DeWitt IENA CHRONOGRAPH

DeWitt is a newcomer in Swiss watchmaking. However, they have made a big splash with their creativity and high quality timepieces. In fact, DeWitt won the first prize for Innovation at the 2005 Grand Prix de I'Horlogerie de Geneve for their Academia Tourbillon Differential. As much as DeWitt has accomplished in a short time, the firm has its eye firmly on the future, as evidenced by the 2006 hiring of Claude-Daniel Proellochs as CEO. Mr. Proellochs served most recently as the CEO of Vacheron Constantin -- one of the hallowed names in horology. DeWitt looks forward to establishing itself as a major Swiss luxury brand, and judging from their current models, they are already a force to contend with.

The Iena model series makes use of a proprietary oval case shape which is simultaneously elegant and very robust. The oval shape allows such a duality to occur, as the many case curves allow for a sleekness which would be impossible in a round or rectangular case. The stainless steel case is highly polished, and is 44mm long (not including the lugs) by 39mm wide by 14mm thick. The sapphire crystal sits flush in the case, and the caseback is solidly attached by eight five-sided bolts. Chronograph pushers are also oval shaped, and are ergonomically angled away from the wearer's wrist for comfort. This watch case has a sculpted look, and is surprisingly heavy. In fact, the first time I examined the watch, I was baffled not to find 18k white gold hallmarks -- I really thought this was a white gold watchcase.

The dial has all of the attention to detail one would expect of such a watch. The numerals and hands are treated with luminous, the oval area in the dial's center features crisp guilloche, and the date window and sunken subdials are all traced in brushed steel for visual contrast with the black dial color. The periphery of the dial features a printed minute and seconds chapter. The chronograph displays a 30 minute and 12 hour counter. Finally, the hands on this Iena chronograph are very nice. The main hands are perfectly finished, and the luminous does not overwhelm the metal surrounding it. The chronograph hands are spade style and are blackened with a glossy finish.

Movement is the automatic winding DeWitt Caliber 6002 manufactured in Vandoeuvres Switzerland. This chronograph caliber features a 48 hour power reserve.

Strap is hand made Louisiana Alligator with a DeWitt buckle.

Retail price of this watch is $9950. Watch is brand new with box and papers.