PRS-2 DREADNOUGHT NUMBER 007 OF 200
GBP £1475.00 / US $2800.00 plus shipping
Watch enthusiasts worldwide with access to the internet will no doubt have heard of the Dreadnought. This watch was a run of just 200 pieces designed by Eddie Platts of Timefactors in the UK and has attained something of a cult status within the watch community. It might be said that the Timefactors were the innovators with regard to developing watches specifically for purchase via the internet, allowing end user influence in terms of input into the design and specification. The first project was the PRS-1 Speedbird which itself was a sell out and remains a popular watch some four years after its limited run of 300 units. The Dreadnought took things into a different league by starting from scratch to develop and offer a superbly specified diver watch - nothing like it had been attempted before by an internet retailer and the result was a resounding success. Timefactors has been asked on numerous occasions if the Dreadnought in its original form is to be repeated and the answer is always a firm 'No'. Thus, there will only ever be 200 examples of this watch and of course, only 9 with a single digit serial number.
From the Timefactors web site: The name "Dreadnought" was taken from Britain's first nuclear submarine, which itself was named after several other prominent ships of the same name. Designed from the ground up as a totally original watch, everything except the movement has been custom made. You will of course see influences from other watches, but nothing is a direct copy. Quickly sold out, the Dreadnought came with an extremely high specification:
- Case and bracelet manufactured from 316L stainless steel.
- Diameter = 44 mm, 15.6 mm thick and 54 mm lug tip to lug tip. Lug spacing is 22 mm.
- Weight: Watch & bracelet = 265 grammes, the watch head is approximately 140 grammes.
- Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the underside.
- Super Luminova on hands and dial.
- Movement: ETA2824-2T (Top) with decoration and chronometer rated to DIN standard.
- Anti-magnetic movement dust cover & movement ring.
- 500 metres water resistant.
- Twin "O" ring seals in the case back.
- Patented decoupling screw down crown (tested to 2000 metres).
- Anti-magnetic to 30,000 A/m.
- Screwed bar lugs.
- Solid link stainless steel bracelet with solid end pieces, diver's extension and screwed removable links.
- Numbered limited edition of just 200 pieces
The project was managed by Walter Fricker, who also made the case. Assembly and proofing was carried out by prominent Master Watchmaker Dirk Dornblüth.
This particular watch was purchased new by me in August 2003. Upon receiving it I wrote a detailed review which can be found at: http://www.watcharama.com/prs2.htm I wore the watch for no more than a few days in total; it is in superb overall condition with the main signs of wear being a few scuffs to the bracelet clasp and one or two scuffs to the bracelet itself. Given the overall weight of the watch I did remove the bracelet to try it on a strap and there are slight marks to the lug screw heads to attest to this. Suffice to say, this is probably the closest one will find to a new example with the watch head itself being in wonderful original condition.
The watch comes with the original outer and inner boxes, Rhino strap, timing certificate, guarantee card, watch leaflet, Dreadnought leaflet, technical drawings copies, screwdriver set and Timefactors dog tag. This is a relatively rare chance to own a well specified, rare, controversial and desirable watch with a low serial number.
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