The new Spinnaker SP-5141 Croft 39 Automatic The Dial Artist Limited Edition cannot be described as minimalist. And that’s a good thing. It’s a riot of colour, shapes and materials in a chaotic yet intoxicating mix that gives the watch a fun, attention-grabbing appeal. Taking it out of the box first time it took me a good few minutes to wrestle it back from colleagues admiring it so that I could write this review – which is not something I often say about accessible tool watches from brands like Spinnaker.
Let’s jump right to the main feature of this watch, which is the dial. It was designed in collaboration with Chris Alexander, a British artist who works under the name The Dial Artist. The base is made from forged carbon with integrated blue luminescent section, on top of which is an array of coloured splotches and blobs in pink, blue, yellow, green, purple, orange. Then, above that the seconds hand has a pink paintbrush shaped tip as if it’s dripped those splodges onto the display.
However, the paint splatter and art supplies theme is only the first layer of the concepts that have gone into the design of the Spinnaker SP-5141 Croft 39 Automatic The Dial Artist Limited Edition. Combined with the forged carbon dial and bezel the dots of colour against a swirling black background are designed to be evocative of the night sky, with colourful stars seen through the haze of an aurora. But that’s only layer two of the concepts as on top of that, this is a dive watch, so the specks of colour become bioluminescent plankton floating in the sea. There are so many ideas here that it feels like you could write an art-history and analysis essay about it, which is entirely the point because that loops us back to concept no. 1: this is a watch about art.
It’s just the right amount of unusual to stir interest without detracting from the dive watch capabilities. Speaking of which, the case measures 39mm x 14mm in stainless steel with 150m water resistance. For an entry level tool watch that’s sufficient, though a professional diver might want to look to different collections or elsewhere for something a little more robust. On the wrist that thickness is very noticeable but come on, you’re not going to hide this watch under a cuff anyway. Plus, it makes the bezel feels very prominent and easy to rotate – when I say that this has the loudest click of any bezel I’ve heard, I’m not speaking in hyperbole.
It comes with two strap or bracelet options, the first of which is a three-link steel bracelet with folding clasp. Second is a black rubber strap with pink keepers that adds yet another splash of colour. There are actually five versions of the watch each presented with straps featuring different coloured keepers, along with differently coloured triangle markers on the bezel. The version I have here is the Solar Yellow, but it’s also available in Azure Blue, Blood Orange, Aurora Green and Crimson Pink.
Housed inside is the Seiko NH35 automatic movement with 41-hour power reserve. You can view it through the exhibition caseback, which also reveals the custom rotor featuring The Dial Artist’s signature logo. It’s a solid movement widely used in accessible watches. Which at $474 (approx. £360) the Spinnaker SP-5141 Croft 39 Automatic The Dial Artist Limited Edition certainly is. In terms of availability, it’s limited to 50 pieces in each of the five colours, for a total availability of 250 pieces.
Spinnaker are a really interesting brand at the moment. A few years ago I would’ve said their watches were a little dull and uninspired by collaborations with designers like The Dial Artist and Seconde/Seconde/ as well as several charitable partnerships have really revitalised them. Spinnaker are definitely one to keep an eye on.
Price and Specs:
More details at Spinnaker.
