【F】 The New Dennison ALD Dual Time Capsule Collection II

It’s hardly been a month, but Dennison isn’t sitting still. The revitalized brand released the new ALD Dual Time in September to great fanfare. With distinctive retro ’60s vibes, the watches recall the whimsically simple offerings from many brands during that period. We were able to see them in Geneva and can confirm that they’re fun and well made. Now, building on that theme, the models are back with an enhancement in the form of the Dual Time Capsule Collection II.

Increasingly, we’re witnessing brands creating watches around specific watch shows. After all, who doesn’t like attending an event and seeing a debut? This week, in the watch world at least, it’s all about New York City. To celebrate the various horological happenings, and Windup in particular, where Dennison is exhibiting, the upstart company is introducing the ALD Dual Time Capsule Collection II.

The Dennison ALD Dual Time Capsule Collection II

To mark this year’s New York experience, Dennison has created a series of three watches that embody the spirit of an artist who looms large in the city. If you’re a fan of art and architecture, I highly recommend visiting the Guggenheim Museum on the Upper East Side. The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed structure is a standout, but the art is also worthy. The museum focuses on modern art, and one of the signature collections features paintings by Vasily Kandinsky. The boldly colored abstract pieces were always some of my favorites. It is this artist who inspires the new ALD Dual Time Capsule Collection II. Granted, the Dennison watches are far more simplistic than the paintings, but the idea of bold color against a black background serves as a Kandinsky accent.

The three watches use the same stainless steel cases as the serial-production ALD Dual Time. This translates to 37mm by 35.6mm with a thickness of just 6.1mm. Each watch has a 3-bar water resistance rating and a decorated snap-on case back. As always, a host of strap and bracelet choices are available. These include beige calfskin or polished black reptile-pattern straps with a stainless steel pin buckle. A stainless steel mesh bracelet is another option, and it has a very retro bark-like surface.

Black onyx and a splash of color

In keeping with Dennison’s reputation for stone dials, the Dual Time Capsule Collection II models have dials made of black onyx. The sole exception is a round area in red, pink, or turquoise, which serves as the rightmost time display. This creates a simple yet visually impactful look for the dial. In fact, the watches could be seen as distant cousins to the once-famous Movado Museum watch. Inside, they continue to use twin Ronda 1032 quartz movements. A crown on each side of the case adjusts the corresponding handset.

Limited, but with an ordering window

The ALD Dual Time Capsule Collection II models are available to pre-order via the Dennison website from October 16th for seven days. After this period, the watches will only be available in limited quantities at authorized dealers. The prices are reasonable at CHF 730 for watches on straps and CHF 780 for the bracelet. The set of three with special strap options is available for CHF 2,130. Let us know your thoughts on this latest release.

Watch specifications