Hands-On With The Gagà Laboratorio Labormatic Azzurro

Some watches need a paragraph to explain what they are. The Gagà Laboratorio Labormatic Azzurro doesn’t. With one glance, you already know it’s Italian. From its flowing pebble-like shape to the bold blue tones and playful use of geometry, it wears its design language proudly. It’s confident, expressive, and a little unconventional, and that’s exactly why it works.

I took the Gagà Laboratorio Labormatic Azzurro with me on a recent holiday to Rhodes to see how it would fare in a real-world setting. It’s not the kind of watch I usually reach for, as its design is bolder and more stylized than my day-to-day choices, but that was part of the appeal. I was curious to see how I’d fare with it over a whole week, wearing it in a different environment and letting it settle naturally into my routine.

Not a jump hour but a smarter idea

At first glance, you might assume the Labormatic Azzurro has a jump-hour display. The window at 12 o’clock indeed suggests it. But it’s actually far more straightforward. Instead of snapping from one hour to the next, the disc glides smoothly between numbers in a continuous transition. The clever part is the “in-between” numeral. Rather than showing two half-cut digits, Gagà Laboratorio inserts an intermediary number that lets you see both what time it is and where it’s heading. You can instantly tell the direction of movement, and it resolves the in-between issue somewhat elegantly. It’s a satisfying blend of analog flow and digital clarity, an approach that gives the watch real character.

Reading the minutes is equally intuitive. A small blur box travels around a circular track in the center, precisely highlighting each minute with a red triangle. It only takes a few readings for this to feel completely natural. It might take a fraction longer than reading a traditional hand, but it suits the watch’s methodical personality.

The sculptural form of the Labormatic Azzurro

The Labormatic Azzurro’s case design feels fluid and organic yet precise. It measures 42mm in diameter and 13.3mm thick. While substantial on paper, it balances beautifully on the wrist thanks to the curved profile and short lugs. Gagà Laboratorio has clearly taken cues from Bauhaus minimalism but filtered them through a distinctly Italian lens. It’s functional beauty executed with warmth rather than austerity.

The case is crafted from premium-grade stainless steel with a combination of polished and brushed finishes. The double-curved sapphire crystal blends almost seamlessly into the case, creating an uninterrupted surface that feels both tactile and sleek. From the side, you can spot a small, deliberate step between the crystal and upper case, adding just enough contrast to give the form depth. The polished upper section sits atop a brushed mid-case, and the two layers flow naturally into the lugs. From below, this interplay of surfaces becomes even more striking.

The crown at 12 o’clock continues that theme. Now, normally, I’m not a fan of crowns in this position, but it makes perfect sense here. It keeps the symmetry intact and preserves the uninterrupted lines of the case. A side crown would have spoiled that flow, and Gagà Laboratorio wisely avoided it.

The watch has a 5atm water resistance rating, which suits its intended purpose perfectly. After all, this is not a sports piece. I had no intention of jumping into the pool with this guy on my wrist. Still, that level of protection adds peace of mind during everyday wear. A bit of sweat and humidity in the air isn’t going to ruin the watch or your day. The antireflective coating on the sapphire also works well, keeping reflections low and ensuring the dial remains legible even under harsh light.

Turn the watch over, and you’ll find a sapphire-equipped display back secured with four screws.

The quietly impressive G100 movement

Inside beats the La Joux-Perret G100, a movement I’ve praised before and one that continues to impress. With a 68-hour power reserve, the G100 puts its Sellita and ETA peers to shame. Gagà Laboratorio fits the movement with a custom rotor bearing the brand’s logo, visible through the display case back. It adds just the right touch of confident Italian flair.

There’s no seconds hand on the Azzurro (or any of the other Labormatics), and that’s intentional. Instead, a small rotating disc with the Gagà logo caps the central pinion. It serves as a subtle running indicator, keeping the design clean. For a refined watch like this, it’s precisely the right call.

A strap and buckle with thoughtful finishing touches

The handcrafted Saffiano leather strap (made in Italy, no less!) deserves credit for elevating the wearing experience. Its texture adds character, and it feels durable while remaining supple on the wrist. Even in warm weather, it stayed comfortable and retained its shape. The light blue shade complements the dial’s tones perfectly, reinforcing the Azzurro theme. The exact color is hard to describe. It’s not a baby blue, and it’s not an ice blue. It’s somewhere in between.

The custom buckle mirrors the logo’s design, featuring smooth transitions and solid construction that lend the underside of your wrist a sense of presence. Too many brands overlook this detail, but Gagà Laboratorio treats it as part of the watch’s overall design. Every time you fasten it, it reinforces that sense of considered detail. Bigger brands, take note. We care about our buckles!

Wearing the Labormatic Azzurro

On the wrist, the Labormatic Azzurro wears beautifully. At 42mm, it feels modern but never oversized, and the 13.3mm thickness gives it just the right presence. The rounded shape hugs the wrist closely, and the double-curved sapphire glass helps it appear slimmer than the numbers suggest. While that’s a whole lot of clichés in one paragraph, every one of them is true.

I mostly wore the Labormatic Azzurro in the evenings, out for dinner or strolling through the hotel resort, and it felt ideally suited to that environment. It’s a dressier watch with a contemporary twist, one that works best when you’re in relaxed surroundings.

It also turned a few heads. Genuine compliments are rare, but this watch drew them from a fellow diner and the barman, people who didn’t seem particularly into watches. That tells you something about how well the design connects on a visual level.

At CHF 3,900 (ex. VAT), the Labormatic Azzurro occupies a pricing segment in which design, mechanics, and finishing must withstand scrutiny. Thankfully, they do. The construction feels high-quality, the execution is cohesive, and the result is a watch that looks and feels more expensive than it is. It’s a dressy watch with personality and the sort of piece that stands out for the right reasons.

Italian creativity done in the right way

The Gagà Laboratorio Labormatic Azzurro is Italian design at its most confident. It’s expressive without being excessive, and it’s bold without being gaudy. Every detail, from the clever hour display to the sculptural case and custom hardware, feels thought out. It doesn’t try to be a daily GADA watch, and that’s precisely its strength. The Labormatic Azzurro exists to remind us that watches can still surprise us in thoughtful, well-executed ways. And honestly, that’s exactly what I want from a watch.

My friends and colleagues will attest that this isn’t the kind of watch I’d usually gravitate toward, but there was something about it that caught my curiosity enough to give it a try. And I’m happy I did. The Labormatic Azzurro reminded me that it’s good to step outside your comfort zone now and then because sometimes you end up pleasantly surprised.

For more information, please visit the official Gagà Laboratorio website.

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