DeWitt Manufacture, established by Count Jérôme de Witt, is a watch brand distinguished by its noble provenance.  As a descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte the company’s founder can draw on his illustrious ancestry, evident in the instantly recognisable “Imperial Columns” that adorn the case middles of each hand-crafted DeWitt watch.

Forming part of the brand’s emblematic Academia collection, the DeWitt Academia Small Seconds wristwatch is a sophisticated, contemporary men’s dress watch infused with hints of vintage styling.

The black lacquer dial produced in-house, displays a combination of hand-finishing techniques, with Côtes de Genève on the upper section and satin finishing on the lower.  The small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock is enhanced with a rose gold circle fixed with visible screws.  The central hour and minutes hand are open-worked and sword-shaped, while the small seconds hand takes the form of a diminutive feuille.  The indexes, numerals and appliqué elements on the dial are all crafted from 18-carat rose gold.

The 42.5mm 18-carat rose gold case features the company’s signature “Imperial Columns”, represented through black rubber inserts on the case side, adding a discreet but instantly recognisable aesthetic.

Inside, the in-house DeWitt DW5051 automatic movement retains a power reserve of 65 hours.  Featuring bridges decorated with circular and bevelled patterns, and a circular-grained mainplate, the beautiful architecture of the calibre can be appreciated through the case back sapphire crystal.

The DeWitt Academia Small Seconds watch wears on a black alligator leather strap with 18-carat rose gold triple folding clasp featuring the brand’s distinctive “W” signature.