Depancel takes the retro racing triple calendar to the seas with the new Allure Driver Calendar
Tom Austin- French brand Depancel expands its motorsport-inspired catalogue with a new racing triple calendar watch, the Allure Driver Calendar.
- Taking the spirit of the golden age of motorsport, Depancel combines the use of vibrant colours and retro-inspired style.
- Available in two finishes, the Driver Calendar features either a sunray blue dial and bezel, or a deep black dial, complemented by a black and red night/day bezel.
Motorsport style has evolved over the decades, from the early days of tough guys in goggles and leather helmets, to the hairy-chested rock stars of the 1970s, and the vibrant, tobacco-sponsored icons of the 1980s. Depancel is a brand that draws inspiration from the aesthetic of those later iconic eras and creates watches that exude a retro motorsport lifestyle. The pairing of motorsports and watches is one of the most enduring and authentic partnerships in enthusiast culture. It goes far beyond slapping on a few brand logos and matching car colours. There’s a genuine, almost symbiotic connection — not just in the practical need to timed laps of the circuit, but in the shared romance of man and machine working in harmony. Their latest creation, the Allure Driver Calendar, takes the motorsport theme and adds some nautical racing flair, creating a unique take on an unusual combination.
The theme of the watch centres around the high-octane world of cigarette boat racing of the ’70s and ’80s. It was the glory days of insanely fast and dangerous activities that weren’t held back by the health and safety regulations, and the only high-vis in sight were on the shell suits of the spectators. The watch features a muscular-looking, cushion-shaped steel case, but the proportions are just right, measuring 39mm in diameter and 13.5mm in thickness. There’s a clean combination of polished and brushed surfaces, which flow down into an integrated bracelet design, a callback to the ’70s aesthetic.
Spec-wise, the case is equipped with an anti-reflective-coated sapphire crystal, a screw-down crown with an anodised insert, along with a screw-down exhibition caseback. These features offer the watch water resistance of 100 metres, and helps fit with the water racing theme. Lastly, there’s a bi-directional 12-hour bezel featuring aggressive teeth for a secure grip with wet gloves.
There are two variations of the Allure Driver Calendar, one featuring a deep black dial, with contrasting red and white accents, along with a black and red night & day bezel. The other is slightly more sophisticated, but more in keeping with the retro theme, with a bright sunburst blue dial, paired with orange and cream-coloured accents, and a dark blue aluminium bezel. For a triple calendar, the dial is simple, maintaining a three-handed layout with two sub-dials displaying the day and month details. A small date window at 6 o’clock completes the trio of complications and is nicely disguised as an hour marker.
Each dial features applied hour markers, filled with lume and complemented by large lume-filled pencil hands. There are subtle touches that usually appeal to motorsports enthusiasts, such as the text colours and the bright, contrasting seconds hand. Altogether, these details make for a well-executed retro motorsports-themed dial, and at first glance, you wouldn’t even realise it was a triple calendar.
Depancel isn’t strict when it comes to selecting the source of power for its movements, and across its range elects for a variety of different methods, such as manually wound Seagull calibres and Seiko mechaquartz movements. For the Allure Driver being a triple calendar, an automatic movement was required, and so the Japanese Miyota 9122 was selected. A popular and reliable calibre, the 9122 features a 40-hour power reserve, beating at 28,800vph. Even as a self-winding triple calendar movement, the dimensions are compact, allowing Depancel to maintain the relatively svelte proportions of the Allure.
Two strap options adorn the Allure Driver, the first being an attractively brushed integrated steel bracelet, which maintains the ’70s look, while ensuring a contemporary feel, considering how hot integrated bracelets are right now. It’s closed with a butterfly deployant clasp, which keeps everything hidden on your wrist, and the links are in a subtle Y-shape, making the bracelet look as unique as this style can be. The second option is an FKM rubber strap, completed with a pin buckle closure.
Depancel Allure Driver Calendar price and availability
The Depancel Allure Driver Calendar is available now directly from Depancel. Price: €895
| Brand | Depancel |
| Model | Allure D[R]IVER Calendar |
| Case Dimensions | 39mm (D) x 13.5mm (T) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 meters |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating |
| Dial | Sunburst blue with orange/cream details Black with red/white details |
| Bracelet | Integrated stainless steel bracelet, deployant clasp FKM rubber strap, pin buckle |
| Movement | Miyota 9122, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 40 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, month, day, date |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | €895 |