Le Jour is Back with the Delmare, a New Affordable and Colorful Diver

Le Jour’s latest watch, the Delmare, is the latest in a string of handsome, vintage inspired releases from a relaunched heritage brand that has proven to be one of the more reliable of its kind. There was a time not too long ago when it felt like watch brands that had succumbed to the quartz crisis were reappearing on a weekly basis. The pace has slowed down a bit (there are, after all, a finite number of brands to revive), and we can feel a subtle shift away from the purely vintage inspired watches that were everywhere just a few years ago. But Le Jour is steadfast, and at a regular clip they release affordable, well designed watches that are clearly taking inspiration from an earlier era in the brand’s history while offering a ton of variety by way of dial executions and funky case shapes. The Delmare is exactly what we’ve come to expect from Le Jour, and that’s a good thing. 

What we have here is essentially a 41mm dive watch with an angular cushion case. At first glance, it reminds me a bit of the Doxa Sub 600T, which bowed last year. The case features a combination of brushed and polished finishes, and according to the brand was conceived as an elegant daily wear option. Case thickness comes in at 13mm (inclusive of the domed sapphire crystal) and the lug to lug span is 48mm. That’s actually a bit long, perhaps, for a watch with this type of lugless design, but it’s certainly possible that the case’s angles help it wear smaller than we’d otherwise expect. 

As usual, what makes a Le Jour release truly interesting is the dial work, and the sheer variety available to their customers. A total of eight different variants of the Delmare are available, with dials in black, blue, green, gray, and brown, with the black, green, and blue dialed versions also available in rose gold accented options. The dials have a nice sunray finish that also incorporates a fumé effect.

On the technical side, the Delmare is powered by a Sellita SW-200 automatic movement. The bezel insert is ceramic (and fully lumed) and the Delmare has a water resistance rating of 200 meters, making it appropriate for virtually any water based activity you’re likely to participate in. Like the watch itself, the specs are just about exactly what you’d expect. And again, that’s a good thing. There will always be a place in the watch world for solidly made sports watches that don’t require a ton of explanation. Even better if you have a bunch of fun dials to choose from, and the price is right. 

The Delmare is available through the Le Jour website right now. All versions are priced at $850. Le Jour