Dennison Doubles Down on Their Stylish Stone Dials (Real Shots)
Minimal, quartz, stone dial dress watches with “TV-cases” would have been a hard sell with watch enthusiasts just a few years ago, but you wouldn’t know it from Dennison’s rapid rise in popularity. The historic British brand, twice revived, has been one-to-watch in the last year, having launched the ALD line of watches fitting the description mentioned above just last October (2024) to great success. Perfectly timed for the seemingly capricious swings of the enthusiast zeitgeist, the combination of a 60s/70s shaped case, clean, expansive stone dials, effortless style, and approachable price point made them an easy sell for those who wanted to dabble with an aesthetic that was previously the domain of luxury jewelry watch brands.
Less than a year since launch, Dennison is back and, quite literally, doubling down on their inaugural line’s success with the ALD Dual Time. An extension of the first line, as the name suggests, the Dual Times can tell the time in more than one location, but do so in a decidedly direct and retro method. They have two movements. Positioned on either side of the dial, with independent crowns on either side of the case, these twin quartz tickers (though it should be noted there are no seconds hands) allow for differences down to the minute.
Convenient for the rare 15 or 30-minute timezone change, or perhaps tracking a friend who is always 10 minutes late, this layout is as easy to read as it is visually dynamic. The close proximity of the two dials creates a playful tension that is explored through some fun dial decor. Unlike the original series, which featured uninterrupted expanses of stone, glass, or wood, the Dual Times feature a touch more dial design, while maintaining the brand’s restrained aesthetic.
There are two versions of the Dual Time, single and two-stone varieties. The single stone varieties, which appear similar to the original line, take the expanse of stone and cut a sub-dial through for the right-side time display. A small circle that encapsulates the hands, the grained surface matches the base color of the material in which it is set. I.E. green in malachite, burnt orange in tiger eye, etc. The left-side time display is boundless, encompassing the right, hitting the edges of the case. It’s a seemingly simple visual concept that works exceptionally well, creating an asymmetrical and oddly satisfying composition.
The other version features two contrasting stones, split down the middle. Currently, there are versions with bloodstone and lapis lazuli, for a mottled green/blue palette, and tiger’s eye and black marble for a more contrasty, day/night type feel. A play in color and texture, these let the natural characteristics of the materials do the heavy lifting for a striking result.
To accommodate the additional time display, the surprisingly sensuous TV-shaped cases have grown a bit wider than the original version. Now 37 x 35.6mm vs 37 x 33mm, the slightly more square form carries just a touch more presence. Given the nearly square form, the Dual Times wear a touch larger than the dimensions suggest (they were pretty ideal on my 6.75” wrist), making them an excellent shape for a wide variety of wrist sizes.
Available in a multitude of dial surfaces, most with cases in either steel or gold PVD finish, the Dennison ALD Dual Times are available now for $890. Dennison
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