Even though the overwhelming majority of watches in my collection are Swiss made, I have come to realize that German watches also really excite me as a watch collector. Time after time I find myself saving photos of watches from German watch brands. I am not alone in this sentiment, as there are many watch collectors who decide to dig deeper into the time-keeping products from this region of the world. Brands include Sinn, Nomos, Junghans, Chronoswiss, Glashutte Original, A. Lange & Söhne, Hanhart, and Damasko among others.
Damasko is a small German watch manufacturer known for their ice-hardened steel cases and pilot watch aesthetics. I actually owned the one shown in these photos for about a day, but I decided that the particular specimen was not a keeper. To make a long story short, it was a pre-owned watch that was mechanically in need of a complete service when the owner claimed it was running perfectly at +2 seconds a day. It was actually losing over a minute a day. Regardless, I took this opportunity to examine the Damasko DC 66 up close before I sent it back. I’ll be discussing that “eBay adventure” in a future article about “when and how” to use eBay Buyer Protection.
Damasko DC-66 Chronograph is all business
The Damasko DC 66 comes in several minor variations and I had the one with a leather strap that was thickly padded with a contrasting stitch. The upgraded version has a tank-tread-like bracelet that is a work of industrial art and is also made of ice-hardened stainless steel. Hopefully, I will own that one in the future.
DC 66 has an orderly dial that packs a lot of information
There is no getting around that the Damasko DC 66 looks like a large watch, but it should be wearable even on smallish wrists like mine (6.5″ circumference). One reason that the watch looks large is that the dial is bigger in proportion to the somewhat narrow bezel.
A large dial an small bezel
Damasko’s website states that the bezel width is about 44 mm, but the case size is only 42 mm meaning the bezel has an overhang. The photo below demonstrates how the bezel is larger than the case itself. Also notice the drilled horn-shaped lugs for fast strap swaps, integrated crown guards and big pump pushers… all in the same ice-hardened steel.
The DC 66 has an overhanging bezel
The blocky bezel edging should improve grip, even if you are wearing gloves. You cannot tell just by looking, but this is a bi-directional bezel. Unlike a dive bezel that only ratchets in a counterclockwise direction, this one goes both ways and has a great feel. This makes more sense for a pilot who can use it as a count-down or count-up bezel. There is also a second 12-hour GMT bezel option from Damasko. I prefer the one shown.
A classic pilot watch
The Damasko DC 66 adheres to the time-honored style of a pilot’s chronograph. This is not a fashion watch, even if I would consider it beautiful as a no-nonsense tool. Pilot watches are known for legibility and the DC 66 does not disappoint. The dial is a matte black with brilliant white printing that can be read easily from many feet away. The sword hands are large enough to be read in a quick glance against the minute track or against the rotating bezel. Telling the time and reading the elapsed-time on the bezel can be done concurrently.
Tool watch perfection by Damasko
Obviously, the rest of the details on the dial are also printed in monochrome white. There is the running second’s hand at 9:00, the 30-minute chronograph subdial at 12:00 and the 12-hour chronograph totalizer subdial at 6:00. Damasko chose not to differentiate the chronograph functions with a secondary color or hand style like some other companies do. This goes back to the concept of maximum legibility at a glance. Damasko also has an unusual day/date complication set slightly below the 3:00 location. The fonts are bold as well. In fact, everything on this watch is bold. If you want a dainty dress watch, this is not going to be it. If you want a tool watch that is literally tougher than nails, then this could float your boat… or should I say submarine in this case?
Scratch resistant, but not scratch proof
The Damasko DC 66 uses the company’s highly lauded ice-hardened steel that is significantly harder than run-of-the-mill stainless steel. It is rated at 710 HV (Vickers Hardness Scale) compared to 155 HV for 316L surgical stianless steel. The exact rating of 316 stainless steel might turn up in different ranges depending on which internet site you refer to, but the point is that Damasko’s steel is much more resistant to scratches, dents, and scrapes than a typical steel watch. I’ve seen many used Damasko watches that have been worn in challenging environments only to look “barely worn”. Only the bezel and the anti-reflective coating on the crystal may show signs of wear. To be transparent, this DC 66 specimen showed wear on those two areas and also the case back, but I Photoshopped that out. I also changed the serial number on the back so this is not really #66 (out of respect for the seller).
A large screw-down crown and pushers… all ice hardened
If you are wondering if the satin finish is part of the ice-hardening process, I would say not necessarily. The Damasko DC 66 case has been bead-blasted to reduce reflections and give it that bad-ass military look. Without getting technical, the ice-hardening process seems to be different from Sinn’s tegimented steel process that actually changes the color of the stainless steel.
If you need more proof that the Damasko DC 66 is the real deal, then just look at the specs:
- Integrated anti-magnetic inner cage, anti-magnetic to 80,000 A/m or 100 mT
- Workhorse Valjoux 775o mechanical chronograph caliber
- Sapphire crystal, anti-reflective coating on both sides, extremely scratch-resistant anti-reflective coating
- Crystal gasket resistant to UV radiation
- Solid screw case back with O ring Viton™ gasket
- Sealing elements of crown and pushers with permanent lubrication
- Screw-down crown with crown protection, crown, and pushers fully hardened
- Waterproof as per DIN 8310, pressure-resistant to 10 bar/100 meters
- Negative pressure resistant (so the crystal won’t pop out in depressurization situations)
- Tested reliability at reduced pressure and acceleration to military standard and certified
The DC 66 shown at rest, but ready for your missions
From the angle below you can see the thinly tapered lugs, blocky bezel and lack of rehaut inside the case. The rehaut is that slightly angled insert that you sometimes see inserted between the case and dial. Even the inner case is bead-blasted and it looks like a continuation of the matching bezel.
A large screw-down crown and pushers… all ice hardened
By modern standards, the lume is adequate, but this area could be improved in my opinion. Imagine a Damasko DC 66 with a fully lumed dial, matte sapphire lumed bezel insert, and a higher water resistance rating (only 100 meters currently). That would make this great watch excellent. Damasko, are you reading this?
Only the hands and bezel pip are lumed
Overall, the Damasko DC 66 is almost a legendary watch that might get overshadowed by its more famous German tool watch cousins, but it is worth considering if this style gets your heart beating quickly. I know it’s on my list of future watches to own. If you want to know more about this watch from one of the best watch reviewers in the business, check out Zach Weiss’s Damasko DC 66 review on Worn & Wound with a full video review.
