New David Candaux DC1 Platinum Art of the Tourbillon

A mirror-polished onyx dial, inclined flying tourbillon, and fully hand-finished platinum case define David Candaux’s most exclusive creation to date.

Independent Swiss watchmaker David Candaux expands his highly architectural DC1 collection with the new DC1 Platinum Art of the Tourbillon, marking the first time the model is crafted entirely in platinum.

Limited to just eight pieces worldwide, the new creation preserves the distinctive identity established by the original DC1 First Eight introduced in 2017, while exploring a more noble and technically demanding material. The asymmetrical stepped case, retractable “Magic Crown” at 6 o’clock, cascading H74 calibre, and 30-degree inclined flying tourbillon remain central to the watch’s design philosophy.

The result is a highly sculptural independent watch that combines traditional hand-finishing, experimental materials, and advanced horological engineering within one of the most distinctive contemporary tourbillon architectures in modern independent watchmaking.

The First Platinum DC1

While the original DC1 collection focused primarily on titanium construction, the new DC1 Platinum Art of the Tourbillon introduces an entirely different tactile and visual experience.

David Candaux describes platinum as both noble and unforgiving — a material that reveals even the smallest imperfections during manufacturing. Unlike titanium, platinum retains every mark from polishing tools and requires extensive reworking to preserve the sharp geometry and tension lines of the DC1 case architecture.

The 43 mm asymmetrical case is fully hand-polished and maintains the brand’s characteristic balance between horizontal symmetry and vertical asymmetry. Despite its angular profile, the case remains relatively slim at just 12.90 mm including the crystal.

The retractable “Magic Crown” remains one of the defining features of the watch. Inspired by the mechanism of a retractable pen, the patented system allows the crown to extend and retract through a pressure-activated mechanism developed entirely in-house. The crown itself combines natural titanium with a platinum cap, reinforcing the contrast between materials throughout the watch.

A Layered Dial Built Around Light and Depth

One of the most visually striking aspects of the DC1 Platinum Art of the Tourbillon is its highly layered dial architecture.

Rather than using a traditional flat dial construction, David Candaux builds the display from multiple overlapping components that create depth and shifting reflections under changing light conditions.

The large central plate is crafted from mirror-polished black onyx, an extremely fragile material measuring just 0.2 mm thick. According to the brand, several plates are typically lost during production due to the material’s sensitivity to machining and pressure variation.

At 3 o’clock, the off-centre hours and minutes display is made from faceted white opal shaped to follow the curvature of the movement itself. Depending on lighting conditions, the opal transitions between translucent softness indoors and vivid luminosity outdoors.

18K rose gold flanges frame the display elements and extend visually toward the tourbillon aperture at 9 o’clock, while the applied bear logo completes the composition.

The interaction between black onyx, opal, rose gold, titanium, and platinum creates a highly dramatic visual contrast while preserving the overall architectural coherence of the watch.

The 30° Inclined Flying Tourbillon

At the centre of the DC1 collection is David Candaux’s inclined flying tourbillon.

While Candaux openly questions the traditional usefulness of a tourbillon in a wristwatch, he chose to reinterpret the complication rather than simply reproduce it.

The flying tourbillon is inclined at 30 degrees in order to improve positional averaging across a wider range of wrist positions, including horizontal resting positions where traditional tourbillons become less effective.

The cage performs one full rotation every 60 seconds and is crafted from black anodized titanium produced through a micro-arc oxidation process rather than conventional coatings such as DLC or PVD.

This process transforms the titanium surface itself into a dense ceramic-like layer capable of absorbing light rather than reflecting it, creating an intense black tone that visually echoes the mirror-polished onyx dial plate.

The H74 Calibre

Inside the watch is the entirely in-house developed H74 calibre, constructed primarily from Grade 5 titanium.

David Candaux remains one of the few independent watchmakers to extensively use titanium throughout the bridges and mainplate of an entire movement architecture.

The movement features:

• A 30° inclined flying tourbillon
• Large central seconds
• Off-centre hours and minutes display
• Power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock
• Twin high-speed coaxial barrels
• 55-hour power reserve
• 21,600 vph frequency

The bridges are decorated with the exclusive hand-finished “Côtes du Solliat” pattern, paying tribute to the Vallée de Joux village where the watches are produced.

Viewed through the sapphire caseback, the movement reveals cascading bridges, multiple mirror-polished inward angles, circular graining, and extensive hand-beveling throughout.

Technical Specifications

A Radical Interpretation of Contemporary Haute Horlogerie

The David Candaux DC1 Platinum Art of the Tourbillon, continues to push independent haute horlogerie into increasingly architectural and experimental territory.

Rather than treating the tourbillon as a purely decorative complication, the watch approaches it as a technical and emotional centerpiece integrated into an entirely original case and movement architecture.

The combination of platinum, black onyx, opal, titanium, and rose gold creates an object that feels simultaneously mechanical, sculptural, and deeply artisanal.

Produced in just eight examples worldwide, the DC1 Platinum Art of the Tourbillon stands as one of the most technically ambitious and visually distinctive independent tourbillon watches released in 2026.

For more information, please visit the official David Candaux website.

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