What does it mean to make a watch “stealth”? Even if it means readability, does it translate to the darkest possible thing on the wrist? A good example is the Omega Speedmaster dark side of the moon, “Black Black.” Or does “stealth” mean a watch painted completely black except for functional elements? This example is the new Peren Regiarna Eclipse Dark, or Regiar Dark, as the brand mentions. The blackened case and dial contrast with bright white hands and markers, making reading time always easy. I had the opportunity to have a stylish Legia Le Dark Diver for Spin, learn more and see what “stealth” means to me.
It’s not the first time I’ve had the opportunity to try Perenlesia. In early 2024, I reviewed the regular version. It’s a minimalist diving watch, but it’s not pulled down to the point where the new Resia gets darker. The case was not painted black and featured a complete set of markers on the diving bezel. This new Resia Le Dark plays with the same aesthetic and takes a more minimalist route. But that route is not without small steps. Peren founder Andy Vika has released a series of Resia models that play in the minimalist style of watches. This is an excellent design exercise that demonstrates the versatility of designs within relatively small spaces. It reminds me of the various possibilities that Unimatic people have explored in their design language.
The story of Peren Resia Le Dark
When I saw the new Resia Le Dark, the imaginative Modelo Quattro was the first visual reference that came to my mind. However, despite the similarities in design, they are quite different watches. Let’s first look into the details. The Peren Regia le Dark has a 39mm stainless steel case with a 12.8mm thickness, a lug-to-lug 45.3mm and a water-resistant rating of 200m.
The case features a black DLC coating and a bead blast finish. There are also hand-crafted chamfers that bring visual excitement, but the polished edges stand out only in bright sunlight.
Peren matched the case with a conical 120-click unidirectional bezel with a black DLC-coated stainless steel insert. Lume Pip is the only marker for insertion to maintain timing functionality. But honestly, people don’t use this as a serious diving watch. This is because this execution is primarily an aesthetic movement. Within the case, every five minutes there is a matte black dial with Devos Minute Track and white dots. The distinctive circular and oval markers are solid white 3D Super Luminova blocks. Additionally, the white hands contrast with the dial and feature a white Super Luminova. All rooms are illuminated blue in the dark, allowing you to read the time and easily set the Lume Pip to your preferred position.
The 12 o’clock date window is amazing details
The dial design is similar to that of the regular Regia model, but the blacked-out case and minimalist black bezel distinguish this watch from that watch. The 12 o’clock date window remains. It seems like a strange arrangement at a glance, but if you know anything about Resia, you know that there is a story behind it.
The dial design and arrangement of the 12 o’clock date window was influenced by the Sarmizegetusa Regia calendar. This ancient calendar system was used by the Dasians of Transylvania, where Peren has its roots. The brand’s founder Andy Vika has incorporated details into the Resia Dive Watch, which suggests this calendar.
Internal automatic sellita diameter
The movement running the show is the Sellita SW200-1, which runs at 28,800Vph, with 26 gems and offers a 38-hour power reserve. Peren adjusts the caliber in-house. It comes with Nivaflex main spring and impact protection to ensure reliable daily use.
Wearing Peren Resia Le Dark
I remembered how comfortable Regia was when I tied Luke down to my wrist. Thanks to the spot-on proportions and a comfortable FKM rubber strap, the watch sits very well on the wrist. The brand also offers an option for NATO style straps in fabric, but I always opt for rubber straps because I am very comfortable.
I wore my watch for a few days and received some compliments from members of the Frater team and people who were not interested in it. So despite its stealth looks, the watch stands out. Certainly, I always match the color of the watch’s dial or strap with the outfit, so the watch doesn’t look dissonant. But receiving all the compliments says something about Peren Regia Le Dark’s eye-catching style.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I enjoyed wearing the Resia Le Dark. However, I have to admit that it didn’t impress me as much as the regular Regia and Regia X I’ve reviewed previously. That’s because the design was familiar and I loved the more dynamic presence of other models. Still, this blacked-out version is the logical next step in design, and of course has a clear look that people love.
The new Peren Regia le Dark feels very well made, with plenty of intricate details showing how much love and attention Peren puts on every release. Plus, the watch is comfortable and balanced with wrists. At the time of writing, the watch is a great choice for less than 1k euros.
As we know, there is a lot of competition in this price range. So the unique design makes Peren stand out among the crowd. Finally, to get back to my favorite “stealth,” I go with a completely black outdoor aesthetic, at the expense of immediate readability. But that could be the next step for Peren, who has a popular regia. You have to wait and find it.
