Introducing – E.C. Andersson Calypso Denise Date

Divers owe a lot to French naval officer Jacques Cousteau and his unrivalled contribution towards marine research. But they also owe a lot to watch manufacturers that create timepieces that pay homage to his pioneering work, like Nordic watch brand, E. C. Andersson. The brand has created the Calypso Denise watch – a dive watch inspired by Cousteau’s SP-350 submarine, designed to be easily readable. 

MONOCHROME has explored the brand’s previous sports watch offerings before. The atelier gained recognition through Kickstarter crowdfunding opportunities and has emerged as a manufacturer that specialises in creating rugged watches for exploration. The Calypso Denise features a timing bezel, a compass, 200-meter water resistance, improved luminosity and a precision certified beating heart. For the first time, it comes with a date feature too. 

From sporty to specific

Still considered a youngster, Nordic watchmaker, E.C. Andersson first put itself on the map in 2016 when it launched the release of a robust sports watch called the North Sea followed by the North Sea II – both with a recognisable cushion-shaped case and a precise Japanese movement developed by Seiko. The brand’s first high-end watch soon followed – the Calypso, which used an in-house designed rotor made visible through a sapphire caseback.

The Denise watch, which launched last year, specifically focussed on the needs of the professional diver. Its subtle 1970s vintage aesthetic had bulkier casebands for a squarer look, a 40mm case width (46mm lug-to-lug), and a micro-adjustment clasp.

The New E. C. Andersson Calypso Denise Date

The Calypso Denise, intended as a diver’s watch, is both functional and easy-to-read. The model has kept its size but now features a large date counter residing at 6 o’clock and legible, hollowed-out hands. The skeletonised hands have been bead blasted to coincide with the finish on the case and their luminous coating now promises to glow 5 times longer than its predecessor.

Referencing elapsed time whilst underwater seems pretty easy enough since the markers on the watch’s ceramic bezel are also luminous. The compass feature also enables the watch to be utilized whilst exploring, as well as out on the water. Two different surface finishes can be noted on what looks to be a pretty standard diver’s dial. The visible calendar window is matte finished, set against a lacquered backdrop.

In addition to the bead blasted hands, there are pockets of light that hit the dial adding some degree of depth to the watch. The power reserve indicator hand is coated in red and monitors the remaining life of the modified Cal.ECANE01 Seiko NE57 movement, indicating when its energy is spent.

Whether opting for the black rubber strap or stainless steel bracelet, both versions of the watch come with a micro-adjustable diving clasp for securing over the top of heavy diving gear. As well as a movement regulated to Precision Certification standard, E. C. Andersson has also limited the production of the Calypso Denise Date watch. Although geared towards professional and amateur divers, its compact design and legible dial are features that can be utilized both offshore and on dry land.

Availability & Price

The E. C. Andersson Calypso Denise Date will be limited to 105 pieces and is now available for orders, at this page. They will be delivered in October 2020. The final retail price will be EUR 1,120 on rubber strap and EUR 1,200 on steel bracelet. However, the price is now lower (at EUR 870 at the time of publishing), as the closer the brand gets to the final watch, the higher the price will be. 

More details at www.ecandersson.com.