Water-resistant to 50m, the case has a box-style AR-coated sapphire crystal over the dial as well as another on the rear where the movement can be observed. Little details such as the texturing on the chronograph pushers and the overall quality of the dial makes a watch like this stand out. And it should, given the price. The DBF005 is certainly not astronomically high in its price, but considering it’s from a brand with very little name recognition, it definitely is on the higher end. In a time like ours, where there is relatively low consumer confidence, once a watch gets to the Rolex or Omega price points, very few people are willing to buy something that’s not from a trusted and well-known brand. Almost no watch enthusiast can own all the watches they want, so choosing the next watch is always a challenge and a juggle of priorities.
Inside the DuBois et fils DBF005 is a rather decent movement that they thankfully don’t try to rename. The movement is a base Swiss ETA 2892-2 automatic with a chronograph/big date module on it from Dubois Depraz (known as the module caliber DD4500). This 4Hz (28,800 bph) movement has 42 hours of power reserve and a custom DuBois et fils rotor. It’s decently decorated and appropriate for the timepiece. The functions include the time, 12-hour chronograph, as well as a welcome big date indicator. In some ways, the DBF005 watch is for people who want an Omega Speedmaster but with a big date complication. I happen to like the style of the big date indicator window—at times, this feature can look awkward, but DuBois et fils designed it quite nicely.
Another smart move on the dial is that the only polished elements are the applied hour markers. The rest of the dial is mostly matte-finished, which increases legibility quite a bit. The thin hands and high-contrasting colors of the sub-dials also help legibility as well. This particular DBF005-02 model has some distinctive elements, such as the black-colored lume, white hands, and overall color scheme. It feels just different enough from the rest of similar-looking watches to be visually interesting, though you might have to look at it carefully enough to really tell.
If we look at the case profile, the DFB005 sort of resembles an Omega Speedmaster, primarily because the bezel is wider than the case itself. The bezel has an aluminum insert with a tachymeter scale on it, which is probably the most “Speedmaster-esque” element on the entire watch. The quality of the bezel insert is nice, even though most modern timepieces use ceramic instead of aluminum. Because of that, however, the bezel gives the watch a semi-retro sporty look.
The DuBois et fils DBF005 doesn’t mimic any specific timepiece design out there (that I know of), but it nevertheless seeks the “familiar old sport watch” vibe that many timepiece lovers are seeking these days. The brand should be praised for trying to mix the old and the new in both its designs and business practices. Some of the quirks of the brand might be confusing for those visiting the website for the first time, but as a result, the brand feels more alive and active than the vast majority of other companies.
For those seeking a vintage timepiece experience through the lens of a modern brand, DuBois et fils is worth checking out. The DuBois et fils DFB005-2 is limited to 33 pieces, and the price is 7,850 CHF. duboisfils.ch
Necessary Data
>Brand: DuBois et fils
>Model: DFB005-02
>Price: 7,850 Swiss Francs
>Size: 42.5mm wide
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Yes.
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Classic sport watch lover seeking something familiar and wanting to support a “new age” Swiss timepiece maker leveraging some real history.
>Best characteristic of watch: Spirited look for someone interested in a retro sporty chronograph that has a familiar and handsome look. Good looking, legible dial and nice choice of movement. A variety of colors and authentically low production per watch.
>Worst characteristic of watch: Price is on the higher side. Strap might not be the best choice for all owners. Case finishing is good, but could be a bit better at this price point.
