Darwil – a brief history and a personal relationship

A place to show and discuss your vintage watches
User avatar
sinner777
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 1796
Joined: Fri May 20, 2016 10:43 am
CW-watches: 1
Location: Zagreb. Croatia

Darwil – a brief history and a personal relationship

Post by sinner777 »

As it comes to Darwil, since I became interested into whole WIS thing, I had a bit of sweettooth for these vintage watches.

Why? Well, they were very popular in ex-yugoslavia area, and even sung by a local punk band KUD Idijoti in song named..well..“Darwil“. Verses are roughly translated „for a modern man/who knows what time is/who goes to meetings/drinks, drives a space shutlle/and f***s“

The song itself was a sarcastic look at the Yugoslavia in the end 70s/begginig of the 80s: with the awakening of the middle class in socialistic society of that age (that was something totally different tha other eastern block countries of that age, actually a kind of economic experiment with basically capitalistic market approach, moderated by a state and run by enourmous flow of western capital and placement of local products in eastern countries that kept the whole unsustainable system running – at that time, Yugoslavia was a „buffer zone“ between Eastern block an NATO and both sides had interest in keeping the status quo)

Factories were all working, uneployment rate was under 10%, all Yugoslavs had free medical insurance, free pension plan and despite notorius „communist party one minded torture that choked civil rights“ (intentionaly quoted) – they were basically free to speak their own laguage, practice thir own religion and to spend all their hard earned money...if they find a place to spend it on.

Local shops offered mostly domestic products, for example you could buy local produced clothes, local produced cars (that were to be honest crap and KUD Idiots made a great joke of them in the song) but most of the time you were waiting for the payment check to go to Trieste on a shopping tour.

Trieste was a local small Italian town, on todays Slovenian border, and over there you could buy anything – from jeans to baby food, from golden earrings to parts for your car..if you had enough guts to smuggle it across border (to be honest, most of the custom officers at that time knew that people smuggled goods over the border and did not care about it ,as long as you bribe them with something..usually liquor and cigarettes).

And offcourse, you could buy Darwil in Trieste:

Image

Darwill was actually something you could today call a „microbrand“.
Although it was actually a italian based company, all their watches were made in Switzerland and company itself was registered (on a few different occasions actually) in Gretchen valley.

As their business expanded, they entered yugoslavian market with smart approach: lowered the profit margins so they could keep the price lower than competition and offered wide range of affordable wristwatches or as the ad in the local newspaper quoted „quality for a few bucks“.

And indeed, they were great watches.

As it comes to some basic models chronology – it is mission impossible. They have had almost all types of watches: from handwound basic wristwaches, similar to HMT, automatic watches, chronographs, pocket watches, dive watches...over 3 million watches came out with Darwil badge on them!

But I will try to name a few I came across in few years:

Basic models are handwound mechanical watches, diameter around 33-37 mm, with chromed cases and usually subdial second, run by 17 jewel movements, that were all personalized and engraved with factory logo and even had personalized nomenclature (for example, Darwil 7041 is actually a Pesseux 7001 movement, Darwil 7018 is Unitas 6325 etc)

Variety of models and movement is almost endless. Mylord 72, Special Flat Lord 63, Special Flat Darblock, Snow Star...movements were Peseux 7001, FHF 76, Unitas 6325, ASchild movements..or anything that was swiss made, and thin enough to fit into „ultraflat“ cases.

Almost all that I had were different. Even had two identical models, with the same model name on dial, that were run by different movements:

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image


What about automatics?

Also, variety of models. With Felsa movements, AShild movements, ETA movements...and often with funky seventies design:

Image
Image
Image
Image

this one was special: Felsa movement with 57 rubies (!?) - 17 operational, others were inserted into transmission cogs for pure decoration:

Image


They also made chronographs, that are highly sought after:

Image
Image

And also dive watches, most sought after are tho ones with Squale cases. Almost impossible to find:

Image
Image
Image
Image

And some interesting designs as well, with dual crowns (I actually owned the one with dual crowns as shown on ad), vertical date windows, oval cases, TV cases..

Image
Image

And in 80-ies quartz watches. Including digital watches. I owned solar powered digital Darwil in NOS condition, now at watch collector in GB.

Image

And all those Darwils I have seen are just a tip of the iceberg...I always find myself surprised, as I discover a new variation on local flea market, pawn shop or at local version of Craiglist.

Advice if you want to purchase a Darwil?

Cases on basic lines are sensitive. These watches were in 90% of the time worn, and often worn to the bone. Cases with chrome missing, scratched crystals, water damage is usual.
Good thing: movements were really great. All were swiss, all were common, so servicing or repaire should not be a problem. Replacement cases are actually easy to find, either on Ebay or in my case at local watchsmith or even flea markets
If the cases are stainless steel, no worries. Just have the movement serviced, put it on wrist and enjoy.

I have owned around 100 different Darwils, and at this moment have an 60-ies model in NOS condition on rehaul and also rare 50-ies model with AS automatic and oval case, with its original bracelet and few other, including one of the diver models in sight

Will I get more of them?

Certainly. New variation will come along. And will be surprised.
These users thanked the author sinner777 for the post:
MiniMpi
User avatar
tempusmaximus
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 19245
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 1:37 pm
CW-watches: 1
Location: UK

Re: Darwil – a brief history and a personal relationship

Post by tempusmaximus »

Fantastic post thank you very much sinner . I have certainly learned something today :thumbup: . It seems they used some excellent movements , no wonder they are popular ! :) The chronographs are very , very nice . Thank you again sinner for an excellent read .
Bernie
User avatar
sinner777
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 1796
Joined: Fri May 20, 2016 10:43 am
CW-watches: 1
Location: Zagreb. Croatia

Re: Darwil – a brief history and a personal relationship

Post by sinner777 »

I just discovered that one of the latest uses unknown movement..and unsigned one..hmmm :problem:

it looks like it is one of the last batches from 80-ies, with plastic movement holder and printed dial...

(...inner questions and struggles :lol: )

as they come I will update and present few more that came along.
User avatar
tempusmaximus
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 19245
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 1:37 pm
CW-watches: 1
Location: UK

Re: Darwil – a brief history and a personal relationship

Post by tempusmaximus »

Great , looking forward to seeing and reading about them .
Bernie
User avatar
Amor Vincit Omnia
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 33786
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:34 pm
CW-watches: 4
Location: Norfolk, UK

Re: Darwil – a brief history and a personal relationship

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

Thank you, what a brilliant read!
Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time


Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
User avatar
Kip
The Administrator
The Administrator
Posts: 35169
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:45 pm
CW-watches: 150
LE-one: yes
LE-two: yes
LE-three: yes
LE-foura: yes
LE-fourb: yes
LE-five: yes
LE-six: yes
LESeven: yes
Location: New Hampshire, USA

Re: Darwil – a brief history and a personal relationship

Post by Kip »

Thank you for this terrific post on a brand that I know very little about. A very interesting read.
Kip

"Asylum Administrator"


Visit the CWArchives for everything CW. Historical, specs, manuals and resale. It is all there.
User avatar
sinner777
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 1796
Joined: Fri May 20, 2016 10:43 am
CW-watches: 1
Location: Zagreb. Croatia

Re: Darwil – a brief history and a personal relationship

Post by sinner777 »

okay...the one that got back from reperated rehaul (crown unscrewed..minor fix)

lets start from the top: the box. AFAIK, made out of MOP-lookalike-celuloide. prited golden Darwil logo with slightly uncofortable looking eagle. (kinda reminds me of Starship Troppers logo from Verhoeven movie :lol: )

When opening, it screeks like in B-horror movies but it is rather well preserved for 50+year old item:


Image

so here it is...inside a green synthetic silk bed, and carboard shelf..top quality box, I dare to say :D

Image

and the watch itself:

35 mm, with 18 mm lugs:

Image


chromed case without high domed acrylic crystal and slightly domed steel snap on caseback would be 3 mm thick, crown is replaced by an unsigned one and there is some pitting on sides of the case:

Image
Image
Image

detailing of the dial is well..spartan. Dial itself is off-white color, with gold plated raised indices, company logo (with crown!) and cut off no.6 to make place for the seconds subdial. Classic 50-ies and 60-ies design. Straight forward slimmed dauphine hands (I am sure there is a term for these hands..dauphinette?) with minutes hand bent downwards to follow curvature of the dial :

Image
Image
Image


and...the movement:


Image
Image
Image
Image

signed, Darwil 7018. I have been trying to find some info on the movment, it looks like Unitas design but without shock protection .


littke thing wear very well, due to its lightness, and slim design. Although for someone that usually wears modern 40+ watches it looks like a toy:

Image
Image


overall: serviced, movement will probably outlive the case. still ticking proudly, and looking great. It dates by it design from end 50-ies - beggining 60-ies. I dare to say that my current daily wear (Seiko Presage) will not look this nice in lets say 2066 :lol:

no water resistance at all, off course. I carry a G-shock with me when I wear it. With the slghtest hint of rain or drizzle, it goes into carrier pouch untill things work out :lol:

next time, something completely different...
User avatar
Bahnstormer_vRS
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 35156
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:06 pm
CW-watches: 34
LE-three: 1
LE-foura: 1
LE-fourb: 1
LE-six: 1
Location: Hertfordshire, UK

Re: Darwil – a brief history and a personal relationship

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

@sinner777 - Fantastic post on a brand I knew nothing about. :clap:

Some lovely watches and a great piece of history; such a shame they are (like so many other 'vintage' brands) no longer in business. :(

Keep collecting. :thumbup:

Guy
In small proportions, we just beautie see:
And in short measures, life may perfect bee. - Ben Jonson (1572 – 1637)

Inscription on the Longitude Dial
Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 5NB, England
User avatar
vikingdrvr
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 3844
Joined: Mon Mar 25, 2013 12:48 am
CW-watches: 6
Location: Arizona

Re: Darwil – a brief history and a personal relationship

Post by vikingdrvr »

Great read Sinner :clap: Especially enjoyed the history as I'm of Slovenian decent!
Tom
vikingdrvr

InComing: nada
InTheBox: C60 GMT, C7, C7IRR, C70 D-Type, C8, C11. Steinies: Nav B/OVM/OceanTi500/Racetimer X2/Chrono II. Others: SMP300M Chrono, SMdV, Alpina X2, Tissot Chrono, LLD, Heuer 2000 Auto, Breil...
Emily DT, Charlotte Deco, Coral (wife’s)
User avatar
tempusmaximus
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 19245
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 1:37 pm
CW-watches: 1
Location: UK

Re: Darwil – a brief history and a personal relationship

Post by tempusmaximus »

Another great read with some lovely pictures , thank you sinner .
Bernie
drand
Guru
Guru
Posts: 322
Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2016 9:54 pm
CW-watches: 1

Re: Darwil – a brief history and a personal relationship

Post by drand »

Great post. I really like those squoval seventies ones.
User avatar
sinner777
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 1796
Joined: Fri May 20, 2016 10:43 am
CW-watches: 1
Location: Zagreb. Croatia

Re: Darwil – a brief history and a personal relationship

Post by sinner777 »

..so part two: Special Flat Luxe Darblock 17 jewels (sigh..such a long name :D )

Image

so..what do we have here?

unlike the one mentioned above, which is quite rare, this one is more or less common one. Hard working mans everyday wristwatch, than can be even today seen on wrists of retired naggy old farts that always remember the good ol´ days before the laptops and modern competitive work opportunities.

I actually sometimes enjoy talking to these oldtimers, while wearing this on wrist, the stories they tell you are today beyond imagination...for example..most of them worked on same workplace for 40+ years..unbelievable...

but nuff rant, lets talk about Darwil:

34 mm chromed tripartite case (center part has pressed on upper ring that holds acrylic crystal and lower stainless steel caseback) with slight pitting:

Image
Image
Image

nothing spectacular, also around 6 mm thick overall, but it has striped backcase design with eagle logo and 7050 carved in the lower part.


dial is actually very detailed: silver sunburst, large arabic numerals combined with gold plated square hour marks, that have tritium dots on outer edge..not so well printed on dial. in fact one of them has flaked off and it is on dial somewhere

hands are simple as they can be, filled with tritium.

and you have complete name on the dial, all together with Darblock (incablock as it is called in Darwil terminology), name of the model and number of jewels in movement. Overall nice dial, especially with slight patina that turned silver sunburst in slight gold color:

Image
Image
Image
Image


movement is signed Darwil 7050 (as far as I could tell, ETA, with hammered finish and incablock protection, simple, crude workhorse of a movement)

Image
Image

and the little thing wears very well: very light, thin, and elegant, understated vintage watch. Offcourse, backup G-shock is by my side just in case when I wear it :lol:

Image

this one waits for rehaul. It needs oiling since it was purchased sans crown, dug out from bunch of quartz crap at local pawn shop. As the seller said "just put new battery and glue the crown back and it will run(!?)" okaay...I had extra crown at home, but I will leave it to my watchsmith to fiddle with it.


next time, something different...on a Darwil yourney.
User avatar
sinner777
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 1796
Joined: Fri May 20, 2016 10:43 am
CW-watches: 1
Location: Zagreb. Croatia

Re: Darwil – a brief history and a personal relationship

Post by sinner777 »

lets continue with automatic Darwil.

Image

unlike two shown before, this is by all means seriuos wristwatch...if something that looks like stainless steel fried egg strapped to your wrist could qualify as a serious wristwatch :lol: .

fist of all: the shape. Oval shaped case with integrated lugs, that actually hugs your wrist and does not look out of proportion at all.

Image

actually, design of watch has few tricks that make it even more odd shaped than it actually is. Crystal is round, but the dial has "milipede" markings that are visually following the shape of the outer sides of the case.

Image
Image

case itself is around 39 mm from crown to the edge and 41 mm from lug to lug, so it is not small wristwatch. although if it followed the size and the round shape of the crystal it would be probably 35 mm.

Image
Image
Image

at some point I presume the upper part might have had sunburst pattern but it is lost over the yearas of polishing. in fact watch and bracelet could use a good TLC right now.

bracelet has signed buckle and also interesting design. and it so graciously stretched and comfortable..modern bracelets can only dream about that level of flexibility :lol: .

Image
Image
Image

overall, one of the weirdest designs ever. run by AS 2063 automatic movement * , with handwind and quick day change, and with usual patina (as I said, Darwils were every day watches and often abused) it really shines from your wrist. and I mean..shines...impossible to take a photo in sunlight 8)

till next episode of Sinners Darwils, cheers.

* AS 2063 also powered the Blancpain 50 Fathoms...so... :thumbup:
User avatar
tempusmaximus
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 19245
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 1:37 pm
CW-watches: 1
Location: UK

Re: Darwil – a brief history and a personal relationship

Post by tempusmaximus »

Lovely post sinner and very interesting , i really like the shape of the case , a nice looking watch .
Bernie
User avatar
asqwerth
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 3540
Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2010 5:47 am
CW-watches: 8

Re: Darwil – a brief history and a personal relationship

Post by asqwerth »

Interesting, kind of reminds me of the Omega Geneve Dynamic except not as colourful.
C5As~FLE12R~W61~C60GMT~FLE15~SC
Orion33/Tetra2~BallEH~Montblanc~Tudor BB36~Archimede36~Damasko~Revue T~BremontSolo37~MJW
Vintage~Bulova23~Polerouter~Wittnauer~Longines~Omega~Soumar~Eterna~Gruen

Quartz~Matisse~FLE17~Ebel~Citizen
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post