Earlier this year, we brought you the news about the new MCT Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps Dōdekal One D110. This time we bring you our hands-on review of the final watch instead of the prototype like back then. The MCT Dodekal One D110 is the first mechanical watch featuring an innovative digital hours display in the center of the dial. With its name taken from the Greek 'Dodeka' meaning twelve, the new MCT Dodekal One D110 takes its inspiration from the digital electronic watches from the seventies. This new watch is available in a 25-piece limited edition for either titanium or black DLC titanium with 5N pink gold.
The Dial
Featuring a central digital indication of the hour and minutes marked by a central hand with red tip, the mechanism behind the central digital display of the hours is not only intriguing but captivating at the same time. With a bright red minute track against a matte black dial background, the time indication on the new Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps MCT Dodekal One D110 transports the wearer back to the glorious 70s when the Pulsar or the Bulova Driver with red digital electronic displays were the thing.
As time passes and a new hour needs to be displayed, the digital indication of the hours will change with a slow transition of red segments underneath the openings at the center of the dial in about 2.5 seconds. This intriguing transition offers and original and almost magical sight as the next hour is shown at the center of the dial all done mechanically. The animation of the digits changing every hour is so perfectly done that one could think that this is the result of an act of magic.
The Movement
Driven by a new in-house manufacture movement, the calibre D1, the new Dōdekal One D110 features one of the most unique and intriguing digital time displays for a mechanical watch. The engineers of MCT Watches have used a complex set of cams and carriages to display the hours in the forms of segments at the center of the dial placing this new timepiece in a whole new dimension.
Manufactured and assembled in-house at MCT's workshops in Neuchâtel, this automatic movement calibre D1 is equipped with 62 jewels and with a gold micro-rotor to provide a power reserve of 50 hours when fully wound while beating at a frequency of 18,000 vph. As expected from an independent brand like this one making no more than 100 pieces a year, the movement is exquisitely finished and fully visible via the display case back.
The Case & Strap
The new MCT Dōdekal One D110 features a new elegant cushion-shaped case in 5N titanium measuring 43 mm x 43 mm. Distinguished by finely crafted lugs that are shaped like twisted leaves, the watch is available in either regular titanium or Black PVD Titanium with 5N rose gold case band.
Secured by a black alligator strap with the usual MCT deployant buckle, this new watch is simply gorgeous and extremely eye-catching.
On the Wrist & Pricing
On the wrist, the new Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps Dōdekal One D110 wears true to its size and with very impressive wrist presence. Just like they did 10 years ago with the release of their first watch the Sequential One, MCT watches continues to reinvent the way time is displayed with their outstanding creativity and mechanical engineering mastery in the field of watchmaking. The Dodekal One D110 is available in titanium or black DLC titanium with 5N pink gold and issued in a 25-piece limited edition for each version.
Sticker Price CHF55,000 Swiss Francs —approximately $54,000 USD— for titanium and CHF61,000 —approximately $60,000 USD— for black DLC titanium with pink gold. For more info on MCT Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps click here.
