Indie Expressionists Gagà Laboratorio Debuts the Aqualab Collection with Three New Divers

With Watches and Wonders starting on Tuesday, a lot of ink will be spilled about emotion. More specifically, the feeling one gets when a certain timepiece gets you in your feelings. Most brands trade on heritage to evoke nostalgic memories, but watchmaker Gagà Laboratorio uses modern visual storytelling to hit you where the heart is.

Gagà Laboratorio, launched in 2024, is still in its infancy as a brand; however, thanks to the combined life experiences of its core team – Gagà Milano’s Ruben Tomella, designer Mo Coppoletta (a London-based tattoo artist best known for his collaborations with Bulagri and Romain Jerome), and brand manager and co-owner Fabio Ferrari – Gagà Laboratorio is also an old soul.

In just two years, the company has attracted collectors’ attention with the Labormatic, a model that has already appeared in four distinct editions: Bauhaus, Cinquanta, Champagne, and Azzurro.

Now, the power trio is back with the Aqualab, which the brand calls “[a]n expression of Italian design dedicated to the spirit of the sea.” Let’s take a look.

What makes the look of Gagà Laboratorio’s watches so powerful is its point of view. Take, for example, the Labormatic.
 

Rather than a standard three-hand display, it tracks the hours digitally through a disk at 12 o’clock. The minutes are marked via a central hand, and the seconds on another rotating disk. Meanwhile, the case, which is 42mm across and made from seven parts, is architectural in construction, with elongated “Devil’s Horn” lugs that are a tip of the hat to mid-century watch design.
 

The most important signature is the crown, which sits at 12 o’clock beneath a steel cabochon, an unusual detail that offers both symmetry and character. The dial is layered with eight components, giving it a sense of depth, while beneath it beats the La Joux-Perret G100 caliber, known for its reliability and 68-hour reserve.

With Aqualab, Gagà Laboratorio expands the Labormatic vision into the world of dive watches. It’s still a tool watch, as all good divers should be; however, according to its makers, it was also conceived as a companion for those who embrace both adventure and refinement in their daily lives.
 

And this is where it becomes emotional. Because the Aqualab is functional and expressive, it not only paints a picture of the life aquatic, but it can also facilitate real-life adventures.

We’re not sure how to explain this, but the Aqualab looks like the ocean, distilled into watch form. There are three iterations – Anthracite, Aquamarine, and Silver Grey and Blue – that evoke distinct sensory memories of the sea.
 

First, the Aquamarine calls to mind the calm and clarity of Mediterranean summers. Next, the Anthracite expresses the darker tones of the sea after a storm. Finally, the Silver Grey and Blue is a testament to the elegance of the ever-changing mood of a great body of water. Essentially, each version of the Aqualab acts as a distinct character in an overall ode to the ocean.
 

All three models are housed in a 44mm stainless steel case. However, the Anthracite model comes with a PVD gunmetal finish, while the others have a brushed surface treatment. Adding to the fluid nature of the silhouette are a double-curved, anti-reflective sapphire crystal and a supple rubber strap.
 

All three vessels are powered by the same La Joux-Perret G100 caliber as the Labormatic. This movement provides a 68-hour power reserve and a 4Hz frequency. Water resistance is rated at 200 MT.

All three versions of the Gagà Laboratorio Aqualab are priced at CHF 3,900 and are available online and through selected partners. For more information, check out Gagà Laboratorio’s website.