You lumped it in with finishing, but I would consider the crown a plus in favor of the Escapement Time due simply to the style. The undistinguished crown on budget-friendly Laco models has always been a bit of a letdown for me, and I like seeing that onion crown on the ET. It gives the profile of the watch some added flieger-appropriate character and sets it apart from all the divers out there.
In general I prefer the onion shape crown too but I dont know that I agree that it adds more flieger-appropriate style. Most of my favorite flieger watches are the originals from IWC that use the same style crown this Laco has. I think the big difference between them is the execution mindset. The Laco is really trying hard to play to the original theme whereas the ET is just trying to be a good watch.
Blued hands = ET win, Rich black dial = ET win Gorgeous onion crown= ET win Waterproof depth= ET win Price Value= Massive ET win Also the new Escapement Time with PT5000 movement, display back, domed saphire, and slimmer case, even bigger win!
Just watched you review, thanks. Sitting with my two 'Flieger' style watches, a San Marting 'B' with a titanium case and a Steel Dive with the 'A' dial. Both NH35 and 39mm. Both nice watches for everyday use. Looked at the Laco but saying German Made with a Miyota movement is a no go for me.
Good review, which confirmed that I had made the right choice. I made comparable considerations when looking out a Flieger. The Laco of course appealed to me because of its lineage and made in Germany and I am decidedly not sniffy about a Myota movement. But the ET watch came out of so many videos with such glowing reviews that it would have been madness not to give some serious thoughts. My first AliExpress watch (a Sugess chrono) was a bit of a bummer, so I was a bit on edge about ordering from this source, but I have had the ET Flieger for about three weeks now and it is really a very nice watch, solid feel , spiffing bracelet, good lume (actually better than the one in your video, or is that just me). Perhaps I'll buy a Laco with an A-type dial, but I might also go for a San Martin in bronze......
I like the escapement time better if they would’ve at least thrown a 9000 series movement instead of an 8100 series, my opinion would change for the price of the watch. I think you’re better off with the cheaper option
I really like my ET Flieger. It was the first budget Ali watch I bought. I really wish it was a NH38 instead of the NH35A but for the price how can you complain. Recently though it has kind of moved to the back of the rotation. But your earlier video on putting it on a metal bracelet has brought it back into focus.
If I could pick up the Faro for £200 I'd have that, the larger dial and original manufacture kudos is important but at eighty odd quid my ET is a stunner, love it, gonna lookout for a £200 laco tho...
I've had my Laco Faro for about a month now and have been extremely happy. Glad I went with the newer, updated version of the Laco like yours, because the version prior didn't have hacking which the new version now has. Anybody shopping should look out for the newest version.
I've had the ET type B for quite a few months. Indeed great value and boo significant QC issues for me. For me, the blue lume may fade quickly at first and be softer look but I can read it all night, 7-8 hours. Lasting as long as my Seiko Samurai if not as bright.
@@hammondwatch2808 There was a misleading typo in my comment. It should have said "No" significant quality control issues. I am very pleased with the watch as a whole and that includes the long lasting lume.
Bit of an unfair comparison with the lume. Green lume will almost always look brighter but blue lume will be easier to read after a few hours in the dark because our eyes are better equipped to see blueish colors at night than green. I think the lume on the ET is excellent. But I'm very interested to see how it compares with the Tisell Flieger I just bought. What bothers me slightly with the ET is how high the case is because of the 300m water resistance which is IMHO much more than is ever needed for daily use. 10 bar and a non screw down crown would have been good enough for me.
Nice review, I also have a couple of pilot watches, this Laco, fleiger B style face and an Ali Express, Addies dive/pilot with the less busy A style dial. The Addies has screw down crown 200m wr. Sapphire crystal, NH35 with date so no ghost position. Finishing almost but not quite as good as the Laco, but you can only tell by holding both side by side. And would you believe, the Addies lume lasts longer than the LACO!. I can see the time very early in the morning, while the Laco has faded away. Still love it though!! Just subscribed by the way.👍
The level of quality these newer Chinese pilot watches have reached is truly insane. Especilly with the lume nd WR. Like you, I feel like there's room for both in any watchbox. Thanks for the sub! New videos soon, I'm just bouncing back from abdominal surgery.
Great comparison review! I got the ET Type B and it ticks all the boxes with the exception of a historical connection of the brand name the other German offerings give. Though, I was in the market for a Type B and couldn't believe the specs on the ET one. I was actually iffy on the heat treated blued hands claim also, plus the water resistance. It's good to know that your video confirms the blued hands which is an amazing spec for price. The WR I'd say even if it's not 300m, a 200m with screw down caseback and crown is definitely the minimum. I think that the Laco watch has a better proportioned dial/bezel measurement. The dial looks bigger because the bezel is slimmer, so it gives i a less cluttered look, and I think without the dots on the inner hour track helps too. I like that a lot about it. Though, I love the sterile dial with no branding or logo on the ET. I love the rich black as well with a sharp contrasting white of the painted numerals and markers. Your ET lume seems to be slightly less effective than what I have. Granted, I'm so used to Seiko's Lumibrite and not so much the blue BGW9(?) so it doesn't look as bright as I'd normally like. The ET's lume definitely fades quicker but there are times when I can still read the time late into the night, but for the most part it's a little difficult. I liked the blue lume since it's different than the others that I have for my watches, but green supposedly is better for seeing in the dark since night vision goggles and scopes are green.
Laco for me, as I am actually into WWII aviation and prefer them, even over the IWC because of the cases being closer to the real deal stylewise. It can be worth going for the not lowest tier Laco depending on if the one buying it does so as it is a neat watch or something one is interested in. If don't care about the historical aspect nor is that nitpicky on finishing touches and care more about the pricetag the ET is probably a better choice for many people.
I would say that the finishing polish may looks like is rough but for me I think it as a pattern than rough finishing. Rough finishing is touch rough and not looks rough. As for the price, the quality of needles movement as well 300m and screws own crown makes it even more perfect than Laco.
I think the fact that this is even a comparison is a win for ET. I mean one can cost 500+$. One is 100 to 160 lol I mean come on. I feel like this review was giving some passes to Laco just cuz it's a "better " brand lol. I mean a slight slight difference in the case finishing lol. 300 meters screw down vs 50 meeter pull? The steel blue hands. Laco should honestly be embarrassed.
No passes were given. They do some things better and some worse. If we are only discussing value, the ET is one of the better watches you can buy at any price. That said, this video is just meant to compare the final product. Laco is only a "better" brand if you value historical significance which not everyone does. They shouldn't be embarrassed, they are simply targeting different customers by leaning on their history. I like the WR too but its not a necessity given the style of watch. A chronograph that has screw down pushers isn't necessarily a better watch than one without just because of its WR.
I had the Escapement Time Flieger in for a day and flipped it due to QC issues. This was my third Chinese watch and the third immediate flip. Three strikes and Aliexpress is out👎🏽
Oof that sucks. The ET Flieger is the only Ali watch I have experienced (so far) that I felt is really worth keeping around. That said ive seen a few stories about duds. Much like Seiko alignment, it seems to be all about luck of the draw.
This is kind of why I haven't given Aliexpress a chance yet. If you had wanted to return your watch because of QC issues would that have been a good idea?
ET because of the movement, Laco has heritage line downside is the miyota movement which is noisy for me. I am looking a Hruodland which copies the Laco with a choice of PT5000 and SW200 , sandblasted or bronze, it has the elevated lugs “exact” copy of Laco Paderborn. But idf I want to go all out 1000 plus dollars, it will be a Stowa, better looking, thinner and their bronze is different in color. Bottomline is how much is one willing to spend.
I haven't tried Hruodland but they look and seem like good value and quality. If you get one, let me know what its like in hand. I absolutely agree that Stowa is the best of the bunch. They make tremendous watches and what I feel is an appropriate price. IWC fliegers can kick rocks.
ET clear winner, CLEAR winner...oh the finishing is CLEARLY?? better on the Laco? The movement is CLEARLY BETTER on the ET. The 300m WR is CLEARLY BETTER on the ET. Hands ET. Laco has better lume....gee....I'll pay $360 more for that lume and give up the HACKING MOVEMENT and WR? I don't like either strap and would replace them both. Germany, what happened? 460 DOLLARS??? PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Just an FYI, this 821a is a hacking movement. Brand heritage typically come at a cost but that doesn't matter to everybody. Yes, the ET is a better value (That doesn't matter to everybody either). Also, WR doesn't always matter, especially with pilot watches. That is all.
@@hammondwatch2808 As of mid-2019, Miyota seems to have listened to the desires of the watch community and found a way to integrate a hacking mechanism (stop seconds device) into the 821A. This means that the seconds hand will stop when the crown is pulled out. We have reached out to Miyota and will update this listing as soon as we have a reply with more information as to when they made this change. Keep in mind that although there are 821A movements popping up on the market, the current majority of 821A powered watches will be non-hacking. If you watch doesn’t hack, it doesn’t mean it’s broken. (I mean, you have one there--does it hack? Do they all? If the movement hacks, that would make them about equal) The other things matter to most of mankind. I could easily say the same thing about the lume--well, to some, it doesn't really matter, but...to most people, that Laco lume is REALLY nice. And the price points....it's almost insulting. In fact, you may want rather to consider the 100m WR PT5000 version from ET instead since it's closer in price to the Laco. 8 beats per second might not matter to some...double domed sapphire might not matter...ya know, I didn't mean to sound irritated with you. I'm far from a fan of Chinese knockoffs. But ET really seems like it's doing things right. I haven't bought one of these fliegers yet, but I plan to if my first Ali purchase (from 11/11) goes well. And knowing German engineering and manufacturing quality, it seems like Laco is taking advantage when imho, it should be targeting the value-seekers out there.
@@keats27 Laco is definitely trying to cash in on a history that their current ownership wasn't a part of (Similar to Doxa) and the ET is probably the best value watch I've ever experienced. For some added perspective, the ET is still in my collection while the Laco is not. It just hard to call the Laco overpriced when they were one of the original 5 flieger manufacturers IMO. Trying to find another brand with that type of history, selling watches sub $500 is impossible. I took no offense to your comments and hope that first Ali purchase works out. I've reviewed a few Ali watches and the ET has been the best by far. Cheers!
I bet Laco is also made in China. It is absurd business decision to source all the parts in China and then assemble in Germany. Probably Laco price is similar to Escapement Time. You pay the difference for the Brand.
@@hammondwatch2808 it matter if you get a value for the money. Brand is all about that - to assure klients that they get the most for thair money. But if old brand is two or three times more expencive than a new brand and offer no or just a little more, than I go with a new one. This is just my opinion. I do not judge people who will go and spend some extra money for an established and older brand.
I got both, and considering their value ( I paid 2.5 times Escapement Time price for my used Faro) ET is an absolute winner.
Its a pretty ridiculous value.
You lumped it in with finishing, but I would consider the crown a plus in favor of the Escapement Time due simply to the style. The undistinguished crown on budget-friendly Laco models has always been a bit of a letdown for me, and I like seeing that onion crown on the ET. It gives the profile of the watch some added flieger-appropriate character and sets it apart from all the divers out there.
In general I prefer the onion shape crown too but I dont know that I agree that it adds more flieger-appropriate style. Most of my favorite flieger watches are the originals from IWC that use the same style crown this Laco has. I think the big difference between them is the execution mindset. The Laco is really trying hard to play to the original theme whereas the ET is just trying to be a good watch.
Blued hands = ET win,
Rich black dial = ET win
Gorgeous onion crown= ET win
Waterproof depth= ET win
Price Value= Massive ET win
Also the new Escapement Time with PT5000 movement, display back, domed saphire, and slimmer case, even bigger win!
I totally agree with you.
Just watched you review, thanks. Sitting with my two 'Flieger' style watches, a San Marting 'B' with a titanium case and a Steel Dive with the 'A' dial. Both NH35 and 39mm. Both nice watches for everyday use. Looked at the Laco but saying German Made with a Miyota movement is a no go for me.
At least someone smart enough to notice German/Myiota.
Good review, which confirmed that I had made the right choice. I made comparable considerations when looking out a Flieger. The Laco of course appealed to me because of its lineage and made in Germany and I am decidedly not sniffy about a Myota movement. But the ET watch came out of so many videos with such glowing reviews that it would have been madness not to give some serious thoughts. My first AliExpress watch (a Sugess chrono) was a bit of a bummer, so I was a bit on edge about ordering from this source, but I have had the ET Flieger for about three weeks now and it is really a very nice watch, solid feel , spiffing bracelet, good lume (actually better than the one in your video, or is that just me). Perhaps I'll buy a Laco with an A-type dial, but I might also go for a San Martin in bronze......
I like the escapement time better if they would’ve at least thrown a 9000 series movement instead of an 8100 series, my opinion would change for the price of the watch. I think you’re better off with the cheaper option
I really like my ET Flieger. It was the first budget Ali watch I bought. I really wish it was a NH38 instead of the NH35A but for the price how can you complain. Recently though it has kind of moved to the back of the rotation. But your earlier video on putting it on a metal bracelet has brought it back into focus.
If I could pick up the Faro for £200 I'd have that, the larger dial and original manufacture kudos is important but at eighty odd quid my ET is a stunner, love it, gonna lookout for a £200 laco tho...
I've had my Laco Faro for about a month now and have been extremely happy. Glad I went with the newer, updated version of the Laco like yours, because the version prior didn't have hacking which the new version now has. Anybody shopping should look out for the newest version.
I've had the ET type B for quite a few months. Indeed great value and boo significant QC issues for me. For me, the blue lume may fade quickly at first and be softer look but I can read it all night, 7-8 hours. Lasting as long as my Seiko Samurai if not as bright.
That sucks. I've seen a decent amount of collectors have to deal with QC issues. Hopefully as they grow those things will get tightened up.
@@hammondwatch2808 There was a misleading typo in my comment. It should have said "No" significant quality control issues. I am very pleased with the watch as a whole and that includes the long lasting lume.
@@larrydalton2205 Ohhhhhh. Makes more sense now lol. Glad you got a good one. I've had 2 and neither had issues.
that gloss black dial will win me over every time
Bit of an unfair comparison with the lume. Green lume will almost always look brighter but blue lume will be easier to read after a few hours in the dark because our eyes are better equipped to see blueish colors at night than green. I think the lume on the ET is excellent. But I'm very interested to see how it compares with the Tisell Flieger I just bought. What bothers me slightly with the ET is how high the case is because of the 300m water resistance which is IMHO much more than is ever needed for daily use. 10 bar and a non screw down crown would have been good enough for me.
Nice review, I also have a couple of pilot watches, this Laco, fleiger B style face and an Ali Express, Addies dive/pilot with the less busy A style dial. The Addies has screw down crown 200m wr. Sapphire crystal, NH35 with date so no ghost position. Finishing almost but not quite as good as the Laco, but you can only tell by holding both side by side. And would you believe, the Addies lume lasts longer than the LACO!. I can see the time very early in the morning, while the Laco has faded away. Still love it though!! Just subscribed by the way.👍
The level of quality these newer Chinese pilot watches have reached is truly insane. Especilly with the lume nd WR. Like you, I feel like there's room for both in any watchbox. Thanks for the sub! New videos soon, I'm just bouncing back from abdominal surgery.
Great comparison review! I got the ET Type B and it ticks all the boxes with the exception of a historical connection of the brand name the other German offerings give. Though, I was in the market for a Type B and couldn't believe the specs on the ET one. I was actually iffy on the heat treated blued hands claim also, plus the water resistance. It's good to know that your video confirms the blued hands which is an amazing spec for price. The WR I'd say even if it's not 300m, a 200m with screw down caseback and crown is definitely the minimum.
I think that the Laco watch has a better proportioned dial/bezel measurement. The dial looks bigger because the bezel is slimmer, so it gives i a less cluttered look, and I think without the dots on the inner hour track helps too. I like that a lot about it. Though, I love the sterile dial with no branding or logo on the ET. I love the rich black as well with a sharp contrasting white of the painted numerals and markers.
Your ET lume seems to be slightly less effective than what I have. Granted, I'm so used to Seiko's Lumibrite and not so much the blue BGW9(?) so it doesn't look as bright as I'd normally like. The ET's lume definitely fades quicker but there are times when I can still read the time late into the night, but for the most part it's a little difficult. I liked the blue lume since it's different than the others that I have for my watches, but green supposedly is better for seeing in the dark since night vision goggles and scopes are green.
Laco for me, as I am actually into WWII aviation and prefer them, even over the IWC because of the cases being closer to the real deal stylewise. It can be worth going for the not lowest tier Laco depending on if the one buying it does so as it is a neat watch or something one is interested in.
If don't care about the historical aspect nor is that nitpicky on finishing touches and care more about the pricetag the ET is probably a better choice for many people.
I agree. Brand history and story is a big reason why I love watches. I can appreciate both but in this instance the Laco feels more "authentic".
I would say that the finishing polish may looks like is rough but for me I think it as a pattern than rough finishing. Rough finishing is touch rough and not looks rough. As for the price, the quality of needles movement as well 300m and screws own crown makes it even more perfect than Laco.
Not shure you need 300 wr. In a aviation watch . I'd rather a slimmer watch 100 wr would be fine .
I think the fact that this is even a comparison is a win for ET. I mean one can cost 500+$. One is 100 to 160 lol I mean come on. I feel like this review was giving some passes to Laco just cuz it's a "better " brand lol. I mean a slight slight difference in the case finishing lol. 300 meters screw down vs 50 meeter pull? The steel blue hands. Laco should honestly be embarrassed.
No passes were given. They do some things better and some worse. If we are only discussing value, the ET is one of the better watches you can buy at any price. That said, this video is just meant to compare the final product. Laco is only a "better" brand if you value historical significance which not everyone does. They shouldn't be embarrassed, they are simply targeting different customers by leaning on their history. I like the WR too but its not a necessity given the style of watch. A chronograph that has screw down pushers isn't necessarily a better watch than one without just because of its WR.
I agree with you ET is much better in terms of value and functionalities. It also looks great on a plain next texture black silicone strap
I had the Escapement Time Flieger in for a day and flipped it due to QC issues. This was my third Chinese watch and the third immediate flip. Three strikes and Aliexpress is out👎🏽
Oof that sucks. The ET Flieger is the only Ali watch I have experienced (so far) that I felt is really worth keeping around. That said ive seen a few stories about duds. Much like Seiko alignment, it seems to be all about luck of the draw.
This is kind of why I haven't given Aliexpress a chance yet. If you had wanted to return your watch because of QC issues would that have been a good idea?
Love my ET, great VFM. Nice comparison. 😁👊
Thanks! Me too.
Returning my ET due to major lume issues on the hour and minute hand.
That sucks. Hopefully the return is an easy process.
ET because of the movement, Laco has heritage line downside is the miyota movement which is noisy for me. I am looking a Hruodland which copies the Laco with a choice of PT5000 and SW200 , sandblasted or bronze, it has the elevated lugs “exact” copy of Laco Paderborn. But idf I want to go all out 1000 plus dollars, it will be a Stowa, better looking, thinner and their bronze is different in color. Bottomline is how much is one willing to spend.
I haven't tried Hruodland but they look and seem like good value and quality. If you get one, let me know what its like in hand. I absolutely agree that Stowa is the best of the bunch. They make tremendous watches and what I feel is an appropriate price. IWC fliegers can kick rocks.
Great video, you've got a new subscriber, best regards
Awesome! Happy to have you on board.
ET clear winner, CLEAR winner...oh the finishing is CLEARLY?? better on the Laco? The movement is CLEARLY BETTER on the ET. The 300m WR is CLEARLY BETTER on the ET. Hands ET. Laco has better lume....gee....I'll pay $360 more for that lume and give up the HACKING MOVEMENT and WR? I don't like either strap and would replace them both. Germany, what happened? 460 DOLLARS??? PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Just an FYI, this 821a is a hacking movement. Brand heritage typically come at a cost but that doesn't matter to everybody. Yes, the ET is a better value (That doesn't matter to everybody either). Also, WR doesn't always matter, especially with pilot watches. That is all.
@@hammondwatch2808 As of mid-2019, Miyota seems to have listened to the desires of the watch community and found a way to integrate a hacking mechanism (stop seconds device) into the 821A. This means that the seconds hand will stop when the crown is pulled out. We have reached out to Miyota and will update this listing as soon as we have a reply with more information as to when they made this change. Keep in mind that although there are 821A movements popping up on the market, the current majority of 821A powered watches will be non-hacking. If you watch doesn’t hack, it doesn’t mean it’s broken. (I mean, you have one there--does it hack? Do they all? If the movement hacks, that would make them about equal) The other things matter to most of mankind. I could easily say the same thing about the lume--well, to some, it doesn't really matter, but...to most people, that Laco lume is REALLY nice. And the price points....it's almost insulting. In fact, you may want rather to consider the 100m WR PT5000 version from ET instead since it's closer in price to the Laco. 8 beats per second might not matter to some...double domed sapphire might not matter...ya know, I didn't mean to sound irritated with you. I'm far from a fan of Chinese knockoffs. But ET really seems like it's doing things right. I haven't bought one of these fliegers yet, but I plan to if my first Ali purchase (from 11/11) goes well. And knowing German engineering and manufacturing quality, it seems like Laco is taking advantage when imho, it should be targeting the value-seekers out there.
@@keats27 Laco is definitely trying to cash in on a history that their current ownership wasn't a part of (Similar to Doxa) and the ET is probably the best value watch I've ever experienced. For some added perspective, the ET is still in my collection while the Laco is not. It just hard to call the Laco overpriced when they were one of the original 5 flieger manufacturers IMO. Trying to find another brand with that type of history, selling watches sub $500 is impossible. I took no offense to your comments and hope that first Ali purchase works out. I've reviewed a few Ali watches and the ET has been the best by far. Cheers!
Nobody wants to see a Miyota! The escapement won this one, at least for me.
I don't hate miyota but agree that the Et won (IMO).
made in Germany , good, 50m water resistence, no.
I would like it if it had more but then again good pilots don't need any water resistance.
@@hammondwatch2808 What if they crash in the ocean? LOL
@@chrispekel5709 Thats why I said GOOD pilots lol.
@@hammondwatch2808 HAHAH
@@hammondwatch2808 Accident could happen lol
I bet Laco is also made in China. It is absurd business decision to source all the parts in China and then assemble in Germany.
Probably Laco price is similar to Escapement Time. You pay the difference for the Brand.
Ok. Is your position that brand doesnt matter?
@@hammondwatch2808 it matter if you get a value for the money. Brand is all about that - to assure klients that they get the most for thair money. But if old brand is two or three times more expencive than a new brand and offer no or just a little more, than I go with a new one. This is just my opinion. I do not judge people who will go and spend some extra money for an established and older brand.
@@hammondwatch2808 платить за бренд 300 баксов из 400 это идиотизм
Ага механизм миета стоит 2000 рублей ,сейко даже подороже ,платить за германскую фигню 400 баксов? Надо быть полным дураком ,чтобы выбрать лако .