WindupWatchShop is the sole retailer in the U.S. carrying watches from the Deutsche Uhrenmanufaktur Glashütte (DUG). The partners are now presenting a limited edition of the Purist model that combines Glashütte’s artisanal tradition with a cultural connection to the U.S.: the DUG X Windup Limited Edition “California Dial”.

The watch stands out because the applied indices are half-Arabic and half-Roman. This design stems from the era of classic watch designs between Art Deco and military influences of the 1940s, as does the overall design lineage of the DUG Purist. 

The term “California dial” for this mix of numeral styles, however, dates back to the 1980s, when a company in California refinished a large number of vintage dials, often in the style of the then-popular half-Arabic, half-Roman dials. The watches took on that California vibe.

The limited-edition DUG also has this vibe. But as with every DUG, the core essence remains classic design without being tied to a retro aesthetic. Here, the idea of contrasting two different dial styles is also reflected in the color scheme: The dial is entirely in black-and-white contrast—down to the last detail of the black lume plots on the flange.