When I initially meet people they are fascinated if not a bit bewildered to discover my profession. There are not too many authors/designers residing in South Australia. Essentially, freelance work can be very solitary and income is precarious at best. However, It is a massive privilege to be able to follow your passion and get the opportunity to create cool things. Even though my support network isn’t particularly local (with a couple of exceptions) I have developed business with some talented (likeminded) artisan. A great example is Milan based designer Rafael Simoes Miranda who is the owner/founder of micro-watch brand DWISS.
I originally became aware of DWISS earlier in the years because they had entered a very special timepiece called the RS1-SG into the Good Design Australia competition. What makes this watch really special is the multi-layered part skeleton white dial with vibrant green accents. By coincidence, I met the CEO of this organisation Dr Brandon Gien at a design forum in Adelaide. He was one of the keynote speakers and we briefly discussed horology and Rafael Simoes Miranda’s fine work. Subsequently, I reviewed the RS1-SG and was massively impressed by the overall aesthetic and quality, especially considering the competitive price point ($1,590).
A few years ago it would have inconceivable to purchase a Swiss-made tourbillon under $20,000. However, DWISS offers two different models called the RCI and RSI for $14,900. Within the range, my personal favourite is the RS1-BO Tourbillon with black dial (Côtes de Genève stripes) and contrasting orange accents. Aesthetically this watch is very similar to the non-tourbillon version I reviewed in February 2019. For example, the 45mm architectural steel case, hour display, stylised minute hand are the same and so are features like the raised indexes. The main difference is the large aperture (located at 6 o’clock) showcasing the majestic tourbillon carriage. This characteristic alone elevates the watch into the realms of ‘Haute Horlogerie’.
At the heart of the RS1-SG watch, I previously tested was a reliable but standard ETA 2824-2 Swiss-made a movement with Incabloc® shockproof protection. For this exclusive tourbillon version, DWISS have sourced a sophisticated self-winding mechanism from Concepto. The Caliber 8950 comprises 27-jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per minute. Functionally the RS1-SG Tourbillon features hours (via a bright green rotating disc) and minutes on an oversized skeletonised hand. The watch also is water-resistant to a depth of 100-metres and has a power reserve of 60-hours.
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