Hands-On Review of the Depancel Pista GT
One of my favorite things about watches and collecting is the breadth of the industry and how much there is to discover. When I agreed to write this review, Depancel was a completely new name to me. Maybe I am not familiar enough with French watchmaking, or I just don’t gravitate toward racing-inspired watches in general. Whatever the reason they had slipped under my radar, as a watch enthusiast, I was really excited to not only be discovering a new brand, but getting to test drive one of their core racing pieces (no pun intended) - The Pista GT.
My initial reactions to the watch floated between excitement and disbelief. The thing that immediately struck me was the insane value offered in this piece. The finishing and details around the case and bezel are incredibly precise and the overall quality of the case is extremely impressive. It is a piece that immediately looks and feels more expensive than it is.
The symmetrical ‘bridge’ of the skeleton, almost resembling a spider, really helps to provide an element of balance to the otherwise chaotic look of an open-worked watch. Contrasting white hour markers also add to the sense of order, as well as giving legibility a huge boost. A massive focal point of the dial is the escapement at 12 o’clock. I found watching it tick to be somewhat mesmerizing. At four o’clock sits my favorite feature on the dial - a creative play on a power reserve indicator. A window, outlined in red, to the mainspring, allows wearers to see how tightly it is wound, and get an estimate on how much ‘life’ is in the movement at that moment. While there is no indicator per se, the window is denoted with “empty” and “full” markings expressing the width of the mainspring when it is both fully wound and fully unwound to help wearers determine. Because of the visible escapement and mainspring, this would be a great introduction for someone unfamiliar with mechanical watches. Seeing the components in action really helps to illustrate the impressive complexity of mechanical timekeeping - and would surely convert anyone who is not yet a believer in analog superiority.
Thanks to an incredibly compact lug-to-lug distance, this 42mm case wears very true to its size. At only 10.5mm thick, this piece really hugs the wrist, and could easily fit under a cuff, if necessary. It also sports a very unique case shape - not quite square, not quite tonneau. The shape of the case, odd as it may be, blends beautifully into the circular dial encased by a tire-motif bezel. Something I loved more and more as I wore the watch was the inclusion of red detailing to contrast the black and steel. The crown, seconds hand, power reserve window, and stitching on the strap all provide a great pop of color that really stands out.
The gorgeous perforated calfskin leather strap is not only comfortable but also contributes to the racing theme as well. I really love the contrast stitching on the leather band. It is so sleek and really elevates the sporty look of the watch in general.
The movement, a Swiss made STP 6-15, has a 44 hour power reserve and I found it to be unbelievably responsive. Very quick to start up once it had died, and a pretty strong gear ratio that helps you set the time swiftly. As my time with this watch bore on, I found myself wearing it more sparingly, and it was nice being able to start it up and set the time quickly. I definitely found it to be more of a weekend watch than a daily driver. I wore it for a week straight to the office, and was ready to put something more conventional on by the end. When I wore it out to dinner or to a bar, however, it was undeniably a conversation piece and garnered a ton of attention. It is so unique and really stands out, especially in a city like New York where you see a lot of the same watches over and over. I loved being able to show it to people and grow their interest in a less commonly known brand. Everyone I showed it to was equally stunned at the quality and the value offered in this piece.
So, how much is the Depancel Pista GT?
While the Depancel Pista retails for $1,275 USD, It is currently on sale for $895 USD.
