Hello everyone, and welcome to another Singaporean article! On this shiok Sunday, I’m extremely excited to introduce DWISS’ latest watch, the RW1! The RW1 ups the ante from DWISS’ previous offerings with a Swiss-made Wandering Hours display, and is currently live on Kickstarter.
As most watch enthusiasts would know, Wandering Hours is a high complication often associated with five figure haute horology pieces such as the Audemars Piguet Star Wheel and the Urwerk UR-103. While they are great timepieces, Audemar Piguet and Urwerk are unfortunately out of most people’s (including me) budget. That’s where the DWISS RW1 comes in – it’s currently available on Kickstarter for only 869 CHF/~S$1275! That’s a terrific, if not never-before-seen price for a Swiss-made watch with a Wandering Hours complication.
Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the watch!
DWISS – the Brand
I’ve previously covered DWISS as a brand in my review of the DWISS RC1. If you haven’t already done so, you can read the article here.
If you’re more interested in the watch rather than the brand, you can watch the DWISS’ campaign video above for more information on the watch!
DWISS RW1
The DWISS RW1 currently comes in two different variants – regular stainless steel, and IP-coated black.
The natural stainless steel case variant of the RW1 looks decidedly more dressy – almost a tuxedo look when contrasted against the black dial. I think this is going to be the variant that most backers will prefer, given its versatility. The RW1 also comes with double-domed sapphire crystal to protect the dial from scratches, and boasts a surprisingly high 20 ATM WR rating which means that you can actually wear this one to the pool.
However, my personal preference is the IP Black variant. I mean, just look at it in the photo above! I love the stealthy, mysterious vibe that the blacked out case exudes. I think my preference stems from the blacked out version of the aforementioned Urwerk UR-103 being one of my absolute grail watches (probably influenced by Wei Koh). Furthermore, I feel the black colour scheme works especially well with the Wandering Hours complication, which already possess an inherently enigmatic allure.
The dial of the RW1 is nicely textured, and there’s substantial depth present in its aesthetics. Overall, it is surprisingly restrained, which is a good thing in my opinion as it really allows for the Wandering Hours complication to shine and take center stage.
The DWISS RW1 shares a very similar – if not identical – case as the DWISS RC1 I reviewed previously, which is absolutely terrific news. The DWISS RC1 had one of the most detailed and well finished case I’ve ever reviewed! Just look at the faceted edges, the bevelled polishing, the angles and the contrast in finishing, the details present in the stepped case. It’s a wondrous sight to behold. For those interested in more details, I gave my opinions on the DWISS case in my review of the RC1 here.
In case you’re wondering, the RW1 even comes with lume, Swiss BGW9 Superluminova to be exact! In the dark, the watch should glow an icy blue, further reinforcing the utter coolness of the watch.
At the heart of the DWISS RW1 is the ETA 2824-2 movement, in elabore grade. This movement needs no introduction – commonly found in watches from Swiss luxury brands such as Longines, Oris, Omega, Tudor, etc. The ETA 2824-2 is probably the most desired movement to be had in a microbrand watch, especially when compared to its Sellita/STP/Miyota counterparts. Some specifications: The ETA 2824-2 has 38 hours of power reserve, hacking feature, 4 Hz operating frequency, 25 Jewels and an ETACHRON regulator system. It is one of the most recognizable movements in the watchmaking industry, so getting it serviced should be no problem (aside from the cost, of course). In addition. the brand states the accuracy of the movement at +/- 7s per day, which is pretty darn close to chronometer standards! In my opinion, the Swiss ETA movement is a key differentiating factor that sets the RW1 apart from the other affordable “Wandering Hours” watches in the market today. For example, while watches such as the Gruppo Gamma Nexus and the Zoid Mystery are around the same price point as the RW1, they use a mere Miyota 8215 base movement. The DWISS RW1 is undoubtedly a much better value proposition in comparison, especially when taking into account the fact that ETA movements are getting harder to come by nowadays.
Finally, DWISS is offering the RW1 on two strap options. The RW1 will come standard on what DWISS calls an “Italian hi-tech fabric leather strap”, which essentially is a hybrid strap with a fabric outer and lined with (presumably) Italian leather. The brand also offers backers an option to opt for a metal bracelet for 150 CHF more. The metal bracelet looks well finished, though I’m not sure if its worth such a hefty sum.
Conclusion
Needless to say, I think the DWISS RW1 is a fantastic value proposition. To sweeten the deal even further, DWISS is also offering backers a free month of subscription to their DWISS Club, an initiative which I wrote about here. I know “affordable luxury” is a hackneyed oxymoron nowadays, but it’s a phrase I truly feel applies to DWISS and the RW1. Prior to the RW1, the most affordable Swiss-made watch with a Wandering Hours complication was the Gorilla Fastback Drift, which retailed for 2970 CHF – that’s more than triple the price of the RW1!
The DWISS RW1 is undoubtedly a steal, and if you’re interested in the complication, backing the Kickstarter campaign now is a no-brainer as prices are slated to double once production begins. In fact, more than half of the second batch early bird slots are already gone, so do act fast if you’re interested! For the current price of just 869 CHF/ ~S$1275, you definitely getting a lot of bang for your buck with the RW1.
In addition, the promo code “WAHSOSHIOK” is also applicable on all items off DWISS’ web-store for a whooping 15% off, so do check out their current offerings too!
Back the DWISS RW1 campaign here.
Specifications:
DWISS RW1
Price Kickstarter: early birds 849 CHF, 2 batch 869 CHF, later bird 899 CHF / MSRP 1800 CHF
MOVEMENT:
Swiss made – Automatic movement, ETA 2824-2 (Elabore Grade)
Shockproof protection Incabloc®
Number of jewels: 25
Frequency 4Hz – 28’800
Power reserve: approximately 42h
FUNCTIONS:
Wandering hour display showing hours and minutes
Superluminova C1.
CASE
3 design awards
Hand finished 316L steel case
Water resistant to 20 ATM
Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
45,0 mm diameter
13,0 mm thickness (+2mm sapphire crystal)
P.S Do check out the new “Discounts!” page for exclusive discounts for Wahsoshiok readers! More brands will be added very soon – stay tuned!
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