The Seventies was an important era for watch design. It’s when watchmakers started leaving the classical designs of the Sixties and Fifties behind in a flurry of industrially-inspired creativity. It was a flurry that gave rise to some of the most iconic timepieces ever built – and also serves as the inspiration for the Spinnaker Dumas.
The Dumas wears its inspirations on its sleeve, predominantly in the form of its big, muscular, octagonal case. It’s a serious, 44mm block of steel that not only has cool, Royal Oak overtones, but keeps things watertight to the professional standard of 300m – as well it should. The name is taken directly from diving pioneer Frédéric Dumas. Anything less would simply put the man to shame.
The dial too holds true to professional diving standards, with an abundance of lume for low-light reading, bold, contrasting indexes and oversized hands for optimum legibility. The same goes for the 120-click, unidirectional rotating bezel and the luminescent scale. Everything about the Dumas is pure functionality, all wrapped up in a cool retro design.
That design is wrapped around, specifically, a NH35 TMI Seiko calibre which like anything from the Japanese watchmaker is a reliable, workhorse movement. It won’t let you down, which is just what you want from a timepiece you may well be relying on hundreds of metres underwater.
It’s also, as is the case with all our Impulse Buys, incredibly good value. The movement is a basic self-winding affair, but it is mechanical, meaning the £330 price tag is pretty incredible. For that you get a professional standard diving watch with a good deal more flair than your run-of-the-mill Submariner clone. Frédéric Dumas would be proud.
Price & Specs:
- Model Name: Spinnaker Dumas
Ref: SP-5070-01 and SP-5070-02 - Case/Dial: 44mm diameter x 15mm thickness, 316L stainless steel case, 120-click unidirectional rotating diving bezel
- Movement: Calibre NH35 TMI Seiko, automatic self-winding
Water Resistance: 300m (30 ATM) - Price: £265
- Model Name: Spinnaker Dumas
For more information visit Spinnaker Watches’ website.
