Review: Damasko DC 56 Black Chronograph

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big-e-294

Review: Damasko DC 56 Black Chronograph

Post by big-e-294 » 21 Jul 2012 15:38

I've had this Damasko DC 56 Black Chronograph for almost a month now and I am very impressed with it so far.
Impressed with:
- the size
- the readability
- quality of the finishing and PVD coating

Damasko a watchmaker from Germany, started in 1994. They produces their own watch parts as well as watch movements and cases. At one point, they were producing watch cases for Sinn, another well known German watch brand.

This is not a brand new piece. I am probably the 3rd (and last!) owner of this piece, but upon picking this up from an SC bro, i was immediately impressed with the minty looking finishing.
Maybe it was not worn much or could have been a drawer queen... either or, you will normally see some scuff marks here and there. But there was none.

Before I get into the pictures and babble on about this watch, let's get the watch statistics out of the way:
(source: http://www.gnomonwatches.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)
Dimensions:
• Diameter: 40.00 mm
• Overall height: 13.70 mm
• Lug width: 20.00 mm
• Weight without strap: 86 grams

Movement:
• Valjoux 7750, self-winding, mechanical movement
• 25 jewels; 28,800 bph
• Shockproof and Anti-magnetic according to DIN 8308 & DIN 8309
• Hour, minute, permanent small sweep second
• Day/Date window with new, modified position
• Regulated and Adjusted by Damasko

So, after about 1 month, I've finally had some time to try and take some better close up shots of the DC 56 Black.

Image

Size
At 40mm, it is the perfect size for my sub~6.5" wrist. The 7750 is not a big diameter movement, but it is very thick. Yet this case allows me to wear under my shirt cuff with ease.
So much so, it is very comfortable on either nato or leather strap.

Readability
The dial layout is very well thought out. At first glance, it looks like any other pilot watch with the typical pilot dial.
Yes, that is true, but if you look closely, the subdials, numbers, hands and even the day/date & logo placement is precisely placed to achieve they symmetry on the dial.

The day/date is modified, so that it is a little off center from the usual [3] hr position. Why?
It is so the Damasko name can be symmetrically placed at the [3] position together with the day/date!

Image

The running second hand subdial at [9] is chosen to only have 4-crosshair rather than filled with second markers. The second sub-dial hand is also designed to have a similar length to the crosshair - distinguished only by the hands being slightly thicker.

Image

The C1 Superluminova is applied as a 'dot' to indicate each hour and a lumed 'triangle' for the [12] marker. The hour and minute hand is lumed, but the subdials and main chrono hands are not.

Finishing and 'Damest' coating
I have always wanted a PVD watch, but heard of many stories on how it can be chipped off and the pvd layer wearing thin after a couple of year, which made me reluctant to purchase one.

When I came across Damasko, I was impressed by their patented steel-hardening process and the PVD Damest coating. All which results in a hardness up to approx 2500HV. Both of these processes increases the corrosion resistance of the steel.
However, the setback is that the Damasko steel become more susceptible to magnetization, which is why Damasko installs an antimagnetic shield in their timepieces.

I found some comparison graphs (source: http://watchotaku.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; & http://www.damasko.de/eng" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) comparing various coating technique of different watchmakers.

Image

Image

Image

It all sounds good in theory, but in the real world, how does this hold up?
I must say, so far so good!
When I picked up this piece, I expected some scuff marks. There was none.
I figured it could have been a drawer queen or had minimal wear. So I'll check on the underside of the lugs for the usual scratch marks which results from a couple of strap changes.
There surely will be some scratch marks from passing through so many owners changing straps - there was none!

On the second week of wear, I had whacked it quite hard against the toilet cubicle door. I took a deep breath and looked at the watch - no dents, no scratch (PHEW!)

So I am impressed that Damasko has delivery on its claims.

Image

Image

Image

I probably could ramble on about this watch and the technology, but I won't bore you.
If you are interested, here are some links I came across:
http://www.damasko.de/eng/technik_damest-eng.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.damasko.de/eng/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (click on "Technology" link)
http://watchotaku.com/display/swr/Mater ... atchmaking" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Final shot.
Image

Thank you guys for reading. :D
And thanks to all the SC bros who advised me to get this Damasko (my first German watch and also my first ETA based watch).
Last edited by big-e-294 on 21 Jul 2012 15:53, edited 1 time in total.
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lunarin79
CEO
Posts: 12958
Joined: 11 Apr 2011 00:20

Re: Review: Damasko DC 56 Black Chronograph

Post by lunarin79 » 21 Jul 2012 15:48

excellent review Director

puts my other reviews to shame :lol: joking :mrgreen:
Seiko Club Gathering 2016
big-e-294

Re: Review: Damasko DC 56 Black Chronograph

Post by big-e-294 » 21 Jul 2012 15:50

lunarin79 wrote:excellent review Director

puts my other reviews to shame :lol: joking :mrgreen:
tankew CEO... simple review. talk about what i like oni :oops: :oops: :oops:
aiken74

Re: Review: Damasko DC 56 Black Chronograph

Post by aiken74 » 21 Jul 2012 16:15

It's was a impressive & into detail review... 8-) GX bro... 8-)
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kermit e froggy
Member
Posts: 506
Joined: 20 Jun 2011 12:15

Re: Review: Damasko DC 56 Black Chronograph

Post by kermit e froggy » 21 Jul 2012 16:21

Wow Bagus BoyBigE, very well written Damasko review and i like it.

To be frank, I regret it but its all fine now cos I know you r one gd owner of the black DC56 ;) .
big-e-294

Re: Review: Damasko DC 56 Black Chronograph

Post by big-e-294 » 21 Jul 2012 16:35

thanks guys...

i must add that the lume application, although it is even, but it is no where close to the brightness compared to my Seiko's Lumibrite lume.
big-e-294

Re: Review: Damasko DC 56 Black Chronograph

Post by big-e-294 » 21 Jul 2012 16:36

kermit e froggy wrote:Wow Bagus BoyBigE, very well written Damasko review and i like it.

To be frank, I regret it but its all fine now cos I know you r one gd owner of the black DC56 ;) .
Thanks Kermit for holding this for me :D
I'll take good care of her.
devil00
Senior member
Posts: 1526
Joined: 10 Apr 2011 22:07

Review: Damasko DC 56 Black Chronograph

Post by devil00 » 21 Jul 2012 16:41

1+ like
:D great review.. Mod director :)
LEXONG

Re: Review: Damasko DC 56 Black Chronograph

Post by LEXONG » 21 Jul 2012 17:08

Nice and great review !
sinner1974

Re: Review: Damasko DC 56 Black Chronograph

Post by sinner1974 » 21 Jul 2012 17:58

No horse run! Great review!!
watchlooker

Re: Review: Damasko DC 56 Black Chronograph

Post by watchlooker » 21 Jul 2012 20:16

A nice review! ;)
kqxrseiko

Re: Review: Damasko DC 56 Black Chronograph

Post by kqxrseiko » 23 Jul 2012 15:47

Congrats on a fine time piece and great review!!
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