The Delft Watch Works Oostpoort delivers casual dress vibes at a compelling price

Zach Blass

In an era of smartphones and smartwatches, the traditional timepiece became a bit of a niche accessory. Why, after all, should you spend your expendable cash on a luxury object that is, in a practical sense, essentially redundant? But the watch community is growing at an exponential rate, with more and more people finding themselves captivated by the art of horology, the allure of collectability, as well as an opportunity to connect with something that is unplugged from the digital world. Of course luxury goods, and their enjoyment, can pose a challenge for the everyday consumer who needs to be very strategic with their cash. With the “unobtanium phenomenon” in full effect, buyers are looking for creative alternatives that deliver what budding enthusiasts love about mechanical watches. Understanding the sizable demand and desire for such a timepiece, Delft Watch Works spent three years developing their answer for the market: the Delft Watch Works Oostpoort.

The Oostpoort is the brainchild of Delft Watch Works founders Twan Briels and Michiel Holthinrichs, who met while studying architecture at the Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands. The latter person’s name you may be quite familiar with already, as Michiel is also the founder of Holthinrichs watches – his atelier known for fantastic bespoke dials, 3D-printed scalloped cases, and hand-finished movements. Together the two friends have worked tirelessly to create both a fitting tribute to the city where they met, as well as devise a timepiece that both fledgling and veteran collectors alike can enjoy. Delft Watch Works explains: “[Our] first collection is named after a historical city gate in the city of Delft; the Oostpoort, or Eastern Gate. It is one of the oldest and most significant  buildings in the city centre. The two remarkable spires, with the underpass leading into the the city, shape the logo for Delft Watch Works.”

There are three variants within the debut collection, each of which leverage 50 metre water-resistant screw-down crown cases, 40mm in diameter and 12.4mm thick (including the sapphire crystal), in 316L stainless steel. Reminiscent of Holthinrics’ scalloped case designs, the Delft Watch Works Oostpoort stands out with its concaved side profiles, their camber mitigating the modern diameter’s stance on the wrist. This allows the watch to suit both larger and smaller wrists, a versatile contender for all to consider. Mixed finishes add elegance to the timepiece, a fine blend of brushed and polished surfaces that work to elevate its rather robust case.

You have three different dial variations to explore: royal blue, radiant grey, and translucent. Each has their own appeal and strengths. They are all housed beneath double-domed sapphire crystals with anti-reflective and anti-fingerprint coating – great for wrist shots at watch gatherings, no on-hand cloth necessary. Call me basic, but my personal favourite is the royal blue. Its rather electric tone and sunburst texture really comes alive, the recessed central medallion framed by the outer brushed silver ring that hosts the applied hour indices and printed minutes track.

The colour definitely caters to blue-dial fans, but if its bold pop is not your vibe you may want to opt for the matte grey configuration. It has a modern monochromatic chic appeal, its more understated colour capable of being paired with any wardrobe in your arsenal. As a matte grey dial, the light play is left to the outer brushed silver ring – leading the recessed grey central medallion to have a stealthier presence then the royal blue.

Last but not least is the translucent variant, which offers a view of the movement from the dial side. The translucent is not 100% clear in colour though. While the movement is certainly visible, it peers through a milky “semi-white” hue that somewhat resembles a faint fog hovering over the city of gears that rests beneath. Where this third variant stands out, aside from its transparency, is it is the only Delft Watch Works Oostpoort watch to offer a visible date complication (at the 4:30 position) – so for those who feel a calendar is a must-have the translucent piece has got your back.

All three dials have three central hands, hours, minutes and seconds, with the hours and minutes hands skeletonised. They do not incorporate any luminous materials, maintaining a casual dress edge to their look. An intriguing element to mention, however, is that the dials are able to be personalised by buyers with a logo or chosen text through a manual pad printing process. This allows you to make the watch even more unique and that much more your own.

Each of the watches are paired with a dial-complementary strap, but keep in mind that the lug-width is 20mm – so an abundance of aftermarket options are available to explore. The factory-paired straps are all made of suede leather strap with a Zermatt lining and laser-engraved steel pin-buckle. The royal blue dial is accompanied by a cognac brown strap, the radiant grey with a grey strap, and the translucent paired with a chocolate brown strap.

Inside you have a reliable and cost-effective Swiss made STP1-11 automatic caliber in its top-grade configuration. Industrially applied perlage and Côtes de Genève heighten its aesthetic, along with either a laser-engraved Oostpoort logo on its winding rotor or a personalised rotor engraving at the discretion of the buyer. It offers a solid 44 hours of power reserve, fitting for a watch at this more approachable price point.

Delft Watch Works Oostpoort pricing and availability:

The Delft Watch Works Oostpoort is available for purchase now via Delft Watch Works’ website. Price: €749 (royal blue & radiant grey), €849 (translucent)