Swiss
The Swiss watchmaker has presented its new DeWitt Academia Night Chronograph (Ref. AC.6005.53.M255) automatic watch. Delivered in a massive rose gold body of three different varieties that are inspired by long-gone days of Golden Age that preceded the Great Depression of the 1930s, the timepiece’s main point of attraction is its very unusual gear-shaped bezel that is matched by similarly styled case sides. Although to some the look of the device may look a bit too extreme, I am sure that it will find its share of customers even despite its obscenely high MSRP.
Being in fact a spin-off of the wonderful Academia Chronograph Sequentiel series (pictured below,) the new Academia Night features that winning matte-black-and-polished-gold combination of textures and colors with its well-balanced dial giving you a high level of night-time legibility and its intelligent-looking 43mm case crafted of white and/or rose gold serving as an almost perfect frame for it.
Catering to the needs of the night-living part of the population, the DeWitt Academia Night Chronograph makes its point with the help of its watch dial coated with Superluminova in white and, you won’t believe it, dark grey, nearly-black colors.
Combined, these two strontium-aluminate-based photoluminescent compounds printed on the minute track and the minute and seconds counters make for perfect night-time readability. They look fairly flashy, too.
Since the Academia Night offers a not very common bi-compax dial layout, it comes with only one chronograph sub-dial (at 3 o’clock) and is capable of measuring time intervals no longer that 29 minutes and 59 seconds, which is absolutely okay, since you will probably only use the feature once or twice.
The peculiarly looking sub-dial at 9 o’clock is in fact the signature sequential seconds counter.
The model, as you can see on the pictures, is available in two versions.
One, with a rubber wrist-strap with gold folding clasps, features a white and rose gold case with rubber inserts.
The second, coming with an alligator strap, is made entirely of 18-carat rose gold.
Inside the case is hidden an automatic self-winding movement with 48 hours of power reserve.
The Swiss watchmaker doesn’t specify, which caliber exactly did they use in this gorgeous, art deco-styled watch, but, judging by the live images of the new Academia Night, the movement has been built with extreme love even to the smallest details.
The oscillating weight of its winding system, for example, is decorated with numerous DeWitt logos and is entirely crafted of rose gold.
The caliber seems to be quite thin, too, since the watch is delivered in a case, which is only 13 millimeters thick.
At this time, the watch is priced at almost $37,000, which seems quite steep even for a timekeeper that comes in such a massive rose gold body. Still, for the price, you get a timekeeper that not only looks different, but is also going to be quite rare in club filled with gentlemen wearing more traditional-looking offerings from Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre and even Rolex. If your main purpose is getting some extra attention, this beautiful trinket will surely be of help.
See also: Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control 1833 Ultra Thin watch
Photos: DeWitt
WWR Verdict
Originality 5/5
Build Quality: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Overall Legibility: 4/5
Nighttime Legibility: 4/5
Value for Money: 4.5/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
DeWitt Academia Night Chronograph (Ref. AC.6005.53.M255) automatic watch specification
Price range: $30,000 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, Caliber DeWitt DW6005 (base ETA 7753,) 27 jewels, 28,800vph, Swiss Made
Functions & Complications: Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph
Power reserve: 48 hours
Case material: Rose gold, screw-down sapphire back
Case size: 43.00 mm
Case height: 13.00 mm
Dial: Black
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Brown alligator leather or black rubber
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective coating