Introducing: The Dennison + Collectability Sunray Dial Limited Edition
What We Know
Today, with what is and will forever be the brand’s first-ever collaboration project, Dennison has just released the Collectability Sunray Dial Limited Edition. It’s a cushion-cased, quartz-powered, and two-tone sunray-dialed wristwatch priced just below $700 that riffs on designs of the 1960s and 1970s. Dennison’s A.L.D. re-revival hit the newswire back in December of last year, and the latest edition of this storied English brand aims to answer the question, “What would this master casemaker have offered if it were to have survived the quartz crisis?”
If you’re a regular reader of Hodinkee or tuned into the watch world otherwise, you should know the name John Reardon. He is a globally respected Patek Philippe expert, former Christie’s Head of Watches, former Hodinkee contributor, and founder of Collectability. Before today, Reardon had never put his name to a watch, nor Collectability’s name to a limited edition watch. His love for the evocative and daring creations of Patek Philippe during the 60s and 70s is more than evident in the watch and clearly shared by famed watch designer Emmanuel Gueit, the man behind Dennison’s new look.
The Dennison x Collectability model continues the momentum of Dennison’s stone-dialed releases of the past six months with the same 37mm x 33.65mm cushion case and Swiss Ronda quartz movement, but augments the appeal with a two-tone sunray dial. It’s an homage to watches of old, both in case shape and dial design, while offered at an entirely different price point.
The collaboration will be available in stainless steel or gold PVD, priced at $690 USD. It is a limited edition in that the watch is only available during a specific five-day pre-order window, beginning May 6th. Pre-ordering is handled via the Dennison website.
What We Think
If you do recognize Reardon’s name, there’s a large chance you have seen him talk about Patek Philippe’s Golden Ellipse wristwatch — its iconic Golden Ratio case design emblazoned on Collectability’s watch-world-famous hats. Today’s Dennison is Ellipse-inspired; no getting around that, especially at a glance, but upon closer inspection and archive digging, there’s more going on here. Leave it to Reardon to include subtle nods to lesser-known vintage Pateks like the ref. 4183, ref. 3625, ref. 3859, and, of course, another Collectability favorite, the ref. 3770 “Nautellipse.”
By taking the new shape of the A.L.D. — designed by Gueit as a modern interpretation of this whole era of innovative shaped watches that happened some 60 years ago — and referencing Patek Philippe of old, Dennison and Collectability have created something with reverence. For enthusiasts, products like this walk an ultra-thin line, veering on homage, though I don’t see this watch as merely a copy at all.
Comments disagreeing with me may file in below, but knowing the amount of respect Reardon has for the Patek Philippe brand, I can assure you a simple copy was never the aim here — hence, the inclusion of design elements from a group of vintage references rather than simply the Ellipse.
Back in December, I praised that first group of Dennison releases as admirably unserious. This is a watch brand speaking to enthusiasts yet not aiming to check spec boxes, and I love that. The A.L.D. stone dials took the serious feeling and investment of vintage stone dials out of the equation, riffing on the same aesthetic appeal with much lower stakes. Specifically, a sub-$1,000 price point.
This limited edition with Collectability is designed with that same ethos. Sometimes, it’s ok to say “I don’t want to spend $10,000+ on a vintage Patek” and buy something like this Dennison x Collectability collab. The smile per dollar rate is through the roof.
The Basics
Brand: Dennison
Model: Collectability Limited Edition
Case Dimensions: 37mm x 33.65mm
Thickness: 6.05mm
Case Material: Stainless steel or Gold PVD
Dial Color: Two-tone sunray blue
Lume: N/A
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Strap/Bracelet: 20mm bespoke leather strap with pin buckle
The Movement
Caliber: Swiss Ronda Quartz 1032
Battery Life: 60-90 months
Accuracy: -10/+20 seconds per month
Pricing & Availability
Price: $690
Availability: Pre-orders open May 6, 2025, running for five days
Limited Edition: Yes
For more, visit Dennison online.
Hodinkee
