Detroit Watch Company Review: Collections and My Picks

Detroit Watch Company appeals to me because its connection to its home city shows up in the watches themselves. Pontchartrain, Woodward Avenue, the Great Lakes, and even the 313 area code give the collection a sense of place. The range is broader than the name might suggest, spanning traditional dress watches, chronographs, GMTs, and divers.

My first recommendation is the Pontchartrain Blue GMT, which I covered in a dedicated in-depth review. For a smaller case, I would start with the 39mm Louis XIV; for a chronograph, the M1-Woodward 1805 Blue Panda catches my eye.

This guide covers all current Detroit Watch Company collections, grouping the official catalog’s 29 listings into 14 representative watch cards. The galleries show 40 selected designs and configurations, including women’s versions and forthcoming Legends II watches. Related sizes are explained alongside the cards. My recommendations draw on the existing GMT review and current official information; I have not tested every watch featured here.

Jump to Louis XIV, Moonphase, Power Reserve, Pontchartrain GMT, Aviator, M1-Woodward, Legends II, Great Lakes, City Collection, or my buying advice.

A Michigan Watch Company With A Design Background

Patrick and Amy Ayoub founded Detroit Watch Company in 2013. Their brand story describes backgrounds in automotive and interior design, and I can see that design-led approach in the consistent case shapes and recurring dial details.

The company says its watches are hand-assembled, adjusted, and tested in its Michigan studio, using Swiss ETA and Sellita movements. Its manufacturing description explains that specialist suppliers produce components for final assembly. I would describe DWC as an American brand with Michigan assembly and supplied Swiss movements; that does not mean every component is American-made or that the calibers are developed in-house.

The founders also operate Yellowstone Watch Company, which the DWC navigation links to. That is a separate brand and storefront, so the collection guide here focuses on Detroit Watch Company.

The Range At A Glance

Prices and availability were checked on October 25, 2026, against the official catalog. Prices are in USD before applicable taxes; strap, bracelet, and finish choices can change them. Unavailable models’ prices are references, not current offers. Shopping links go directly to the brand, with no affiliate links. Gallery photographs are official DWC images; the opening photograph comes from my Pontchartrain GMT review.

What I Would Compare Before Choosing

Lug-to-lug length is my first check. The 39mm watches measure 48mm long, most 42mm models reach 52mm, and the Great Lakes divers reach 53mm. A traditional-looking dial does not necessarily mean a compact watch. Chronograph thickness is the other obvious difference: 14.5mm is a meaningful step up from the slimmer three-hand designs.

Movement choice follows the function. ETA 2824-2 watches keep things simple; Sellita supplies the moonphase and power-reserve complications; ETA also powers the GMTs and chronographs. Published reserves here range from 38 to 48 hours. I would expect to reset a watch after several days off the wrist, rather than assume it will run through a long weekend.

Louis XIV 39mm: My Starting Point For A Smaller Wrist

The 39mm Louis XIV is the simplest way into the Pontchartrain dress-watch family. Roman numerals and blue hands give the white dial a traditional look; the blue dial feels a little less formal. I would start with white on black leather if the aim is an everyday watch that can also dress up.

The women’s version shares the 39mm dimensions and ETA movement, adding a crystal-decorated bezel and more colorful strap choices. I would choose by fit and decoration, rather than let the catalog’s gender labels decide. The gallery shows both standard dials and a representative women’s version.

Options shown: White dial · Blue dial · Women’s crystal bezel / red strap.

Louis XIV 42mm: A Different Movement, Too

The larger Louis XIV deserves its own card because it changes more than the diameter. The ETA 2895 places the seconds in a small subdial, giving the white dial a different rhythm from the central-seconds 39mm watch.

I like the quieter look of the small seconds, but the 52mm lug-to-lug length makes this a more substantial dress watch. The 39mm version would still be my first comparison for a smaller wrist.

Louis XIV Moonphase: The Dressiest Option

The moonphase adds a touch of color and animation without making the dial feel crowded. I prefer the silver moon disk for its restrained appearance; the yellow moon stands out more against the blue sky. The gallery also includes the women’s crystal-bezel version.

The pictured watches are 39mm, with a 48mm lug-to-lug length. DWC also offers a 42mm Moonphase at $1,595 on leather, with the same Sellita SW280-1 but a 52mm span and 22mm lugs. I would choose the size first, then the moon disk and strap.

Options shown: 39mm Silver Moon · 39mm Yellow Moon · Women’s 39mm / pink strap.

1701 Power Reserve: A More Expressive Dial

The power-reserve arc is the reason I would choose this over the simpler Louis XIV. Alongside the small seconds and date, it gives the dial a pleasingly mechanical character. The blue 39mm version is my pick for the way the contrasting displays stand out.

The gallery includes the standard white and blue dials plus the women’s crystal-marker version. There are also 42mm standard-hand and 42mm blued-hand versions, both listed at $1,550 on leather. Those increase the lug-to-lug length to 52mm while keeping the 11mm height and SW279-1 movement. The card specifications below apply to the pictured 39mm watches.

Options shown: 39mm white dial · 39mm blue dial · Women’s 39mm / blue strap.

Pontchartrain GMT: My First Recommendation

This is where I would start with Detroit Watch Company. The fixed bezel and restrained second-time-zone display make it a convincing alternative to the usual sports GMT. Blue remains my favorite, especially with the fleur-de-lys tip on the GMT hand.

My in-depth Pontchartrain Blue GMT review explores the sunburst dial, case, and wearing experience. The current range includes solid-back and exhibition-back versions, with the latter costing $100 more on leather.

The ETA 2893-2 is a caller GMT: its 24-hour hand adjusts independently. It is useful for keeping another time zone in view, but it does not have an independently jumping local-hour hand. That distinction follows ETA’s movement information, and it also applies to the Great Lakes GMT below.

Options shown: Blue dial / solid back · White dial / solid back · Blue dial / exhibition back.

Aviator Power Reserve: The More Casual Choice

The Aviator takes the power-reserve layout in a more practical-looking direction, with large Arabic numerals and luminous hands. I would choose black for the clearest instrument-like appearance, although the green dial gives the same design a different mood.

It shares the SW279-1 with the dressier 1701 Power Reserve, but its 42mm case and 11.5mm thickness deserve a separate fit check. This would be my pick if the useful display appeals but Roman numerals do not.

Options shown: Black · Blue · Green.

Aviator Chronograph: More Function, More Height

The chronograph adds elapsed-time measurement and a day/date display to the Aviator design. The familiar three-register arrangement suits the large numerals, and the blue and green options offer alternatives to the straightforward black dial.

At 14.5mm thick, it is noticeably taller on paper than the Power Reserve. I would buy it because I want a mechanical chronograph, rather than treat it as an interchangeable version of the slimmer Aviator.

Options shown: Black · Blue · Green.

M1-Woodward Classic: The Everyday Chronograph

The M1-Woodward family draws its name from Detroit’s Woodward Avenue. Blue and graphite make the Classic easy to pair with ordinary clothes; graphite would be my choice for the more understated combination.

The gallery also shows the separately listed white-dial M1 Chronograph. That white version and its black-dial sibling are currently unavailable, while the pictured blue and graphite strap combinations can be ordered. These ETA 7750 models sit alongside the different Roman, Arabic, 1805, and Legends branches below.

Options shown: Blue · Graphite · White — unavailable.

M1-Woodward Roman And Arabic: The Dressier Branch

I would look here for a chronograph with a more traditional face. Roman numerals feel formal; the Arabic version is easiergoing. Blue hands add color without needing a colored dial.

These models use the ETA 7753, so I would not assume every M1-Woodward has the same movement or dial arrangement. The gallery brings together the regular Roman dial, Roman dial with blue hands, and Arabic dial with blue hands.

Options shown: Roman dial · Roman dial / blue hands · Arabic dial / blue hands.

M1-Woodward 1805: My Chronograph Pick

The 1805 is the M1 I find most visually appealing. The white dial with its red details feels lively, while the Blue Panda’s contrasting counters make the layout easy to appreciate. I would choose Blue Panda on the chestnut strap.

Both sit in the same substantial 42mm, 14.5mm-thick case format. DWC currently lists an ETA 7753 for these editions; the attraction for me is the dial design, rather than a claim that they wear smaller than the other M1 chronographs.

Options shown: White dial / red strap · Blue Panda.

M1-24hr Legends II: Racing Tributes To Watch For

Legends II is the most overtly automotive part of the range. The current listings show the #98 GT40, #20, #98 Daytona Coupe, and #23 Pink Pig designs, with colors and racing numbers carrying the theme.

All four pictured versions are unavailable to order as of October 25, 2026. The #98 GT40 and #20 pages advertise preorders opening November 1 and shipping in late December or early January; the other listing says “Coming Fall 2026.” I would check the live pages for confirmed dates and terms. These belong in a complete catalog guide, but I would choose an available M1 if buying now.

Options shown: #98 GT40 — coming soon · #20 — coming soon · #98 Daytona Coupe — coming soon · #23 Pink Pig — coming soon.

Great Lakes Diver: The Water-Focused Option

Great Lakes is where I would turn for a bracelet watch with a rotating timing bezel and a 300m rating. The blue dial is an obvious match for the theme, while black is the more versatile choice and green adds variety.

The 43mm width and 53mm lug-to-lug length make this one of the larger DWC watches. The bracelet’s microadjustment is useful, but it cannot change the case’s footprint. I would be more cautious about ordering this unseen than the 39mm Louis XIV.

Options shown: Blue · Black · Green.

Great Lakes GMT: A Sportier Second Time Zone

The GMT combines the diver’s case and bracelet with an ETA 2893-2. It costs $155 more than the three-hand Great Lakes, keeping the same published dimensions and 300m rating.

This is my alternative to the Pontchartrain GMT if a steel bracelet, timing bezel, and greater water resistance matter more than the dressier profile. It remains a caller GMT; the larger case does not change how the second time zone is adjusted.

Options shown: Blue · Black · Green.

City Collection: The Most Playful Design

The City watches turn a rotary-telephone dial into a watch face. Detroit’s 313 is the signature choice, available with a solid or exhibition back. The related City Code range extends the idea to other area codes; the gallery shows 212 as an example.

I like this as a personal connection to a place, rather than as the safest all-purpose design. The solid-back 313 and City Code are just 9.4mm thick, although their 52mm length still makes them sizeable. The pictured options are available; stock varies by area code and configuration.

Options shown: 313 / solid back · 313 / exhibition back · City Code 212.

Would I Recommend Detroit Watch Company?

Yes, for someone who likes the designs and wants the Detroit connection to be part of the appeal. The Pontchartrain Blue GMT is my strongest starting point, backed by my dedicated review. I would narrow the rest of the range by wrist fit and function before choosing a dial or strap.

My shortlist is straightforward: 39mm Louis XIV for a smaller dress watch, Aviator Power Reserve for a casual dial, 1805 Blue Panda for a chronograph, and Great Lakes GMT for a bracelet-based sports watch. City Collection is the more personal choice if an area code means something to you.

The tradeoffs are worth taking seriously. Many cases are long, the chronographs are relatively thick, and most dress and chronograph models carry 50m ratings rather than the divers’ 300m. The shorter power reserves are also less convenient if you rotate several watches. I would buy for the design and the overall package, not because a Swiss movement alone settles the value question.

DWC’s warranty and returns policy states a two-year limited, nontransferable warranty covering qualifying defects, with exclusions for wear, damage, and unauthorized repairs. Direct-store returns must be unworn and in new condition within 15 days of the original purchase date, with shipping deducted; worn or engraved watches are excluded. International returns are not accepted. That makes confirming dimensions especially important for an overseas order. Continental US shipping is complimentary, while international duties and taxes can be additional.

Frequently Asked Questions