Depancel is a relatively new name in the watch industry, another fresh face in the enthusiast space, and today, I look at its Pista GT watch model. The Depancel brand is run by a talented design professional, and the small company has the polish and poise of a bigger brand even at this young age. Many design professionals in this space are uninterested in years of back-office duties at the big brands and are rather romanced by the idea that, with relatively modest capital, they too can start their own brands with the aesthetics and presentation of their own personal standards.
Let’s look at the Pista GT, which is one of the brand’s nicer models and comes in both a natural steel finish and this “Full Black” coated-steel version (both models are the same price). Heavily inspired by the world of motorsports, the Pista GT combines conventional legibility and wearing comfort with a series of automotive and racing design elements along with a Swiss Made skeletonized automatic mechanical movement. Let’s actually start there.
Depancel is another customer of STP, which is a Swiss movement manufacturer owned by the American Fossil Group. STP movements are used in Zodiac brand watches, as well as an increasing assortment of brands in the market. Inside the Pista GT watch is a Swiss Made STP caliber 6-15 automatic, which has an attractive skeletonized bridge design. The bridges are coated in a dark color, making for a colorful display that melds well with the overall dial design composition. The movement orientation is also interesting given the position of the largely exposed balance wheel at the 12 o’clock position on the dial. Note the red outline around a view of the skeletonized mainspring barrel, which operates as a crude power reserve indicator. The tighter wound the spring, the more power reserve there is in the movement.
The automatic movement operates at 4Hz with about two days of power reserve. Despite the skeletonized dial, it is fitted with all the hour markers and visible hands. There is applied luminant, but it is admittedly a bit weak. Over the dial is a flat AR-coated sapphire crystal, while a mineral crystal on the back of the watch offers a view of the movement. The 42mm-wide case itself is a cushion shape with a round dial. The inner ring of the dial has the motif of a brake rotor while the bezel itself is fitted with the motif of a checkered racing flag. The case is water-resistant to 50 meters, is about 10.5mm-thick, and has durable crown guards for added security and visual strength.
Depancel offers both a 22mm-wide perforated leather strap as well as a textile nylon strap option to go with the Pista GT watch. I like that the brand also offers both a standard buckle and deployant clasp (for extra). I personally prefer the standard buckle but some like the presentation of the deployant. In any event, it is nice to see the brand offering options in this area. A fun watch from a probably up-and-coming brand, the Depancel Pista GT Full Black is a well-designed and affordable, fun watch for motorsport enthusiasts. Price is €1,041. Visit the Depancel watches website here.
