Classic is always better - Dufrane Waterloo

In a world of complex watches with crazy complications, materials and sizes, there are some styles that never get old, in fact they keep looking better and better. There are things that purist do not approve or maybe will never get used to like black cases or over 45mm watches so this really narrows down the style that a brand should use if they want to capture the real enthusiasts, so a 39mm watch sounds like a good starting point but then you end up with the fact that the piece could end up, so a good dial is key to keep the interest going, then small details like hands, a perfect framed date and a great case design will be much closer on having a real winner.

There are many good offerings in the market but what I loved the most are those brands that can really surprise you and give you a great proposition you didn’t expect, entering Dufrane and their newest Waterloo. The Waterloo hits all the notes that I've described above and much more, not only is a great value proposition as it has hints of watches that if you try to find in a vintage market, they could really break the bank but not here, below are my impressions on what can be a great every day runner.

The specifications:

With a really beautiful 39mm case and a lug to lug of 47mm the Waterloo is incredible to wear and look at, with a brushed middle case and a stepped bezel the side of the watch looks incredible, it is also under 11mm making it easy to use on every occasion.

Taking the dimensions away the watch true beauty is the dial, not only the hands are chemically blued (not painted) but the white linen dial is as incredible as it sounds, the texture and the details are just one of a kind, it gives this Grand Seiko Snowflake dial mixed with those vintage Rolex Date Just from the 80s, classy very very classy. I really love the fact that the date is at 6 maintaining the symmetry of the dial, the numeral are on this metal lumed track which sounds as futuristic as it looks, it really blends a lot of styles but in a way that works perfectly. The Waterloo is powered by a Sellita SW200 movement which Is incredible at this price point (575 USD), I still have no idea how the guys at Dufrane make this happen.

On the wrist:

As mentioned the watch wears like a charm, the dimensions are perfect for my 6.25 inch wrist, the Waterloo can be worn for almost every occasion you can think, easy to wear at the office or to a more fancy dinner, this is because the great design that it has, it really gives the watch a lot of flexibility, its timeless. The lug to lug really plays a big part on the way that the watch wears and then because of the color scheme of the watch, you can really source almost any 20mm strap to it, I can assure you that it would look good.

Conclusion:

As you can tell I really enjoyed my time with the Waterloo, it is a great blend of modernity and vintage looks that can really be used in many occasions, there is another rose gold version available which really looks incredible and I think it would feel as timeless as the steel one, let's remember that this is an unique design, with a linen dial and a swiss movement which makes me wonder again: how did they manage to stay at this price point again? It is really that incredible.

More info at https://www.dufranewatches.com/

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