The 2022 Delbana Della Balda, A Tribute to the Founder

Delbana might not be a brand you’re familiar with, but it’s been around for almost a century, celebrating its 90^th anniversary in 2021. Goliardo Della Balda relocated from San Marino, Italy to Switzerland and founded Delbana in 1931, always focused on quality and affordability. The brand launched the stainless steel Della Balda last year as a tribute to Goliardo and also a return to mechanical watches as the majority of its portfolio are quartz powered (with exceptions like the Recordmaster Limited Editions). The two updated models for 2022 feature polished PVD yellow gold cases with two dial options, offering a modern take on the brand’s classic designs. 

The stainless steel case has a contemporary size of 40mm in diameter and 11.5mm in height, and again features a polished yellow gold PVD finish. A domed AR sapphire crystal protects the dial, while a mineral crystal exhibition case back displays the Sellita automatic. It has a timeless vibe with a narrow bezel and all-dial look, and can dress up or down. With a water resistance rating of 50 metres, it’s certainly not a dive watch, but will handle bad weather and splashes without issue. The case is fitted with a 20mm brown leather strap with yellow gold PVD buckle.

Two dial colours are available, white or champagne, and feature a sunray guilloche pattern. Both have applied yellow gold PVD Arabic numerals at 12, 6 and 9 o’clock, and complementing indices every hour. The white dial variant is similar to one of last year’s white models, but that had rose gold PVD accents. Just inside of the indices are circular luminescent hour marks and the sword-style hour and minute hands also have lume inserts. The seconds hand features a contrasting red tip and a date window sits at 3 o’clock. Delbana’s vintage crest is printed just below 12 o’clock, reinforcing that classic feel. 

Powering the new Della Balda models is a Sellita SW200 automatic, which is a more accessible alternative to the ETA 2824. It has 26 jewels, beats at 28,800vph (4Hz) with a 38-hour power reserve. Functions include central hours, minutes, hacking seconds and date, and it features Delbana’s customized rotor. 

The 2022 Delbana Della Balda models retail for EUR 850 or USD 925, which is just a bit more than last year’s models (without PVD coatings). The watches are delivered in a black leatherette box and come with a two year warranty. Delbana merged with Delma in 2001 and the two brands represent more than 170 years of family-owned watchmaking.

For more information and to make a purchase, please visit Delbana’s website.