Over the past year, I’ve been collecting watches from the 40’s and 50’s. When focusing on this early era, watches with Denison cases cannot be avoided. The company, based in Birmingham, England, was a well-known manufacturer of cases for Omega and Longines, among others, until it closed in 1967. Now, the name has been revived with a completely different set of watches. The ALD stone dial looks like what it might have been had the brand remained in existence.
I’ll put this out there from the beginning. When I first saw the Denison ALD stone dial in photos and online, I was skeptical. The revered brand is back in a completely different guise. Denison continued to operate in Birmingham, England for some of the most famous Swiss and British brands until 1967, when it was deemed reasonable to avoid the heavy duties imposed on imports of Swiss-made cases. They were manufacturing watch cases. My 1939 sterling silver Omega 30T2 is a prime example of Dennison’s former glory. That’s right, I was a little worried when I saw the very trendy ALD watch.
ALD stone dial
The ALD stone dial is part of the launch of two new Denison models. The sunray dial is another cheaper option and uses the same case. The Stone Dials lineup includes five references. Both have 33.65mm x 37mm stainless steel cases with a lugless appearance.
The watch features a flat sapphire crystal, snap-on caseback, and 30 meters of water resistance. All products come with a 20mm leather strap with an alligator-style pattern and signature pin buckle.
5 choices and 4 stones
There are five choices in the ALD Stone Dials collection. The stainless steel case is available in malachite, aventurine or lapis lazuli. The gold PVD coated stainless steel case comes with an aventurine or tiger eye dial. Buyers can choose from three strap colors, including an option to match the dial color.
quartz movement
The ALD stone dial and all Denison watches use a Swiss Ronda quartz 1032-1 movement. While it may not excite vintage enthusiasts, this choice lowers the price and gives you a slimmer look. In fact, the watch is only 6.05 mm thick.
So what do we think?
Before we get into the opinion part, let’s talk about the current Denison brand and its ownership. Toby Sutton, director and co-founder of Watches of Knightsbridge, owns the name. Investments have also come from four collectors from Switzerland and Dubai. These parties came together and decided to manufacture watches in Asia, but also contracted with famous designers. Emmanuel Gay designed the original Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore and also created watches for other Swiss luxury brands. He created the ALD stone dial as a suggestion of what Dennison watches would have been like had they survived after 1967. Indeed, he also said that such watches (the Piaget Andy Warhol Clous de Paris is a good example) are now very popular.
meet in person and persuade
A group of us attended the recent WatchPro salon in London. And as I knew, the deadline for the ALD Stone Dial article was in a few days, so seeing the watch in person was high on my priority list. Now, the people I attended with were vintage fanatics like myself, and they were also skeptical. We were pleasantly surprised after sitting with the Denison folks and spending time with them on the clock. I’ve heard the same thing from other people who have tried them.
ALD stone dial is the best option
Dennison has all the models on hand, and while the Sunray reference is nice, it was clear from the start that the ALD stone dial was the better option. The richness of the dial blends very well with the case design, and I found the striped malachite to be my favorite. The simple handset and off-center logo placement match the overall design. We were also fans of the dish crown. This is because the design of the case will not be compromised. When you pick it up, you will feel that the watch is of high quality and has a good design.
ALD stone dial on wrist
Judging by the dimensions, it would seem that this case is not suitable for people with decent-sized wrists, but that is not true at all. The large dial and lack of visible lugs make the watch appear larger than it actually is. Additionally, the 20mm strap width is also convenient. However, the construction and material of the strap was not to our liking. It felt hard and had sharp edges. Overall, it seemed cheaper than the rest of the watch.
We recommend changing the strap to a contrasting color or pattern, such as Saffiano or Epson. However, the buckle received near universal praise. The shape follows the form of the case, and you can feel the attention to detail throughout the package.
conclusion
The Denison ALD Stone Dial has received mixed reviews. As I said, I was very skeptical, but personally I really liked it. Additionally, these watches are a great proposition for those who aren’t looking to spend thousands of dollars on an ornate vintage piece with a stone dial. At €637.95/£545 including shipping, I think it’s an attractive and very wearable option. If you want a mechanical movement, ask yourself if it makes sense to pay thousands of dollars for a watch that will only be worn occasionally. At this price, it looks better, is more practical, and remains thin. Of course, we also welcome your comments below.
ALD Stone Dials are available now on Denison’s official website.
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