Every watch brand has a backstory. Usually, it’s something like “inspired by iconic vintage timepieces” (it’s an homage), or “continuing a tradition of old-world craftsmanship” (they bought a defunct brand name), or “bringing you affordable luxury by cutting out the middleman” (ugh, please). I’ve seen watches inspired by people, vehicles, appliances, drugs, and nuclear reactors. It’s crucial to establish a brand’s identity and not always an easy task to accomplish. Some are genuinely endearing or clever; most are forgettable. Then, there are brands like Draco, who gave me The Awakening Chronograph (and a leather card case) for this review. I promise I will review the watch shortly, but first, the story.
“The legend of Draco is a series of short stories that follow the fictionalized character of Draco, a Godlike figure who, faced with the end of existence, decides to create a set of mystical watches and help humanity gain their freedom from contemporary society.” The first chapter of Draco’s saga follows, recounting his transformation from a dragon-god to a human who asks an alchemist to create watches from pieces of his old body. Oh yes, it’s weird alright, but it certainly puts “we wanted to cut out the middleman” to shame.
Now, on to the watch.
As bizarre as the Draco story may be, the watch is relatively conventional. Even its less common design elements are rooted in our world. It has a dragon’s head logo, but it’s not like it has magic sword hands or ancient rune markers, which, I confess, was a relief. Instead, we have a solid, modern chronograph with both a tachymetre (bezel) and a telemeter (internal) index. Also, has a sapphire crystal and is rated for 100m water resistance. A Seiko VK63 MechaQuartz keeps the time. It is not terribly mystical, but it does have a 1/5th second sweep and a mechanical snap-back reset.
Draco sent me a matte, sandblasted steel version. The case measures 41mm wide, 49mm long, and 11.3mm thick. These are solid proportions that land it squarely in the mid-range of most men’s sports watches.
I particularly like the engraved tachymetre bezel. True, not filling the index with black paint sacrifices some degree of legibility, but how often are you timing things at dusk? In most daylight conditions, it is just fine. While there is a beveled edge to the case, the lines are not at all sharp. I won’t take them to task for this because the soft edges actually work well with the matte finish, lending it a pleasantly worn look, although that effect is blunted by the brightly polished crown, buttons, and the exposed screw heads in the lugs.
Those fasteners fail on three fronts. First, the polished finish is jarring against the matte case. Second, they are not recessed, so their crisp edges break the lines of the lugs. Third, and most irksome, they are not even functional. The strap is attached with quick-release spring bars, and the perches are not drilled through, so there was no practical reason to inflict those screws on the watch. I do not understand this aesthetic at all.
As we turn to the dial, things make a marked improvement. Draco employs a translucent dial that is hand-painted on the underside in a smoky grey-brown. It looks particularly attractive with the clean white printing, applied polished markers, and polished leaf hands all around. A yellow-orange sweep hand with a triangle counterweight provides a pop of color. BGW9 lume on the hands and needles keeps things legible at night.
There is no brand name or any other extraneous text on the dial, just the dragon’s head logo. In the right light, you get just enough of a view of the date wheels to be interesting. Draco describes this as a “light sensitive transformé effect” and “the first of its kind.” Well, not quite the first. I’ve reviewed at least half a dozen watches that have tinted, semi-transparent dials, and this design was famously used on the 1970s Seiko Time Sonar. The effect does indeed change depending on the application of the tint, variances in ambient light, and even the case finish, but this is true of all translucents. Still, it is an attractive, well-executed dial and to my eye, The Awakening’s signature feature.
My Awakening arrived on 20mm black pebble-grain leather. This lightly padded, suede-lined strap was soft, supple, and comfortable right out of the box. Quick-release pins are always a welcome addition. The signed butterfly deployant worked well, although I would have preferred a finish keyed to those on the case rather than the polished black PVD.
Flip The Awakening over, and you discover one of the more distinctive casebacks I’ve seen in a while. There, embossed in sharp relief, is an excerpt from the Draco saga, spiraling from the perimeter to the center. Whether you are into the story or not, you have to appreciate how well that decoration is executed.
In addition to watches, Draco also sells small leather goods. I got a lovely little grey pebbled leather cardholder with painted stripes. It sells for £50 (about $68 US).
The Awakening is available directly from Draco for £250 (about $338 US). This is a fair price for the watch. I doubt it will help you gain your freedom from contemporary society, but it is a nice package overall. Some elements did not work for me, but the proportions, bezel, and dial are rather pleasing. If The Awakening piques your interest, head over to draco-london.com.
