Introducing the Pellikaan Diving Dutchman-1

If there is one watch style that is more popular than others, at least amongst enthusiasts, it would seem that the dive watch would be a top contender, if not king of the mountain. This is based on my extensive research of thinking back over what I have seen newer brands creating, so take the assertion with a grain of salt. Let’s take a look to see what makes the Pellikaan Diving Dutchman-1 stand out.

Dutch brand Pellikan is not a newcomer to the scene, but they are certainly making their first foray into the world of dive watches. Then again, their literature is quick to point out that their watch is not truly the first diving Dutchman. Apparently that honor goes to one Mr. Drebbel who went underwater on the River Thames for several miles – quite an achievement for 1620. But what of the watch?

This one seems to have a lot of focus being given to it’s IP13 mechanical movement. Along with a black finish applied to it (and cotes de geneve decoration), they have worked up their own pallet fork for which they have applied for a patent on. This bit does not seem all that different from others you may have seen, until you realize that there is an extra bit of metal mounted on top of it, between the ruby pallets. This change is supposed to provide better balance, which then leads to less friction and therefore less maintenance of the movement.

This movement for the Pellikaan Diving Dutchman-1 is then tucked into a new case design, which comes in at 45mm and is made of grade 5 titanium, which should help keep the weight down. Keeping the weight reduced is a good thing, because the watch definitely has the beefy look and feel we have come to expect from smaller brands. A lot of this comes from the solid 60-click bezel surrounding the sapphire crystal, which defines (and extends) the lines of the case. Unfortunately, it does not seem that the wide lume we see on the dial has made its way to the bezel, which simply has indentations to mark the time out.

As to the lume on the bezel, the brand told us that since they could not ensure chemical and water resistance, so they decided to leave it off for now. Good thing the dial is water tight, then! The dial itself is crisp, with a stark contrast from the matte black of the dial (and handset) to the white SuperLuminova of the lumed indices and fill-in on the hands. Pictures are a bit limited at this point, so I am unsure as to how bright the lume will glow, which we are told is green in color (in the dark of course). Given the amount we are seeing, though, I have a feeling it should glow pretty nicely.

I also want to call out the crown on the Pellikaan Diving Dutchman-1, which has a double o-ring seal to help the watch get to the 200m WR rating. I like how the crown guards gracefully come up to the crown, and also the fact that the crown is not overly long, which should help keep it from digging into your wrist. Given it’s thinner nature, it does remain to be see how well it will work when it comes time to use it, especially with the polished surface it has. Perhaps I am just over-analyzing from the photos we have available, but it seems like getting a good grip could be tricky.

Overall, I have to say this is an interesting watch. I am glad to see the brand expand their style offerings with the Pellikaan Diving Dutchman-1, though this first foray does indeed push them firmly into the luxury category, which of course is a bit different from the new divers we normally bring you. The Pellikaan Diving Dutchman-1 will be offered at a pre-order price of €6270 (about $7,000; inclusive of VAT and shipping), and then the price goes up to €7300 (about $8,200; again, including VAT and shipping) after November 20th. This is also a bit unique in that it is being run sort of like a crowd-funding model, as production will not get underway until at least 12 people have put a 50% deposit down. This is not quite as transparent as how, say, Kickstarter, funding levels work, but it’s the way many brands have done it in the past.

While the Pellikaan Diving Dutchman-1 is a bit too rich for me, I have a feeling it will find a home with collectors, especially those looking to add a Dutch watch to the mix. Let us know in the comments what you think about this watch – it’s design, movement, and pricing – and especially if you have put your pre-order in. In the meantime, we’ll keep an eye on the progress of the watch and give you updates if something of note occurs. pellikaantiming.com

Watch Overview

Brand & Model: Pellikaan Diving Dutchman-1

Price: €6270 ($7,000) on pre-order; price includes VAT and shipping
Who we think it might be for: You want a dive watch that has it’s unique changes flying under the radar
Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen?: Probably not, as pricing would hold me back

If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: Get some lume on the bezel
What spoke to me the most about this watch: It’s an interesting case design – subtly tweaked from what you might expect