Hey guys, here is a brand new watch wars with two unlikely competitors - laco and san martin. One has heritage and the other is great value, but which is actually better? I know the Type-b doesn't have a zero next to the 5, but it still annoys me.
Great video, but this is comparing apples with pears as we say in The Netherlands. The San Martin has a type B Flieger dial, but it is fitted in a rebuild diver or field watchcase of some sort. The San Martin outspecs the Laco, but the design misses completely it's idea. Also these type of watches are worn with straps and definitely not a bracelet. Love to see a comparison between this Laco and the Flieger from Escapement Time.
Great video, I think the Laco has the heritage behind it, but the SM is definitely the better choice. I think the Chinese makers are making great and affordable Type B Flieger.
Disagree my friend, both look the same to me. A Flieger B is always going to look busy anyway. I have the Steeldive, which size wise is the same as the San Martin, and there's nothing cluttered about it. The legibility is legendary actually. But maybe you prefer the bigger dimensions, I can see some will prefer it.
I bought several type b Fliegers on AliExress recently from Steeldive, San Martin, Escapement Time and Tandorio and only kept 2 of them. I gave the Steeldive to my father for Christmas, sold the San Martin on eBay and kept the Tandorio that I got for less than $50 for a daily beater and the Escapement Time PT5000 when I want something a little more special. The Steeldive was great and had good lume and a decent bracelet and had a better sunburst dial than the others. The San Martin was the same 39mm case as the Tandorio and Steeldive but had more of a bezel that made the dial almost 2mm smaller than the other 2 which made it look tiny next to the others and I just wasn’t happy with it for my wrist size so I sold it to make room for something else. The Escapement Time is my favorite and I swap between it and the Tandorio, depending on what I am doing that day. At 40mm case size it’s almost all dial which makes it really easy to read, even in the middle of night in total darkness thanks to long lasting BGW 9. The fit and finish of the San Martin was better in many ways to the others and had the best bracelet but with only 2 micro adjust, I never hit that sweet spot and was always a little too tight or a little too loose but they have a 6 micro adjust if you find yourself in the same position. The smaller dial and relatively diminutive wrist presence were deal breakers for me this time around but I would purchase a SM in the future with confidence knowing what level of quality I would receive.
I also own it and I can't seem to keep it off my wrist. So comfortable and with the 20 bar wr you don't have to worry about it getting dunked. It is a very very good watch. YN55 is a good movement, too.
Very good review, just subscribed. Definitely agree that the San Martin shades it. The dial is nice on the Laco but more authentic on the SM. However I see the attraction of the nice sunburst effect. But one thing to note, people should also look at Steeldive pilot watch, also 200m water resistance, dare I say, the same case as the SM, screw down crown, NH35a, lume like a torch, the blue dial one has the same sunburst effect as the SM and it's only $97, and you might get a discount on it. Fleiger type B, like these. I have one more than a year now, super reliable, and mine was +7 spd when I got it. For fun I tried regulating it, got it down to +1......a week! I was very happy. My cheapest watch but maybe the best one! Also choice of bracelet or matching rubber strap, the strap looks better and you might get it for free if you ask. I did!
Thanks and it's certainly one I would consider as you're not the first person to suggest I take a look at one. I'll add it to the review list. Thanks very much
Me too, great bang for the buck and in this case it is better, but the Laco is up there too. If they were the same price, then it would be neck and neck. Thanks for watching
Your review is spot on. If you are going to go Laco you need to go to the original design like the Dortmund, but it is a large flat watch but very cool and expensive
For me, judging from the video, the laco has a much better and cleaner design. Maybe it's the bezel? Next time if you wish, put the same strap or bracelet on both of them for a more clean comparison of the watch itself. :)
Nice vid, as always! If the lack of 0 on the dial combined with the burden of owning two similar watches is too much for you(!), I’d happily take the SM off your hands; it’s been in my AliExpress basket for awhile now, waiting for a good price.
I bought a Steeldive type B a couple of months ago for just under £100 with a beautiful blue dial just like the Laco. It has a different style hand set, but is still really nice. That also has fantastic lume. It's a great watch for the money (with a trusty NH35) I'm really pleased with it. I agree with your result, the Laco, though nice is just over priced compared with the San Martin. Great video, cheers.
Spot on Paul, I got the blue Steeldive more than a year ago, great watch and I regulated an already good score to almost perfect timekeeping . For the price it gives these a run for the money. I think that SM case is the same one as Steeldive and Addies, though I think Addies is only available in Type A at the moment.
There is no significant difference, except for price. Great thing about a Fleiger Type B, nobody really knows what you're wearing. On the dial I'll go with San Martin, the sunburst is a fashion addition, the traditional Fleiger dials were flat matt for a reason, pilots could not have shimmer on the dial. Personally I'd reverse the score on the dials as SM is as it was meant to be. It's funny that the copy is more true to the original than the Laco which is supposed to be the original! Excellent review mate!
Thanks mate and fair enough, I prefer the blue sunburst because its so well done but I understand that its not original as intended, but Laco do make more traditional ones and you're this one is a little more fashion forward than a true type b.
I watched a good video earlier today about the history of the Flieger. That Laco is more true to the original design intent and therefor more authentic, in particular the bead-blasted finish and general execution of the case, at least from what I've seen.
My problem with Laco is saying it's German made and calling the Miyota movement a Laco 31. Assembled in Germany, maybe. Cased in Germany, ok. Regulated in Germany, fine. Not made in Germany. On other sites people argue that other watch companies do about the same thing, still wrong. Seiko labels watch 'Japan Made' or not based on where the watch and parts were made.
Yeah it is an issue, I find it misleading, saying that some Swiss watches aren't fully made there either. I think they should perhaps change that to designed in Germany. But I don't know.
@@WesWatchRoom As long as the quality lives up to what is expected of the nation on the dial I don't mind. If they just rebrand a watch from somewhere else to try to fool us, then - no
Bought the Laco Neapel (A) with orange hands and indexes. Sent it back after two days: the orange on the hands was much duller than that on the indexes which irked me no end. Also, the proportions are not quite right: 38mm case but just 18mm lug width looks odd indeed.
Me personally I call this one a draw why I say draw like you said in the beginning you can't do a whole lot with the type A or B pilot besides changing the movement both offer bang for your buck both have history thanks for the watch war mate
I generally like those comparison videos! Anyway, I don’t agree about the finishing, 8,5:7 for San Martin, that doesn’t seem fair to me. The finishing is different on purpose… And comparing comfort, while not having the bracelet for the Laco, makes no sense to me whatsoever. The rest of the comparison seem fair to me! And yeah you probably can’t call them homages, but Laco is one of the originals, who have been building Fliegers during the war. I think that’s a fair point to make. Just a shame that San Martin doesn’t make it in blue and larger, it’s a Flieger! Just a question out of curiosity, which watch would score a 10 for lume? Good video overall! Thanks!
Thanks mate and I get you where you're coming, but unfortunately I need 10 rounds and because these don't have bezels its hard to get 10 rounds, so that's why. Hope that makes sense. As for the comfort, again not fair, but I did weight it best I could. Next time I could perhaps put both watches on the same or similar straps to get a more fair comparison. As for 10 lume, I've not seen one yet but as ten is the perfect score, I don't we ever will.
@@WesWatchRoom fair enough! And in regards to the lume, you could have a raining champ so to speak that gets arbitrarily assigned 10 points and new watches would compare against it.
I have become a fan of some Chinese watches, not all but some, what they can make sometimes just impresses me. Chinese watches are subsidized by the Chinese government though especially when it comes to shipping. Oh and the band on the Laco looks identical to that oschtin watch I bought for $22, just a different color.
@@WesWatchRoom I searched google one day, curious as to why and how Chinese watches are so inexpensive, one of the results was that the Chinese government subsidized the shipping cost. They have a deal with usps also called epacket, plus labor cost is so cheap. Some not all Chinese manufacturers really make a decent watch, I may collect some information and make a video on it.
I've never handled or owned a San Martin but hear nothing but good things about them and their build quality at the price point. I wouldn't consider myself a snob either. Ive had a well paid career throughout my adulthood, financially comfortable, but came from nothing on a council estate and I never forget that. Fliegers aren't my thing tbh, probably my least favourite style watch, but if it was between these two I'd pick the laco based on brand history etc. Tbh I think I prefer a stowa or hanhart over the laco but not a style a watch I'll probably ever own.
Hey guys, here is a brand new watch wars with two unlikely competitors - laco and san martin. One has heritage and the other is great value, but which is actually better?
I know the Type-b doesn't have a zero next to the 5, but it still annoys me.
Agreed. The San Martin is better.
Just goes to show that a great watch needn't be expensive. 😁
Great video, but this is comparing apples with pears as we say in The Netherlands.
The San Martin has a type B Flieger dial, but it is fitted in a rebuild diver or field watchcase of some sort. The San Martin outspecs the Laco, but the design misses completely it's idea. Also these type of watches are worn with straps and definitely not a bracelet.
Love to see a comparison between this Laco and the Flieger from Escapement Time.
I've gone right off NATOs too. I used to put EVERYTHING on them, but I think I find them a bit cheap feeling now.
I don't find them cheap, I think alternatives are fare more comfortable yo wear. Single pass straps i don't mind at all. Thanks for watching
Depends on the brand a lot Damian. I've had some stinkers too, but there are very high quality straps available.
Great video, I think the Laco has the heritage behind it, but the SM is definitely the better choice. I think the Chinese makers are making great and affordable Type B Flieger.
Thanks mate, appreciate that and you're right on both counts.
The inner ring on the San Martin is way too close to the outer numbers, making the dial look cluttered. The laco has it right.
I don't agree on that. I think the Laco is great, but I think the San Martin is too. But we can't agree on everything. Thanks for watching.
Disagree my friend, both look the same to me. A Flieger B is always going to look busy anyway. I have the Steeldive, which size wise is the same as the San Martin, and there's nothing cluttered about it. The legibility is legendary actually. But maybe you prefer the bigger dimensions, I can see some will prefer it.
As someone who absolutely doesnt care about heritage, give me the San Martin all day long
I bought several type b Fliegers on AliExress recently from Steeldive, San Martin, Escapement Time and Tandorio and only kept 2 of them. I gave the Steeldive to my father for Christmas, sold the San Martin on eBay and kept the Tandorio that I got for less than $50 for a daily beater and the Escapement Time PT5000 when I want something a little more special. The Steeldive was great and had good lume and a decent bracelet and had a better sunburst dial than the others. The San Martin was the same 39mm case as the Tandorio and Steeldive but had more of a bezel that made the dial almost 2mm smaller than the other 2 which made it look tiny next to the others and I just wasn’t happy with it for my wrist size so I sold it to make room for something else. The Escapement Time is my favorite and I swap between it and the Tandorio, depending on what I am doing that day. At 40mm case size it’s almost all dial which makes it really easy to read, even in the middle of night in total darkness thanks to long lasting BGW 9. The fit and finish of the San Martin was better in many ways to the others and had the best bracelet but with only 2 micro adjust, I never hit that sweet spot and was always a little too tight or a little too loose but they have a 6 micro adjust if you find yourself in the same position. The smaller dial and relatively diminutive wrist presence were deal breakers for me this time around but I would purchase a SM in the future with confidence knowing what level of quality I would receive.
I love my Escapement Time. Way better than the SM.
I own the San Martin watch. It's a stunning watch. Well finished and very solid. Very happy with the watch!
Awesome, glad to hear that you're a fan. Thanks for watching
I also own it and I can't seem to keep it off my wrist. So comfortable and with the 20 bar wr you don't have to worry about it getting dunked. It is a very very good watch. YN55 is a good movement, too.
Very good review, just subscribed. Definitely agree that the San Martin shades it. The dial is nice on the Laco but more authentic on the SM. However I see the attraction of the nice sunburst effect. But one thing to note, people should also look at Steeldive pilot watch, also 200m water resistance, dare I say, the same case as the SM, screw down crown, NH35a, lume like a torch, the blue dial one has the same sunburst effect as the SM and it's only $97, and you might get a discount on it. Fleiger type B, like these. I have one more than a year now, super reliable, and mine was +7 spd when I got it. For fun I tried regulating it, got it down to +1......a week! I was very happy. My cheapest watch but maybe the best one! Also choice of bracelet or matching rubber strap, the strap looks better and you might get it for free if you ask. I did!
Thanks and it's certainly one I would consider as you're not the first person to suggest I take a look at one. I'll add it to the review list. Thanks very much
I love San Martin watches.
The quality is on spot and I agree that they make in many cases better watches then some of the big brands these days.
Me too, great bang for the buck and in this case it is better, but the Laco is up there too. If they were the same price, then it would be neck and neck. Thanks for watching
Nice head to head. Thanks Wes.
Thank you mate, appreciate that.
Your review is spot on. If you are going to go Laco you need to go to the original design like the Dortmund, but it is a large flat watch but very cool and expensive
Thanks mate and yeah definitely if you want proper that's the way to go.
For me, judging from the video, the laco has a much better and cleaner design. Maybe it's the bezel? Next time if you wish, put the same strap or bracelet on both of them for a more clean comparison of the watch itself. :)
Great point! I'll be sure to do that next time I do a head to head. Thanks
Good video. I would really like a type-b flieger at some point. This gave me something to think about with my decision.
Thanks and happy to help
San Martin have flieger's dial, but case absolutely not!🤷
Yeah, that's true, I like it, but you're right its not a traditional one. Good spot.
Nice vid, as always! If the lack of 0 on the dial combined with the burden of owning two similar watches is too much for you(!), I’d happily take the SM off your hands; it’s been in my AliExpress basket for awhile now, waiting for a good price.
Thanks and if you're on instagram, send me a message, if not you can find my email on my channel in the about section.
Thanks. I’m not on insta and I can’t find any email address for you in your channel details/about section (I’ve really looked!!!!! 😄)
@@Chris-du3jc no problems it's mrbudgetwatch@gmail.com
I bought a Steeldive type B a couple of months ago for just under £100 with a beautiful blue dial just like the Laco. It has a different style hand set, but is still really nice. That also has fantastic lume. It's a great watch for the money (with a trusty NH35) I'm really pleased with it. I agree with your result, the Laco, though nice is just over priced compared with the San Martin. Great video, cheers.
Thanks Paul, appreciate that. I'd definitely like to get hands on with the steeldive at some point, would make for a good comparison.
Agreed.
Spot on Paul, I got the blue Steeldive more than a year ago, great watch and I regulated an already good score to almost perfect timekeeping . For the price it gives these a run for the money. I think that SM case is the same one as Steeldive and Addies, though I think Addies is only available in Type A at the moment.
Laco just looks better for some reason , I regret buying the San Martin , now I have to buy twice !
There is no significant difference, except for price. Great thing about a Fleiger Type B, nobody really knows what you're wearing. On the dial I'll go with San Martin, the sunburst is a fashion addition, the traditional Fleiger dials were flat matt for a reason, pilots could not have shimmer on the dial. Personally I'd reverse the score on the dials as SM is as it was meant to be. It's funny that the copy is more true to the original than the Laco which is supposed to be the original! Excellent review mate!
Thanks mate and fair enough, I prefer the blue sunburst because its so well done but I understand that its not original as intended, but Laco do make more traditional ones and you're this one is a little more fashion forward than a true type b.
Both nice watches. Thank you
Thanks for watching and they really are.
Thank god for captions
I want to get my hands on a Laco but I just feel like San Martin is better and better value.
You're right, Laco has heritage but the value is better from San Martin
Excellent review mate! That's it, ultimately the Chinese beat us at building Flieger watches! 🙈🇩🇪
Cheers mate and I think Laco do a lot right, but this one just fell short in a few areas. If it was cheaper then it would have been a different story.
I watched a good video earlier today about the history of the Flieger. That Laco is more true to the original design intent and therefor more authentic, in particular the bead-blasted finish and general execution of the case, at least from what I've seen.
My problem with Laco is saying it's German made and calling the Miyota movement a Laco 31. Assembled in Germany, maybe. Cased in Germany, ok. Regulated in Germany, fine. Not made in Germany. On other sites people argue that other watch companies do about the same thing, still wrong. Seiko labels watch 'Japan Made' or not based on where the watch and parts were made.
What does Swiss made mean?
@@curious5557 same problem, right.
Yeah it is an issue, I find it misleading, saying that some Swiss watches aren't fully made there either. I think they should perhaps change that to designed in Germany. But I don't know.
@Watch Talk the same really, not fully made there as they get parts from all over then assemble in Switzerland.
@@WesWatchRoom As long as the quality lives up to what is expected of the nation on the dial I don't mind. If they just rebrand a watch from somewhere else to try to fool us, then - no
Bought the Laco Neapel (A) with orange hands and indexes. Sent it back after two days: the orange on the hands was much duller than that on the indexes which irked me no end. Also, the proportions are not quite right: 38mm case but just 18mm lug width looks odd indeed.
That's a shame, sounds quite disappointing to be fair. I'm guessing you managed to get a refund without any issues?
@@WesWatchRoom Bought it on Amazon, so no problem. Watch was unworn.
@@jjakiefte2165 that's good to hear
Me personally I call this one a draw why I say draw like you said in the beginning you can't do a whole lot with the type A or B pilot besides changing the movement both offer bang for your buck both have history thanks for the watch war mate
Cheers mate and this was a tough one for sure. Both have pros and cons but I still think the San Martin is the better value option.
I generally like those comparison videos!
Anyway, I don’t agree about the finishing, 8,5:7 for San Martin, that doesn’t seem fair to me. The finishing is different on purpose…
And comparing comfort, while not having the bracelet for the Laco, makes no sense to me whatsoever.
The rest of the comparison seem fair to me!
And yeah you probably can’t call them homages, but Laco is one of the originals, who have been building Fliegers during the war. I think that’s a fair point to make.
Just a shame that San Martin doesn’t make it in blue and larger, it’s a Flieger!
Just a question out of curiosity, which watch would score a 10 for lume?
Good video overall! Thanks!
Thanks mate and I get you where you're coming, but unfortunately I need 10 rounds and because these don't have bezels its hard to get 10 rounds, so that's why. Hope that makes sense. As for the comfort, again not fair, but I did weight it best I could. Next time I could perhaps put both watches on the same or similar straps to get a more fair comparison. As for 10 lume, I've not seen one yet but as ten is the perfect score, I don't we ever will.
@@WesWatchRoom fair enough!
And in regards to the lume, you could have a raining champ so to speak that gets arbitrarily assigned 10 points and new watches would compare against it.
@@Skurtle That's a really good idea. I'll have to find my best performing watch and compare the others
@@WesWatchRoom best lume is always Seiko.
@@frankdux5693 Proxima has fantastic lume.
History Heritage & better dial Laco for the win !
Laco are great, but expensive
I'd rather have the Laco at the higher price.
I have become a fan of some Chinese watches, not all but some, what they can make sometimes just impresses me. Chinese watches are subsidized by the Chinese government though especially when it comes to shipping. Oh and the band on the Laco looks identical to that oschtin watch I bought for $22, just a different color.
I didn't know that to be fair and that wouldn't surprise me, my cheap £4/5 ones I have on my Hamilton are way better than the one Laco used. Thanks
@@WesWatchRoom I searched google one day, curious as to why and how Chinese watches are so inexpensive, one of the results was that the Chinese government subsidized the shipping cost. They have a deal with usps also called epacket, plus labor cost is so cheap. Some not all Chinese manufacturers really make a decent watch, I may collect some information and make a video on it.
@@bluecollarwatches7048 I'd definitely be interested in watching it if you do
Laco for me.
Still an amazing choice, if you do get one, skip the nato for something else
Watch snobs will always go for the Laco, in reality the San martin is a better watch. Enjoyed the H2H
True mate, they tend to shop the name not the watch. Thanks
I've never handled or owned a San Martin but hear nothing but good things about them and their build quality at the price point. I wouldn't consider myself a snob either. Ive had a well paid career throughout my adulthood, financially comfortable, but came from nothing on a council estate and I never forget that.
Fliegers aren't my thing tbh, probably my least favourite style watch, but if it was between these two I'd pick the laco based on brand history etc. Tbh I think I prefer a stowa or hanhart over the laco but not a style a watch I'll probably ever own.
@@frankdux5693 I believe a watch is a sum of it's parts, but respect others feel otherwise
@@WesWatchRoom There is a Panzera 38 on eBay going cheap mate. Thought you may want to know
@@watchalot919 bit tapped out at the moment mate, but appreciate the heads up
So hard to understand your accent