DWATCH - Custom

INTRODUCTION

I have been collecting, more like going through watches for as long as I can remember. From Timex to Casio to Citizen to Seiko to Tag Heuer and so on the obsession has grown. Then in 1997 I stumbled onto TimeZone.com and the watch bug took on a life of its own. Throughout this journey one thing has always been constant. My affinity for dive watches. To this day I am still uncertain what it is about these fascinating tools that so attracts me. However, there is one thing I do know, it is that I have given up trying to figure it out. I am what I am and that’s all that I am, said… Marc the dive watch collector… Toot-toot! 

So 12 years and countless dive watches later, here I am scouring the internet looking for something new, the hunt was on. Then one day on EOT’s Dive Watch Forum, someone posted a link to WWW.DWATCH.NET. Curious, I followed the link to a very impressive flash website (which has since been improved). Normally I am not a big fan of flash sites, as it prohibits me from sharing my findings with my fellow forum members, but this one was different. It allows you to custom make a dive watch to your own specifications!

The standard shape and dimensions are chosen for you, but the rest is up in the air. From the case finish, to the bezel style, to the color of the dial and hands, all is up to you to choose. Of course, they do have a couple of predetermined models you choose from, but what fun is that? So impressed was I that when I got home, I got my wife and kids involved! Now usually my wife just rolls her eyes whenever I show her anything that has to do with watches, but this time she actually got into it. In fact, she even helped me choose my final selection! The truth is, I couldn’t decide by myself, so I really appreciated the help….

Anyway, here is how my selection went down. I have never been a fan of bead-blasted or polished finishes, so the choice of a brushed case was easy. I felt a steel & black bezel was a good match for the case and since I like light colored dials,  I chose the grey one. Now here comes the debate; Black, red or blue hands. Oh there are other choices, but these three were my favorite. It took me a while, but I eventually settled on blue hour/minute hands and a bright red second hand... VOILA!

The following is a review of the final product. A watch I feel is of tremendous value and a whole lot of fun. So without further ado, let’ dive right in, shall we?

 

OBJECT ON WRIST WEARS SMALLER THAN IT APPEARS

That exact title should be printed on the back of the watch! Seriously, there is no way a 46.5mm watch should fit my puny 7 inch wrist, yet this one does!!! From what I can observe, the combination of short lugs, a recessed case back and high spring-bar holes is what makes it work. As described in my introduction, I chose the all brushed finish. The brushing itself is extremely well done, with a combination of straight and circular details, the latter being on the case back. All of the edges are rounded and as smooth as silk. Despite its thickness, once again, due to the recessed case back and high spring-bar position, the watch wears much, much thinner than it should.

The aforementioned recessed case back is screwed down and decorated with a some kind of sea-ray. The engraving is very well executed and deeper than I expected. Many of these new "Boutique" brands laser etch drawings and company logos into their case backs. This is not the case with DWATCH. Same goes for the knurled crown, which is equally screwed down and has a nicely engraved DWATCH logo. The watch is water-resistant to 1000m, which is overkill even for the most serious of divers. Still, just like the suburbanite who drives a Hummer, we do love our over engineered toys, do we not?

in order to get a better idea of what I mean by recessed case back, please go to the bottom of the review and click on the thumbnails.

 

BEYOND THE BLUE DOME

The sheer size of the domed sapphire crystal is enough to make most watch aficionados go gaga. Now combine the size with anti-reflective coating (underneath only) and you have a beautiful blue hue at almost any angle. I have even caught myself starring at the watch for no other reason. Kind of reminds me of my Panerai watches. Beyond the crystal lies the nicely executed grey dial I chose. While crisply detailed, under a 10X loop, the lume paint is not "perfectly" applied, but to the naked eye, it is unnoticeable and better yet, it glows evenly at night. So the latter criticism would most likely go unnoticed by most collectors.

Since receiving my watch, DWATCH has come out with two additional sets of hands, which are similar to PloProf hands. While I do love this style, I am quite happy with the choice I made, as it is highly unlikely that you will ever see them on another watch. They are large and because they are dark blue, contrast very well with the dial, therefore very easy to read. The second hand is simply stunning. I love the fact that it has a very long tail, which makes it even longer then normal. It is a real treat to watch it go around the dial. The lume "meat-ball" at the end of it is large enough and glows bright enough to be still visible in the wee hours.

The bezel is where this watch really shines. From the original website, you could not get a good look at it and being one of the first to receive their DWATCH, I did not get to see any "real" pictures on-line. Boy was I surprised when I opened the box! It is STUNNING and the engraved, more like raised numbers are super deep. It reminds me of a Breitling Aviastar from the mid-1990's. A watch they should have never discontinued, as it was so different from anything else they produced. At any rate, DWATCH has taken that bezel design and brought it to a new level. With a knurled side for easy gripping and unidirectional 120 clicks, this bezel simply kicks butt! The lume pip glows as bright as the dial with barely a difference in intensity. This is one of my pet-peeves, when the lume on a bezel glows brighter or lower than the dial. Worse yet, when the hands are off from the markers... lol...

 

THE WORK HORSE OF WORK HORSES

Is there any other SWISS movement more widely utilized than the ETA 2824? I think not. Now maybe, in a decade or two, the Sellita version may catch up, but I highly doubt it. Now what can I say about this movement that has not already been said? Right, nothing. Except mine ran a little on the slow side at -4 / seconds a day, which is quite acceptable in my book. I could easily get it regulated should I ever wish to get greater accuracy. Heck, I could probably do it myself, what with all the detailed information on-line for the 2824.

Now here's the thing with me, I  am one of those who believes that a LARGE watch should house a LARGE movement. The one saving grace for this watch is that the date is placed at 6 o'clock and it works for esthetic purposes. If it would have been at 3, you would have seen how truly small this movement is. Put it this way, there is a good 20mm (5mm shy of an inch) difference between the case diameter and movement. That's HUGE!

Now ETA did come out with the Valgrange line of movements, which are MUCH bigger, but now as widely utilized. There may be a question of cost, availability and so forth, so I cannot comment too much more on this, though it would be nice to see them in more LARGE watches. That is if this "trend" is to continue. I know Zinex has used it in one of their models. It looks fantastic and provides a large date. Hamilton also uses it in their Below-Zero 1000m diver. Anyway, that will be the end of my rant, let us move on, shall we?

 

OOH.... ITALIAN RUBBER!

The stainless steel mesh-band that is now available was not an option when I received my watch. I have never been a big strap guy, but on some watches it just works. Panerai watches are the perfect examples. I just cannot see those watches on bracelet. Sure the OEM Panerai bracelet is fabulous, but it just does not work for me. Besides, the beauty of owning a Panerai is the ability to interchange straps and have a different look for different occasions.

The DWATCH is such a watch. I think it is perfect on strap and the rubber strap supplied is a wonderful match. it is made of semi-supple Italian rubber and has that wonderful vanilla smell "a la Oris". I wonder how that bake that smell in their, but even after several months of wear, it still has that "new watch smell". Too bad I cannot say the same for my car, but I digress. It fits the lugs very well and as previously explained, sits very highly between the lugs. The total package suits my wrist without being too tight or too loose.

The buckle is polished SS and is somewhat similar to the Panerai thumbnail buckle. I say somewhat as I cannot better describe it. All in all it does the trick. Cloth straps, as well as canvas are available if memory serves me. I like mine the way it is, though I think a nice carbon sport would work as well... hum...

 

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, I would just like to say that if you are looking for a super-fun watch, that will not break the bank and allows for some personal creativity, DWATCH may just be the right watch for you! I also have to say that dealing with Alon Behar, DWATCH's owner and the same person that answers all the company email, is a real treat. Even after going back and forth with him with my questions and revisions, he was a real gentlemen and quite the professional. On that same note, Alon is a proud new Papa, so if you do get a chance to communicate with him, wish him all the best!

And now for what you have all been waiting for, the balance of Brandon's exceptional photography:

 

     

     

     

* Please click on the various thumbnails to view the high-resolution versions.

 

Thank you for reading,

Marc Levesque