The new David Candaux DC6 Titanium, When Tradition meets Modernity

Late last year, we reviewed the latest edition of David Candaux DC1, crafted in titanium. A few months earlier, we had the pleasure of sharing an interview with the talented independent watchmaker from Le Solliat in Vallée de Joux, who has earned a reputation for his exceptional craft, having contributed to the creation of ultra-complicated timepieces during his work at Jaeger-LeCoultre and later as an independent concepteur horloger for renowned brands such as Bovet, Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud and MB&F, just to name a few.

In 2017, Candaux debuted his first creation under his eponymous brand, the DC1, followed by the intricately guilloché-decorated DC6. Both models feature the brand’s distinctive design elements: a bassinet-shaped case, a clever retractable “magic crown” at 6 o’clock, a 30-degree inclined flying tourbillon at 9 o’clock, a time dial at 3 o’clock, and a meticulously finished manually wound titanium movement. Now, at the dawn of 2025 and ahead of the presentation of the upcoming DC12, an unprecedented model with a brand-new calibre inside, David Candaux has unveiled the latest version of the DC6 Titanium. This new release captivates once again while staying true to the series’ hallmark decorations and technical features. We share our first impressions of this remarkable timepiece´s new version.

There may not be much news to share per se; the model is not new in essence, but it’s always a pleasure to admire such a timepiece – a creation rooted in traditional watchmaking heritage yet original, modern, and innovative. The 44mm titanium bassinet-shaped case, with its gracefully curved lugs and signature retractable push-button crown (explained here), exudes craftsmanship with its sandblasted, satin-brushed, and hand-polished finishes. On the dial side, two titanium plates, hand-engraved with the Pointes du Risoux guilloche – a pattern resembling an aerial view of the evergreen forest – are affixed to the core using two stainless steel screws (not blued). There are two sapphire domes on either side and a sector-like aperture at 12 o’clock for the power reserve. The magic crown is flanked by embossed “David Candaux” engravings on the right and “Handcrafted” on the left, both set against a black lacquered crescent-shaped flange for added contrast.

With such wide use of titanium all around the watch (including the movement), the weight is low, rated just below 50 grams, making this otherwise rather large timepiece a true pleasure to wear. It’s not small, certainly less on Brice’s 16.5cm wrist, but you’ll certainly forgive this when strapping this featherlight piece on the wrist.

At 3 o’clock, a sapphire dome protects the semi-spherical time dial, crafted from silvered titanium. It features a black chapter ring with a crisp white minutes track and black-printed Arabic numerals, except at the cardinal positions marked by hand-polished, bevelled arrow-shaped indices in grey gold. The time is indicated by conical, curved titanium hands, with the minute hand sporting a blued finish.

The sapphire dome at 9 o’clock showcases a 30-degree inclined tourbillon, with both the balance wheel and tourbillon cage set at an angle against the horizontal plane. The tourbillon doubles as a running seconds indicator, featuring a small arrow in white lacquered titanium integrated into the cage design.

At 12 o’clock, a power reserve window (with a cam system indication) is signed with the brand’s motto, Le Cœur & L’Esprit (The Heart & The Spirit), adding a nice touch to the display. The overall aesthetic leans toward a monochromatic look of black and grey tones, with subtle colour accents – the blue-finished minute hand and the titanium tourbillon cage stand out as the only vibrant details.

Sapphire crystal caseback offers a generous view of the manually wound, 3-degree inclined movement with its cascade bridges and mainplate in titanium, embellished with Côtes du Soillat, David Candaux´s take on the Geneva stripes, with wide and generously spaced stripes, creating an original visual effect. Finishing touches include bevelled edges, polished chamfers, and perlage, perfectly executed. Notable details include a gold plate engraved with the watch’s number and a yellow-gold medallion bearing the signature bear’s head logo. The movement operates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations/hour and boasts a 55-hour chronometric power reserve, provided by two coaxial, series-coupled fast-rotating barrels with a fixed-flange spring.

This new version of the David Candaux DC6 Titanium includes a hand-stitched rubber strap with a Velcro closure, which ensures comfort and contemporary style. The price is approximately EUR 250,000. The watch isn’t limited in numbers, but production is low, considering the time required to finish and assemble these superb timepieces. For more details, please visit DavidCandaux.com.