It’s hard to believe a company as innovative as DeWitt has only been in existence since 2003. Amazingly the same year it won First Prize for Innovation at the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève for its Academia Tourbillon Différentiel. The brand was the brainchild of founder Jérôme de Witt who’s utilized his passion & vision to create a range of beautiful timepieces. The company has evolved from humble beginnings at a workshop in Vandoeuvres to a substantial 5000 square-metre manufacturing house in Geneva. DeWitt has developed many stunning watches over the last few years including the impressive Academia Blackstream Chronograph.
My first impressions of the Academia BC are that it’s modestly proportioned (44mm x 13.35mm) in comparison to other DeWitt models. The watch itself was very comfortable to wear. This is probably down to lightweight Grade 5 Titanium (black PVD coated) case & the intuitive styling. For the short amount of time I wore the actual watch it was definitely a pleasurable experience. On that basis I feel this piece would be practical to wear for any occasion. The version I tried on came with a matt black rubber strap that in my opinion offered flexibility. I also feel it complimented the sporty design of the watch. That’s just my personal preference & it’s fair to say a lot of people might prefer the matt black alligator alternative.
I can imagine this model appealing to very large demographic due to its masculine good looks. The market trend for sports watches is definitely leaning towards the motorsport & high performance sector. There are a lot of watches affiliated with the motor industry & some very exciting innovative designs available on the market. In my opinion the Academia BC is certainly one of them. The fascia of dial replicates the speedometer on a car with dual disc second display counters positioned at 3 & 9 o’clock. A really cool “radiator-grille” style bridge interconnects them. I love the retro chrome like styling that is also present on the numeral indicators, open-worked hands & bezel. Basically I feel the simplicity of the detailing is integral to the success of the watches design.
Underneath the exquisite façade lies a formidable mechanical beating heart. The Calibre DW6005 is an in house (developed) self-winding mechanical movement comprising 27 jewels & oscillating at 28’800 A/h. This complex engine operates hours, minutes & chronograph functions delivering a very respectable 48-hour power reserve. This entire technical splendor can be viewed in through the Sapphire Crystal case back.
The Academia BC is limited to 250 pieces & is priced at $38,250
http://www.dewitt.ch/
