“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, my grandfather said as he lit up his dark brown colored oak-wood pipe; the air filled with the smooth scent of Dunhill Nightcap tobacco, I pondered the origins of that simple statement.

Many years later, I was reminded of this quote, though not directly and certainly not applying to the ‘noun’ in reference. Many watches tote the same characteristics; garnished with the same trimmings and certainly levy equally on your wallet.

Introducing a different kind of horological menu with all the enticing appetizers: Swiss made; sapphire crystal glass; world-renowned movements. And for a full-flavored guilt-free desert: affordable prices.

Curtains up on the Aesthetics Collection by Debaufre Watches. The collection that defies my grandfather’s statement by offering tremendous Swiss made timepieces at actually affordable prices, what a mind-boggling concept.

With Debaufre producing a classic collection including the Ocean-1 diver’s watch, the GMT Ocean-1 dual time-zone watch and the exclusive Unitas series, at equal quality with the ‘big-boys’ minus the high price tag, this “dog” has been taught a new trick.

Considering the sultry lines of the socially accepted diver’s watch converging on the mainstream generation of brand-oriented enthusiasts, clamoring for recognition amidst their cookie-cutter lives of conformity, seeking an often-denied individuality due to… cost. The Debaufre Ocean-1 breaks that cycle of rejection and merges with your financial ability to attain the personality of individuality you so desiringly seek.

Holding true with the “new trick” theory, the Ocean-1 only costs $435, and now the family includes the 2-tone and uni-color relatives with the blue/blue; red/red; 2tone blue and 2tone black watches. The GMT Ocean-1 is available for under $650 and has been expanded to include the GMT2 in white or black and the GMT 2Tone in black. That’s merely a fraction of the maintenance and servicing cost of a ‘major brand’ watch, so in theory you could purchase a new Debaufre Watch every time it required service and you would still save money.

Don’t misunderstand, I’m not bashing the big-boys, it’s simply math and I’m simply stating that Debaufre passes the substantial cost break on to you. By not employing a huge retail store staff; by not utilizing billboard ads, TV commercials or other wonderful marketing ploys; the money saved - is your money saved. For this reason, Debaufre Watches is soon going to be one of the major brands; the only difference being, they are a consumer conscientious company.

Another trick taught was reviving a historical icon in the Debaufre Unitas Collection. The Nav-B Classic; the Airforce; and the Le Mans all use the renowned Unitas movements, classic pocket-watch movements from the teenage years of watch making. Each of these timepieces offer a unique style and distinction, the casual Airforce; the historical Nav-B Flieger XXL Uhr; and the sporty Le Mans each available for under $600.

The Aesthetics Collection continues with the Triton watch, a heavy-set (it’s sensitive about it’s weight) rugged diver, encasing the SW200 movement with a natural rubber strap, the crown at the 4 position, and a nice engraved case-back. In addition to being an extremely accurate timekeeper, the Triton can be utilized for a laundry list of engagements; weigh something down in a hurricane, anchor your boat, well you get the idea. Granted most of us won’t ever need to, but it’s nice to know you could, well it’s a nice thought anyway and it’s priced just right at $525.

The Aircraft-8 watch is the square in the group. Reminiscent of the 1920's, it's a throw back to the elegance of the Big Band and Aviation era where style mattered, people relied on honesty, and an instrument’s reputation was birthed from unwavering accuracy. In this day and age, being "Square" isn't an anti-icon anymore; in a culture flooded with "Circles", a good "Square" puts everything into perspective. The Aircraft-8 is priced at $525.

To define which watch is the best, is as impossible as choosing a favorite ice cream, we all have individual tastes and needs. Visit www.debaufre.com and select your flavor of watch. As for the old dog, well, he’s still got some tricks up his sleeve.
- Alldaron Knewitz