on the light, the green appears at times rich and vibrant, and at other times noticeably darker and more subdued. The date window at three o’clock also blends in harmoniously: Laco has matched the date disc to the green of the dial, so that it barely disrupts the clean design.

Especially when paired with brushed stainless steel, this creates a beautiful interplay between classic design and a slightly more contemporary color scheme. In the dark, however, the Stuttgart PRO reveals its classic pilot’s watch side: the luminescent material on the hands, numerals, and hour markers ensures clear readability and makes the characteristic Type A layout stand out particularly well.

Comfortable fit on the wrist

We opted for a case diameter of 40 millimeters—a size that suits the Stuttgart PRO very well. The dial offers ample space for the characteristic boldness of a pilot’s watch, while the watch remains pleasantly balanced on the wrist.

The stainless steel case is fully brushed, allowing it to blend seamlessly with the model’s functional character. The surfaces have a clean, deliberately understated look, while the “FL23883” engraving on the side of our version adds a subtle historical touch.

The sapphire crystal, with its anti-reflective coating on both the inside and outside, is also very pleasant to use in everyday life. Reflections are significantly reduced, and the view of the dial remains unobstructed—which is no small matter for a watch whose appeal lies in large part in how the green hue changes under varying lighting conditions.

Two bracelets, two different sides

During the hands-on session, switching between our two wristbands was almost as interesting as the new green color. Even though the watch itself remains the same, its look changes surprisingly dramatically.

With its stainless steel bracelet, the Stuttgart PRO has a slightly more modern and understatedly elegant look. The bracelet echoes the brushed finish of the case, making the watch and bracelet appear as if they were crafted from a single piece. Together with the green dial, this creates a combination that blends effortlessly into everyday life.

The dark brown leather strap with rivets and a folding clasp, on the other hand, draws a stronger connection to the classic pilot’s watch. Brown and green harmonize beautifully, while the rivets echo the design’s historic character. This gives the Stuttgart PRO a slightly warmer and more traditional look, without appearing old-fashioned.

So there really isn’t a clear favorite. The stainless steel highlights the modern side of the green dial, while the dark brown leather strap emphasizes the watch’s classic heritage. We particularly liked the ability to switch between these two styles during our hands-on test.

A Look at the Mechanics

On the back, the Stuttgart PRO takes on a slightly more playful look. In our version, a sapphire crystal display case back offers a view of the decorated automatic movement in Elaboré quality.

This complements the otherwise very clean-lined design well. While the front focuses on readability and the classic Type A design, the mechanics are left exposed on the back. The decoration lends the movement additional visual depth without the Stuttgart PRO losing its fundamental functional character.

Conclusion: Green looks great on a classic pilot’s watch

The Stuttgart PRO demonstrates one thing above all else in this hands-on review: an established design doesn’t need much change to create a different impression. Laco leaves the classic pilot’s watch design largely untouched and, with the green dial, adds character exactly where it counts—without altering the watch’s identity.

The result is pleasantly balanced, especially in the 40-millimeter version. The green color gives it a distinctive look, the brushed case maintains a subtle, understated presence, and the two straps showcase just how versatile the Stuttgart PRO can be. It looks a bit more modern on the stainless steel bracelet and significantly more classic on the dark brown riveted leather strap.

As a result, the Stuttgart PRO remains, first and foremost, what it is meant to be: a clearly defined pilot’s watch with strong historical roots. The new green color gives it a slightly different, decidedly appealing touch.

We put together our own version independently using the Laco configurator. The Stuttgart PRO can be customized there in various ways to suit personal taste—including size, dial, case, crystal, movement, and strap. That’s how the combination featured in our hands-on review came about.

Our configuration, featuring a 40-millimeter case, a green Type A dial, the FL23883 engraving, a decorated automatic movement in the Elaboré finish, a sapphire crystal case back, front glass with anti-reflective coating on both sides, and a stainless steel bracelet is priced at 1,440 euros. We also wore the Stuttgart PRO with the dark brown leather strap featuring rivets and a folding clasp (+60€ in the configurator).

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