Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Depancel Serie-R 5th Anniversary Limited Edition (Live Pics & Price)
The cool radiator-shaped watch is back.
Depancel, which stands for Delage, Panhard, and Facel Vega, three prestigious carmakers of the past, is a young French brand that has been active in recent years, with accessible creations inspired by the automotive world. Founded in 2018, it is celebrating its fifth anniversary and has decided to treat its community with a fresh take on its signature case, the brand’s best-selling watch, a.k.a the Serie-R, with this new metallic blue limited edition.
This watch is a new take on the [Re]Naissance Watch, a model launched in 2019 via a Kickstarter campaign. The distinctive design of this model put the brand on the map. The style lives on with the Serie-R, which remains true to the original geometry first seen in 2019, a case shaped like the radiator grille of a vintage car.
Measuring 43mm x 36mm – objectively reasonable dimensions on paper, but remember that a square watch always has more presence than a round watch (it’s all about surface…) – the case retains its classic shape, a square with a rounded upper part. No need to explain where the inspiration comes from; it is quite obvious. Compared to the first watch of 2019, the Depancel Serie-R offers more presence, dynamism and better execution. The case is more angular and better defined and now features a bevel-cut sapphire crystal, a new crown protector and sharper lines. Water-resistant to 50m, it has a thickness of 12.95mm.
The dial is the main element to differentiate this five-year limited edition from other members of the collection. Once again, automotive inspirations abound. The centre part features a fine radiator grille texture. There’s a rather appealing play of shapes and depth, with a circular seconds track and radially mounted applied markers. The dial’s metallic, brushed blue base is enlivened by several orange and white accents on the hands and applied makers. Finally, despite the presence of two sub-counters, this watch isn’t a chronograph but a calendar piece that displays the date in a window at 6 o’clock and the weekday and month, respectively, at 9 and 3 o’clock.
Inside the case of this Serie-R 5th Anniversary Limited Edition, Depancel went for a reliable yet accessible movement, the Miyota 9122. Visible under a see-through caseback, this Japanese engine runs at 4Hz and stores 40h of power reserve. It is adjusted to a 0/+15 seconds per day accuracy.
This anniversary model is presented on an attractive embossed blue leather strap with orange stitching and, as a discreet reference to the brand’s origin, a small French flag (a signature found on all straps). A metal bracelet is also an option for an additional 100 euros.
Availability & Price
The Depancel Serie-R 5th Anniversary Limited Edition will be made in 300 pieces. It will be available from the brand’s website on May 9th, 2023 and priced at EUR 795. Deliveries are expected in October 2023, and the watch comes with a 5-year warranty. For more details, please visit depancel.com.
