DWISS is a relatively young watch company, first established in 2011. However, its roots go back to a distant past. The company's founder, Rafael Simoes Miranda, received several design awards for his early work in Italy. The following year, in 2012, DWISS received its first International Design Award. Since then, they have won 10 more awards, including the coveted IF Design Award earlier this year.
I recently acquired one of their M3 Automatic watches. These unique watches feature a multi-layered dial, with the time displayed on the rear, outer layer and the indices on the front, inner layer. The M3 model is a limited edition of 500 pieces and is available in three color schemes: black, blue, and white. The watch also comes with either a steel bracelet or a rubber strap. I have the black version, which comes with both a metal bracelet and a rubber strap.
Unique Multi-Layered Dial
The most attractive feature of the M3 Automatic is undoubtedly the dial. Instead of both hands moving along the same index, the hour and minute hands move along separate indices. The outer indicator is recessed in the back of the case. It consists of one wide hour hand that moves along the outer ring with Arabic numerals at the hour marks. There are also very small hashes at the five-minute marks in each segment. Given the width of the hand, these hashes are difficult to read accurately, even if you try hard, but they are an appealing design element.
Along the inner edge of this outer indicator, you can notice numbers 1-31, written sequentially, starting right after the "12 o'clock" position. They form a date indicator. Alongside each number on the dial, there is a small window. One red marker passes behind, placing a red dot in the hole for the specific day. This is a refreshing departure from the standard date window.
The inner index occupies the center of the dial and is noticeably raised. The second hand is similar to the hour hand in that it is very wide, but it's actually only one-third of a triangular lug rotating around the central axis. The minute hand itself, like the hour hand, is made of white lume, while the other two-thirds of the lug are black and skeletonized. Minutes are marked by Arabic numerals at five-minute positions, starting with "00" at the "12 o'clock" position. Between the numbers, as on the hour index, there are even smaller hashes, but these are purely for style.
One thing I liked about the M3 model is that it is very easy to read in the dark. The hands and indices with bright lume glow with a blue light and provide excellent visibility. While the black dial offers even more contrast, the blue and white dials also look great at night.
Octagonal Showcase
The mid-sized stainless steel case has a diameter of 42 mm and a thickness of 11.7 mm. It features a thick bezel with an octagonal outer edge and a round inner edge, surrounding scratch-resistant sapphire glass. You will also notice the display case back, which provides a clear view of the Caliber 2824-2 movement.
The crown is large enough to be easily operated, even if you have big fingers. Additionally, it is easy to spot thanks to the black grip material on the black dial model and the corresponding blue grip on the blue variant. The screw-down design helps ensure superior water resistance. The M3 model is safe at depths of up to 660 feet, which is more than enough for any kind of water activity.
ETA Caliber 2824-2 Movement
The ETA 2824-2 caliber is one of the most common movements on the market. Due to its popularity, it is easy to repair. It's hard to find a watchmaker without experience working with this movement. However, ETA no longer produces this movement. This means that spare parts are becoming more expensive over time.
The accuracy of the 2824-2 caliber can reach +/- 12 seconds per day, and it is easy to adjust. Even without adjustment, the accuracy is usually better than +/- 30 seconds. But if you want to achieve maximum precision, you will definitely want the watch to be adjusted.
Interchangeable Straps
The DWISS M3 Automatic watch can be ordered with a stainless steel bracelet or a rubber strap. The stainless steel bracelet is simple, with three links and very wide central links, providing a very comfortable fit on the wrist.
Alternative rubber straps can be black for the black dial or blue for the blue variant. They are surprisingly comfortable and do not stick to the wrist. They are also easy to adjust, while adjusting the steel bracelet will require a tool or taking the watch to a jeweler.
For more detailed information and to view the entire range of DWISS watches, visit their official website here.
