Dietrich TC-Pure Limited Edition, with Sterile Dials
A surprise collaboration puts a minimalist touch on the time companion series.
We’ve covered several Dietrich watches in the past, which showcase edgy, avant-garde designs like the DD-1 and 1969. Founded in 2010 by Emmanuel Dietrich, the brand focused on affordable eccentricity, but also flexed some horological muscle with the Perception in 2017, a complicated and sophisticated Swiss made piece with a high price to match. Dietrich also launched the Time Companion collection that year, a surprisingly conventional and well-priced steel sports watch. A recent collaboration with Toronto based designer Matt Smith-Johnson has resulted in the new TC-Pure Limited Edition, a stripped down and modern interpretation of the original Time Companion (TC-1).
The stainless steel case and integrated bracelet remain unchanged from the TC-1 with their Audemars Piguet Royal Oak vibe, but the new dials really change the aesthetic. MONOCHROME’s Founder and Managing Director Frank Geelen recently explained how personal a dial can be with his own vintage Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ 5402ST. Matt Smith-Johnson took a minimalist approach that shed many details from the original dial, including the date, applied indices, multiple colours and textures, and even the Dietrich branding. The sterile “pure†dial has a simple sophistication that complements the masculine and utilitarian appeal of the sports watch.Â
The hexagonal dial matches the shape of the case with a pattern of engraved indices and Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock, printed with white Super-LumiNova with a green luminescence. The outermost minute track features machined circles with white marks every five minutes. The hour, minute and seconds hands are unchanged from the original with white Super-LumiNova inserts with a blue luminescence. The brushed, 42mm 316L stainless steel case (9.3mm height) has a rounded hexagonal bezel with eight exposed screws and a custom cut sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coatings on both sides. The integrated hexagonal linked bracelet has a double folding clasp, while the screw-down hexagonal crown completes the shaped theme. The case comes in either natural steel or black PVD with matching dials, and water-resistance is 50 metres.Â
The movement is an ETA 2824-2 Automatic, among the most ubiquitous and proven Swiss workhorses in the industry. It has 25 jewels, beats at 28,800vph (4Hz) with a 38-hour power reserve. Functions include central hours, minutes, seconds and date, but the date isn’t being used in this limited edition series. Â
The new models are limited to 25 pieces each and retail for CHF 2,000, which is the same price as the standard collection. Matt Smith-Johnson is also the Art Director for aBlogtoWatch and the new series is labelled as such (ABTW). For more information and to make a purchase, visit the Dietrich website.Â
3 responses
It should be illegal to keep ripping off the Royal Oak design. Is there originality left in the world?
You can by a Chinese copy of a royal oak and get a sterile dial and have the exact shape you want instead of a misshapen thing like this.
Price is not CHF 2,000 but 2475! Overpriced rip-off Royal Oak…