I began writing this article over a month ago in my mind, but haven’t begun reducing it to writing until now. It’s not that I struggle to find words suitable for this watch, rather, its a watch that inspires me to say so much. In fact, calling it a watch is almost a misnomer, because it is something else entirely. Yes it does fit on your wrist, and it does tell the time, but its really not meant for that. What I’d like to do is consider how some people might approach seeing this watch, and then present my articulated perception of what the DeWitt WX-1 Concept may really be.
The new watch dispenses with all the grille motif in favor of a more compact, legible bi-compax look for the dial.More legible, but doesn’t mean unsophisticated in its level of detail: the dial includes a clous de Paris pattern in its center, both satin-finished and glistening surface areas, rose-gold toned indices along with subdial boundaries that match the colour of this case. The openworked, double-edged-sword-shaped palms are another DeWitt Academia hallmark. Using black rubber, together with 18k rose gold at the caseband, is just another decidedly contemporary touch. It includes glistening, satin-finished and bevelled surfaces and, between the two chrono pushers, a massive crown whose engraved DeWitt “W” logo and usage of this Imperal Columns theme on the sides testifies to DeWitt’s attention to detail.The chronograph movement in the Academia Chronostream II is your self-winding Caliber DW6005, with 27 stones, a frequency of 28,800 vph, and a power reserve of 48 hours.
“You see this watch? This watch costs more than your car.” Alec Baldwin proclaims this confidently in the movie version of Glengarry Glen Ross (see clip here on YouTube; excellent performance). It’s a powerful line. If you wear a DeWitt WX-1, you can similarly proclaim to most of America, a related yet enhanced version of this statement. “You see this watch? This watch costs more than your house.” Thats right, the 33 WX-1 watches made are priced at 400,000 Euros each, which is about $650,000. A price far above the average home value in America. Which goes to a question that many have asked me, “why is the watch so expensive?” Or better stated “what makes the watch worth so much money.” It is a price meant for an audience. It is unclear who is paying this price, but I am sure some do. The watch has no precious gems, and while it does contain some gold, thats not really were the value is. I explain the number of skilled hours of labor put in to both developing and constructing the watch as a hint to its value. I explain the uniqueness of the design, and undecipherable (for most) complication of the internal components. People are swayed. They just didn’t get it, yet somehow I did, though it was difficult to explain.
DeWitt’s tenth anniversary is also marked with the launching of a new advertising campaign addressed to the “new emperors”. One of the illustrious forebears of manufacturer founder Jérôme p Witt, including several crowned heads of Europe, is that the Emperor Napoleon the First. DeWitt has been “drawing on its rich origins and to projecting towards the present and the future by focusing on the new emperors of tomorrow and today, men and women throughout the world who have achieved success.” At a nod to its history, the brand offers a reinterpretation of its ancestor’s famous hand-in-waistcoat gesture through understated and tasteful visuals appearing in both masculine and female versions. The “Revolutionary by Tradition” signature accentuates the concept of a watchmaker with a daring vision, that of “creating a different sort of Haute Horlogerie that’s authentic and commendable, combining age-old expertise and exceptional technical superiority.” The newest visuals feature watches from the Twenty-8-Eight collection. In another nod to Napoleon, this collection was conceived on August 28th, as a tribute to the man who was proclaimed “Emperor of the French” on the 28th of Floréal from the Republican Calendar. In 2013, it welcomes two new tourbillon models, issued in 99-piece limited series, as well as two brand new retrograde seconds models. The Twenty-8-Eight Tourbillons play on contrasts with daring combinations of white gold and glacier-toned PVD-coated titanium, or pink stone and bronze-toned PVD-coated titanium. The dials associate Art Deco motivated vertical appliques using a beaded circle surrounding the tourbillon carriage.
I flashback in my mind to the moment I was handed the watch. It was contained in a cardboard box carefully wrapped in “luxury watch grade” plastic saran wrap. I handled it with great care knowing what it was, but feeling unworthy of fully appreciating all that it represented and the craftsmanship gifted by DeWitt into its design. You’ll notice how big the watch is, a beast by any accord, but this is no wild animal. It was remarkably light and solid feeling. The materials in the 191 gram weighing watch range from an aluminum-lithium alloy (among other types of aluminum), grade 5 titanium, gold, steel, sapphire crystal and rubber. Despite the many moving parts and moving case, it did not rattle, and seemed to be make from a single block with two straps attached to it. I immediately noticed the larger than life deployment shaped as a large DeWitt logo. There was something all too appropriate about it. No matter how strange the watch was in comparison to everything else out there, it felt comfortable in its own skin. As though it enjoyed an unstated sense of refinement. I continued to ponder the innate appeal the WX-1 held.
The shape of the case has little to do with traditional watches. The look differs based on the position you place it in. From one angle it looks like an early science fiction space craft, from another angle it looks like a fancy fire hydrant. These associations are a good thing in my opinion. Too abstract a shape and the eye is dissuaded from its fashion, searching for meaning. It is a benefit to any design when a mere glance alludes to shapes of familiar things; my compliments to a truly organic schematic, with varied origins.
It was not until I was able to remove the plastic wrap that I began to see what this watch could do. The entire case pulls open to reveal a view of the movement. A complex flying tourbillon with a 21 power reserve due to the five barrels. The tourbillon movement is placed in a vertical position near a small porthole on the side of the case, for constant viewing. Aside from viewing the columns of gears inside the case, you have a view of a dedicated power reserve indicator, which is a necessary element when you only need to wind the watch once or twice a month.
As an unexpected modern twist, DeWitt provides a USB powered watch winder for the WX-1. I have to say that I was amazed to hear this. Why? Well first of all watch companies are notoriously slated in the past. I mean we are talking the dedicated production of mechanical watches, that from a pure efficiency standpoint more or less seceded from being practical once the quartz watch movement proved to be infinitely cheaper and more accurate. Ah, but the mechanical watch is so much more sexy. Why do we prefer a fine vintage wine, when Pabst Blue Ribbon beer will do the trick? It is because mechanical watches are seeped in tradition, romance, and the most important element of all to a coveting collector; they are extremely difficult to design and manufacture. So when DeWitt coupled the WX-1 with a USB charger, I was impressed and intrigued. The USB charging unit functions like a little stand for the watch. You deploy the dedicated winding stem from the watch with a small lever (the winding stem is located in the side porthole next to the tourbillon window). Once the stem is extended, it connects with the charger that turns it intermittently. It’s amusing that you can connect this triumph of mechanical nostalgia to a computer for power purposes. I find this fact charming, and perhaps highly telling of watch the luxury watch industry is all about; producing creations of art and excess that must still conform to lifestyle and practical considerations.
Mother’s Day is on May 8, also observe aficionados know what that means: the chance to share their appreciation to moms, wives, sisters, and other important ladies with a well-chosen timepiece. Between now and the day, we will highlight some notable ladies’ watches we have found at this year’s view fairs. First up are two brand new versions from boutique haute horlogerie brand DeWitt, the Classic jewelry and Golden Afternoon.While the vibrant dials of both of these watches look at first glance to be ornately implemented miniature paintings, this isn’t the situation. The floral-themed, subtly textured vision on the dials — that DeWitt call “Japanese Spring” — is formed by hand using the powder of precious gemstones, including diamond, gold, pearl, agate and gemstones. As you might expect, both these watches are extremely limited, only 10 bits of each.The DeWitt Classic jewellery design has an 18k rose gold case, measuring 40 millimeters in diameter and set with a row of diamonds around the bezel. Its floral-motif dial provides “springtime colors” dominated by orange, yellow, and green, made with a pigment mixture of powdered diamond, pearl, platinum, gold, tiger’s eye, malachite, quartz, and other diamonds. The side of this case has the DeWitt “Imperial Columns” style — a reference to royalty, especially to brand founder Jérôme DeWitt’s ancestor, Napoleon Bonaparte — along with the openworked hour and second hands are patterned after double-edged swords, yet another recurring theme of the brand.The watch includes a mechanical motion, DeWitt’s automatic grade DWHMS, using a 42-hour power reserve and a specially designed côtes-de-Genève-pattern Cable, that is observable through a sapphire caseback. The Classic Jewellery Japanese Spring view has a glistening green alligator strap, using a polished rose-gold pin buckle engraved with a DeWitt “W.” It’s priced at $71,500.
The brand new watch dispenses with all the grille theme in favor of a more streamlined, legible bi-compax search for its dial.More legible, however, does not mean unsophisticated in its level of detail: that the dial features a clous de Paris pattern in its center, both satin-finished and polished surface areas, rose-gold toned indices and subdial borders that match the colour of this case. The openworked, double-edged-sword-shaped palms are just another DeWitt Academia hallmark. The central chronograph seconds hand, as well as both subdial hands (30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock) are in blue, echoing the color of this tachymeter scale on the edge of the dial.The instance (42.5 mm in diameter, 14.2 mm thick) also signifies a sporty streamlining of a DeWitt design component, namely the “Imperial Columns” grooved pattern — a stylistic nod to the De Witt family’s aristocratic lineage — on the sides, implemented more discreetly here than in previous DeWitt Academia watches. The use of black rubber, together with 18k rose gold, in the caseband, is just another decidedly contemporary touch. It features polished, satin-finished and bevelled surfaces and, between the two chrono pushers, a large crown whose engraved DeWitt “W” logo and usage of this Imperal Columns motif on the sides testifies to DeWitt’s attention to detail.The chronograph movement in the Academia Chronostream II is your self-winding Caliber DW6005, with 27 stones, a frequency of 28,800 vph, and a power reserve of 48 hours. The watch is given on a dark brown alligator leather strap and fastens by way of a triple-folding clasp made from polished 18k rose gold and bearing the DeWitt “W” trademark.
Having said that, you probably cannot be expected to wear the DeWitt WX-1 too often. It is frankly too big to even fit under a shirt sleeve, and you’d be mortified to ding it. On the same note, it is interesting that DeWitt probably spent the least amount of effort on the aspect of this watch that tells the time. The clock portion of the watch sticks out like a node from the mothership. Unlike traditional watches that use hands, the WX-1 has three two rotating discs. Line them up with the small arrow at the top of the dial, and you have the time. First appearance tells me that the discs are some manner of compass or instrument too complicated for my cognition. Closer inspection however reveals numbers commonly found on a watch face, this must surely be where I tell the time, and it is. This isn’t DeWitt trying to confuse anyone, but rather to ensure the effect of the watch is not last. The vision of a grand complications, whose read out of information has been as beautifully conceived as the body that holds it.
Smooth pushing the WX-1 case back together I realize that the windows all over the watch are all what appear to be sapphire crystals, extremely hard to fabricate in these shapes. I am thoroughly impressed by this watch, and relish in seeing it in the hands of others. What’s to say about the design? I submitted to the fact that to each their own. I like it its looks (even though the WX-1 does not appear to care what I think), I see it as Jules Verne-esque. Like an Victorian era spaceship. Some would define the look as “steampunk,” and I would not disagree. Vianney Halter has successfully created his entire brand of high-end watches around the steampunk aesthetic, and the concept is masterful. The WX-1 fits all these labels, and yet it emulates nothing specifically. The detailed rivets around the cases are meant to signify the labor put into the watch. That hands put this masterpiece together, rivet by rivet, not machine. A true creation of manual labor in its most refined form, a combination of engineering and art that only the watch industry can convey, and value clear as day in this DeWitt.
I spent my time with the DeWitt WX-1 a few weeks, but continue to ponder its implications. It occurred to me while strolling in San Francisco past art galleries, only blocks from Shapur where I viewed the watch that this was no mere accessory. You can hang a poster in your home, or priceless art. Both serve the same purpose in the most basic of definitions, but clearly they are not the same. The same logic applies here and translates to suggest that the DeWitt, while representing itself as a fully functioning wrist watch, is rather a masterpiece of art. It passes several tests to this degree. There are limited numbers, they are not easily reproduced, and the design and manufacture are accomplished by recognized masters.
Years from now I’ll see a DeWitt WX-1 in a museum, as it is of that quality. I’ll think to myself lucky as having had the time to experience it when it was new, a product available for purchase, even if only for the super rich. Leonardo DaVinci, Pablo Picasso, and Vincent Van Gogh were all artists with work for sale at some point. The DeWitt WX-1 watches may be a creation of several artists, not just one; but like works by these other masters, the few examples will one day reach a place when they too will seem like absolute bargains at their original prices.
And now, some words from our friends at DeWitt (in my words):
DeWitt appreciates interest in their watches, and wants to work with potential buyers closely. DeWitt does not allow its authorized retailers to sell over the internet. Further, DeWitt wants to remind you that pre-owned watches not purchased from an authorized dealer will certainly not carry any warranty coverage (so repairs and service will be costly). Their position is that if you don’t purchase a watch from an authorized dealer they cannot guarantee a watch’s authenticity and conformity to their high quality standards. If you want to purchase a DeWitt watch from an authorized dealer, then please visit their website, DeWitt.ch, and follow these steps:
1. After the page has loaded after the intro, click on the “Network” tab to access a map of the world.
2. Find your region or country and then scroll through the list of authorized dealers and find one that is closest to you, and then contact them. If you don’t live nearby and still want to consummate a sale, delivery options are available I am sure.
3. If you’d like to know more about the product line or to contact DeWitt directly, then you can click on the “Contact” tab at the bottom of the page. I’ve been assured that someone will get back to you with haste.
See DeWitt watches on eBay here.
See DeWitt watches on Amazon here.
 DeWitt Glorious Knight Stainless Steel Black Automatic Mens Watch FTVHMS002 $3,499.00 Time Remaining: 1h 45m Buy It Now for only: $3,499.00 Buy It Now |
 DEWITT Academia Sequentiel Chronograph Swiss Watch Titanium 18k RG Box Papers $13,540.00 Time Remaining: 11h 12m Buy It Now for only: $13,540.00 Buy It Now |
 DeWitt 17 Jewels Vintage Wind Up Ladies Watch $38.97 Time Remaining: 13h 38m Buy It Now for only: $38.97 Buy It Now |
 DeWitt Academia Double Fuseau GMT in 18K White Gold NE02448 $9,150.00 Time Remaining: 17h 12m The Imperial Columns theme is much more notable in the 39-mm, white gold case of the DeWitt Golden Afternoon jewellery watch, with the columns breaking the 146 brilliant-cut diamonds on the bezel. The butterflies-and-flower tableau on the mother-of-pearl marquetry dial is mostly in tasteful blue and purple tones, achieved with a mixture of powdered gemstone, pearl, platinum, gold, lapis lazuli, agate and other gemstones. The minute and hour hands on this model, like other people in the Golden Afternoon collection, are shaped just like sculpted angel wings and the counterweight on the central seconds hand is evocative of a very small flame. It’s a clear sapphire caseback and includes a shiny blue alligator strap with a DeWitt white-gold pin buckle. The retail cost is $82,500. “The Basel Fair using the massive means now deployed by the large groups doesn’t enable us to create our subtler messages correctly heard, and we would be lost in the audience there,” clarifies Viviane Jutheau p Witt, CEO. “we would like to share our hand-crafted experience and our worth of exclusivity, nobility and authenticity. When people have seen for themselves the complexity of the operations needed to make the movements and also the assortment of artisan-type professions that unite in crafting the dials; once they have admired the memorial of 18th and 19th century watchmaking tools and valued the architectural beauty of the Manufacture, the entire perception of the DeWitt experience and of its watches will be profoundly different. A personalised welcome could only reinforce the ties we cultivate with our partners.” Buy It Now for only: $9,150.00 Buy It Now |
 DEWITT ACADEMIA GRAND DATE LIMITED 200 PCS AUTOMATIC MENS WATCH 43MM 12000 $1,275.50 (46 Bids) Time Remaining: 21h 7m Bid now |
 Dewitt Glorious Knight Automatic Steel Mens Watch Silver Dial FTVHMS002S $3,599.00 Time Remaining: 1d 16m Buy It Now for only: $3,599.00 Buy It Now |
Glacier- or bronze-toned titanium also features in the cases of those Academia Mirabilis watches launched in 2013: watches which are openworked like the intriguing “Mirabilis” or “Belles de nuit” (four o’clock or marvel of Peru) nocturnal flowers that open only at dusk. Meanwhile the New Academia Grande Date and Hora Mundi would be the first to appear at steel-clad versions. Graced with revisited dials and fitted with metal bracelets or rubber straps, so they radiate a lifestyle aura that is intended for a young and dynamic clientele, these special anniversary watches are issued in 200-piece restricted editions.DeWitt manufacture has always been unconventional in regards to its own watchmaking methods. Not that we complain much about it, actually we love how they create watches that are unconventional. So for the rebels on the market, there is always some reason not to follow traditional style, a rest out of it pretty much attracts so many great things about the table. Speaking of such, here we’ve got the Academia Endless Drive, a gorgeous watch made in a sense as what DeWitt manufacture could have always done.This new watch will first be exhibited at Geneva in the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2018 (January 15–19). The new timepiece was thoroughly made, all handmade to the last bit, pretty much everything about it is to be loved. Its distinguishing feature is the rotating endless screw visible in the middle of the dial, unconventional but in such times, we have seen more from the world designs.Naturally, the unidirectional and irreversible movement of the twist is very fascinating. It is an absolute nod to what time really is, it always moves forward. The screw is also related to the power book’s winding system adding more usefulness to its mystical nature.