THE DALVEY 1897 POCKET WATCH
Rime
A study in cold light and fine structure, Rime evokes the quiet formation of frost – delicate, crystalline, and precise. The ice-blue fumée dial fades to a luminous centre, its intricate guilloché catching and diffusing light with subtle brilliance.
The Dalvey 1897 Pocket Watch represents the pinnacle of Dalvey pocket watchmaking, uniting 130 years of design and precision instrument-making heritage in a single horological statement.
Conceived as a bridge between Dalvey’s pocket watch legacy and its contemporary watchmaking, Dalvey 1897 brings together a Swiss-made mechanical calibre with a finely executed case and dial, designed and crafted to endure for generations.
Each design is produced as a limited edition of 100 pieces. Every watch bears its individual edition number on the interior of the rear bezel, reflecting the considered, small-scale nature of its production. The edition number is also recorded on the accompanying Certificate of Authenticity.
Designed to be personalised with engraving on both the interior and rear.
· Made in Scotland / Swiss Movement
· DB-9 calibre movement / ‘Top Grade’
· Mechanical hand wound mechanism
· 21,600 bph / 3 Hz
· 17 jewels
· 53 hours power reserve
· Double-opening Half Hunter Case
· Mirror-polished 316L Stainless Steel
· Finely detailed luxury dial
· Piano-lacquered mahogany presentation box
· Stainless steel curb chain with solid stainless T-bar and clip
· Personalise with engraving on both the interior and rear
Size:
Case Diameter: 2.09 in x 0.67 in
Chain Length: 8.66 in
The Dalvey 1897 Pocket Watch distils 130 years of design heritage into a singular expression of precision, elegance, and permanence.
Conceived as a bridge between Dalvey’s pocket watch legacy and its contemporary watchmaking, Dalvey 1897 brings together a Swiss-made mechanical calibre with a finely executed case and dial, designed and crafted to endure for generations.
At the heart of the Dalvey 1897 lies the DB-9 calibre – a Swiss-made, manually wound mechanical movement based on the legendary ETA Unitas 6497-2, one of the most respected pocket-watch movements ever produced. Originally designed for pocket watches, the Unitas became known for its generous proportions, mechanical clarity, and long-term reliability. The DB-9 preserves this character while being built and regulated to modern Swiss standards.
Produced in Switzerland, the DB-9 uses genuine Swiss components, including Incabloc shock protection, Etachron regulation, and a Glucydur balance wheel. Finished to ‘Top Grade’ specification, each movement is adjusted in five positions for accuracy and stability. Chosen for its provenance, dependability, and natural suitability to traditional pocket watchmaking, the DB-9 is a fitting engine for the Dalvey 1897.
| Calibre: | DB-9 |
| Origin: | Switzerland / Swiss Made |
| Type: | Mechanical, manually wound |
| Architecture: | Lépine |
| Frequency: | 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz) |
| Power reserve: | Approximately 53 hours |
| Grade: | Top Grade, adjusted in five positions |
| Accuracy: | ±4 to ±15 seconds per day |
| Jewels: | 17 |
| Shock protection: | Incabloc® |
| Regulation system: | Etachron® |
| Balance wheel: | Glucydur® |
The Dalvey 1897 Pocket Watch is housed in a bespoke double-opening Half Hunter case, designed specifically to complement the scale and architecture of a traditional pocket-watch movement.
Crafted from solid 316L stainless steel and finished to a mirror polish throughout – including the interior shells – the case combines durability with refinement. Its contoured profile is carefully proportioned to sit comfortably in the hand, while the precision-forged window surround provides both protection and a clear view of the dial beneath.
The double-opening construction allows the watch to be appreciated both as a closed object and in use, preserving the ritual of traditional pocket watch ownership while ensuring everyday practicality.
The case is designed not as a housing alone, but as an integral part of a watch intended to be carried, handled, and passed on.
For Dalvey, fine watchmaking has always been defined by the considered integration of specialist skills.
The Dalvey 1897 Pocket Watch brings together a Swiss-made mechanical movement with final assembly, regulation, and testing executed in the Highlands of Scotland. All design work is carried out within Dalvey's Highland workshop, allowing design and watchmaking to exist in close, iterative collaboration rather than as separate disciplines.
Produced in Switzerland, the DB-9 calibre provides a proven mechanical foundation, drawing on a lineage of pocket watch movements renowned for their clarity, scale, and durability. Within the 1897 Pocket Watch, it serves as the stable basis upon which Dalvey's design intent is realised.
Final assembly, casing, and inspection take place in the same Highland factory in which the watch is designed, ensuring that proportion, balance, and detail are resolved through direct involvement rather than distance or abstraction. The result is a watch shaped by continuity of thought and execution – reflecting Dalvey's enduring belief in clarity of purpose, disciplined practice, and respect for craft.
The 1897 Pocket Watch brings together mechanical integrity with striking dial design.
The dials combine classic raised Roman numerals and recessed small-seconds subdials with intricate guilloché patterning, pairing traditional pocket watch elements with a richly textured surface. Each element is arranged to create depth and legibility, while maintaining balance across the dial's generous proportions. The result is a surface that reveals its detail gradually, rewarding close inspection without sacrificing immediate clarity.
The guilloché pattern itself is an oblique allusion to the logic of rotational craft – patterns formed through controlled movement, repetition, and symmetry. This visual discipline reflects the same principles that once governed the turning of precision musical instruments, where form emerged through process rather than embellishment.
The hands are designed with equal restraint. Their profile, length, and finish are calibrated to work in harmony with the dial architecture, allowing time to be read at a glance while preserving overall compositional balance.
The Dalvey 1897 is not defined by a single gesture, but by the cumulative effect of many deliberate choices – each made to serve the whole, none made in isolation.
The inspirational landscapes of the Highlands grant a perspective to our design process, helping us to realise enduring pieces of elegance and functionality at a point of remove. As a design-house, factory, and watchmaking atelier, we value being based here, and we invite enthusiasts of the brand to visit the Highlands – to receive a warm welcome at our factory and to experience the beauty of our home.
The Dalvey 1897 Pocket Watch distils 130 years of design heritage into a singular expression of precision, elegance, and permanence.
Neil Grant, Director and Lead Watchmaker, Dalvey
Conceived as a bridge between Dalvey’s pocket watch legacy and its contemporary watchmaking, Dalvey 1897 brings together a Swiss-made mechanical calibre with a finely executed case and dial, designed and crafted to endure for generations.
• Made in Scotland / Swiss Movement
• DB-9 calibre movement / 'Top Grade'
• Mechanical hand wound mechanism
• 21,600 bph / 3 Hz
• 17 jewels
• 53 hours power reserve
• Double-opening Half Hunter Case
• Mirror-polished 316L Stainless Steel
• Finely detailed luxury dial
• Piano-lacquered mahogany presentation box
• Stainless steel curb chain with solid stainless T-bar and clip
• Personalise with engraving on both the interior and rear
At the heart of the Dalvey 1897 lies the DB-9 calibre – a Swiss-made, manually wound mechanical movement based on the legendary ETA Unitas 6497-2, one of the most respected pocket-watch movements ever produced. Originally designed for pocket watches, the Unitas became known for its generous proportions, mechanical clarity, and long-term reliability. The DB-9 preserves this character while being built and regulated to modern Swiss standards.
Produced in Switzerland, the DB-9 uses genuine Swiss components, including Incabloc shock protection, Etachron regulation, and a Glucydur balance wheel. Finished to ‘Top Grade’ specification, each movement is adjusted in five positions for accuracy and stability. Chosen for its provenance, dependability, and natural suitability to traditional pocket watchmaking, the DB-9 is a fitting engine for the Dalvey 1897.
The Dalvey 1897 Pocket Watch is housed in a bespoke double-opening Half Hunter case, designed specifically to complement the scale and architecture of a traditional pocket-watch movement.
Crafted from solid 316L stainless steel and finished to a mirror polish throughout – including the interior shells – the case combines durability with refinement. Its contoured profile is carefully proportioned to sit comfortably in the hand, while the precision-forged window surround provides both protection and a clear view of the dial beneath.
The double-opening construction allows the watch to be appreciated both as a closed object and in use, preserving the ritual of traditional pocket watch ownership while ensuring everyday practicality.
The case is designed not as a housing alone, but as an integral part of a watch intended to be carried, handled, and passed on.
For Dalvey, fine watchmaking has always been defined by the considered integration of specialist skills.
The Dalvey 1897 Pocket Watch brings together a Swiss-made mechanical movement with final assembly, regulation, and testing executed in the Highlands of Scotland. All design work is carried out within Dalvey's Highland workshop, allowing design and watchmaking to exist in close, iterative collaboration rather than as separate disciplines.
Produced in Switzerland, the DB-9 calibre provides a proven mechanical foundation, drawing on a lineage of pocket watch movements renowned for their clarity, scale, and durability. Within the 1897 Pocket Watch, it serves as the stable basis upon which Dalvey's design intent is realised.
Final assembly, casing, and inspection take place in the same Highland factory in which the watch is designed, ensuring that proportion, balance, and detail are resolved through direct involvement rather than distance or abstraction. The result is a watch shaped by continuity of thought and execution – reflecting Dalvey's enduring belief in clarity of purpose, disciplined practice, and respect for craft.
The 1897 Pocket Watch brings together mechanical integrity with striking dial design.
The dials combine classic raised Roman numerals and recessed small-seconds subdials with intricate guilloché patterning, pairing traditional pocket watch elements with a richly textured surface. Each element is arranged to create depth and legibility, while maintaining balance across the dial's generous proportions. The result is a surface that reveals its detail gradually, rewarding close inspection without sacrificing immediate clarity.
The guilloché pattern itself is an oblique allusion to the logic of rotational craft – patterns formed through controlled movement, repetition, and symmetry. This visual discipline reflects the same principles that once governed the turning of precision musical instruments, where form emerged through process rather than embellishment.
The hands are designed with equal restraint. Their profile, length, and finish are calibrated to work in harmony with the dial architecture, allowing time to be read at a glance while preserving overall compositional balance.
The Dalvey 1897 is not defined by a single gesture, but by the cumulative effect of many deliberate choices – each made to serve the whole, none made in isolation.
The inspirational landscapes of the Highlands grant a perspective to our design process, helping us to realise enduring pieces of elegance and functionality at a point of remove. As a design-house, factory, and watchmaking atelier, we value being based here, and we invite enthusiasts of the brand to visit the Highlands – to receive a warm welcome at our factory and to experience the beauty of our home.
