The Parabolic Tactical Diver: Germany's Laco Squad Atacama

A situation requiring immediate tactical intervention is taking place in Germany.  Highly trained and specialized federal police units which have trained for years for just such an occasion are en route via a number of highly tactical modes of transit.  They are equipped with the world's finest gear for diving, parachuting, and tactical operations.  As they arrive at the incident site in waning daylight each operator glances briefly at the highly luminescent indices on their mission-timer.  The PVD coated, 500m capable, parabolic shaped Laco Squad Atacama (also lovingly and confusingly known as the "Ninja") is a piece of kit every bit as essential as their rifles or plate carriers...  Or so our dear Freunden at Laco would have you believe.  And while the Laco Squad is probably not totally essential for tactical operations, this is one very cool, highly capable, and truly different watch.

Let's get down to business.  This watch is BIG.  The watch sports a 46mm perfectly circular case shape which tapers down from the unidirectional rotating count down bezel to the somewhat surprising transparent case back.  The screw down crown is positioned at the 12 o'clock spot which is intended to move it away from the back of the wearers hand.  The lugs are hinged to the case and hug the wrist making the much more comfortable than you would imagine as well as aiding the watch in wearability on smaller wrists.  A very minimal looking (über Bauhaus) dial, a tall chapter ring sporting the traditional 1-12 numerals, and the PVD coating make for a very all-business and tactical appearance which you will either love or hate.  Inside the 500m rated case, the trusty ETA 2824 keeps reliable and robust time.  This all makes for a pretty impressive resume but how well does it all work?

For starters, the size will be an issue for some as it is I think for me.  My wrist is at most about 6.25" (that's on a good day after a workout) and I always knew the Squad would be a pushing it for size.  However, as I mentioned the hinged lugs do aid the watch in having a short perceived lug to lug measurement.  Also, when worn on the stock rubber vent style diver's strap the lugs sort of blend into the strap making it look like the round part of the watch is the whole thing.  It doesn't feel like a large watch on the wrist.  For anyone with a more normal wrist size I think the Squad would look great.

The fit, finish, and attention to detail of the Germans at Laco is in keeping with the finest Swiss or Japanese watch manufacture.  The bezel has neatly engraved numerals which are filled with some kind of white paint which must be pretty durable as mine is a well used example and it's all still there.  The bezel's edge sports a neatly cross hatched design which makes it easy to grab with gloves on or without.  The time keeping on my recently serviced example is well within chronometer standards which seems to be possible with any well regulated 2824 equipped watch.

Tools of the trade.  

The lume is clearly Superluminova (green) and glows evenly throughout the night in keeping the watch's tactical concept.  The strap as a mentioned is also a nicely executed rubber vent strap which comes in two lengths with one being for daily wear and another longer one for use with a wetsuit.  The shorter length strap makes it so that even with a very small wrist and the hinged lugs I don't have six inches of strap "tail" hanging off my wrist.  This is because even the saltiest diver mostly wears their watch while not diving and being comfortable out of the water matters too.  My dream is that someday Seiko will come out with short length Z series straps for their divers.

Probably too big for me, but really cool nonetheless.  

This is an impressive watch but the Laco is not perfect.  The watch suffers in some way from an identity crisis.  Is it a diver or more of a tactical mission timer concept?  Why the heck is a German made tactical diver named after the Atacama desert of South America?  An example of the discord is the countdown bezel.  If you're going to go through the trouble of rating the watch to 500 meters and including a wetsuit strap then I'd prefer a traditional elapsed time bezel.  In fact, as someone who often dives sans computer, I'd likely choose another watch for my diving needs.  Although I can't claim to be a tactical operator, I can imagine the watch would suit those needs adequately though so too (the US military would argue) would a $40 G-Shock.

Though the case design is old, it is still highly unique in today's watch-scape.  L-R: A vintage Preziosa diver, the Squad's smaller quartz brother, and the Atacama on the right.  

The main selling point here is in the uniqueness of the watch.  This particular parabolic case has been utilized by other brands before but never in large numbers.  At the moment nothing looks even remotely like the Squad except for the offensively overpriced and under engineered ZRC rerelease.  The Squad and Laco deserve respect for unapologetically daring to be different.  The minimal, highly teutonic design of the Atacama combined with the impressive list of features makes the watch an insane value for the $5-800 you're likely to spend but the polarizing nature of the design will keep this watch in the hands of those who want to wear something totally different.  I'd argue that Laco is perfectly OK with that.

Absolutely a great watch for... drinking on a sailboat?  The Laco Squad is huge and makes a statement.  It is probably the most often asked about watch I own.