DSub50

Damasko is a family-owned and operated watch brand founded in 1989 by Konrad Damasko. The well-respected German brand has been producing watches since 1994 but only hit the market in the early 2000s. Konrad Damasko did not set out to make any other watch; he wanted to make a watch that would survive anything. Literally, anything. 

The DSub50 is one of the Uhrenhersteller’s best sellers and lives up to the founder’s ethos regarding watchmaking. The DSub50’s watch case is made in-house by Damasko using what Damasko calls “Deutscher U-Boat-Stahl”, which translates to German Submarine Steel. The watch case, crown, caseback, and bezel are all made of said material. Submarine steel is a high-strength alloy used extensively in constructing German submarines and navy ships. Submarine steel also offers significant corrosion resistance compared to the commonly used 316L stainless steel.

On top of that, the steel is entirely anti-magnetic even when continuously immersed in seawater. The submarine steel is then wholly coated with a patented black DAMEST coating, giving the watch its stealthy appeal. The proprietary coating also further strengthens the steel’s scratch resistance and strength, reliably preventing scratches and any breakage in the casing.

The Damasko DSub50 shares the same design language as the DA/DC collection but with a new breath of fresh air. The DSub50 has a case diameter of 43mm, a height of 12.6mm, and a lug-to-lug of 49mm. The all-black nature of the timepiece combined with the relatively short lug-to-lug should help the wristwatch wear well on almost any wrist size. The matte black dial is more sterile in design than the other models - whereby the crosshair marking is removed - leaving only the Damasko logo at 12, resulting in an immaculate and legible dial. Baton-style indices are used throughout, with extended indices at 3,6, 9, and a double baton index at 12.

Further showcasing Damasko’s attention to even the minutest detail - a small date aperture is located at 4 o’clock. The date wheel is a custom-made date disc with a rich black background with white numbers to match the dial. Damasko also paid extra attention to the bezel. The 60-click unidirectional black bezel uses a three-ceramic ball-bearing ratcheting system, ensuring that the bezel clicks positively with absolutely zero play left or right. The innovative bezel design is probably one of the best dive watch bezel systems available on the market.

Even the crown is equipped with Damasko's patented lubrication cell, ensuring smooth action and lubricating the shaft and gasket. The crown tube is constructed according to industrial engineering standards and screwed into the case. Almost every other watch manufacturer makes use of an inferior press fit tube. The gaskets of the new crown system are also made of Viton™, a material with high chemical and mechanical resistance, superior to every other gasket material (Nitril, etc.) currently used in wristwatches.

A double domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the inside ensures maximum readability regardless of lighting conditions. The hands and indices are generously coated with Swiss C1 X1 Superluminova, allowing for a terrific glow in the dark. The DSub50 also has drilled lugs for easy strap-changing. Of course, as a dive watch, the screw-down crown and caseback give the Damasko DSub50 300m of water resistance.

Powering the watch is the in-house Damasko A26-2 movement. It has 20 jewels, beats at 28,800 BPH, and has a power reserve of 42 hours. The calibre A26-2 is certified to be shockproof and anti-magnetic per the DIN 8308 and 8309 standards of the Deutsches Institut für Normung - German Institute for Standardization. Adjusted in 5 positions by Damasko to achieve a high level of accuracy, this in-house movement is genuinely spectacular. Servicing this movement will also not be a problem, as Damasko has ensured that any competent watchmaker can efficiently service it. 

SuperLuminova C1 glows in the dark

The DSub50 is fitted on a 22mm black rubber strap with a signed bead-blasted deployant clasp. This no-frills combo ensures the strap can be as robust as the watch and offers the wearer supreme comfort as they strap the watch on for any activities.

Every Damasko watch features essential technical details that are not visible at first sight but significantly influence its accuracy under harsh conditions. The Damasko DSub50 is a watch that sets the bar a notch higher for other dive watch manufacturers. If you are in the market for the ultimate dive watch that is understated and yet charming in a technical way, this is the watch worth considering.

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