Dennison doubles down with the ALD Dual Time
Tom Austin- Dennison drops a two-for-one, dropping two movements into a single ALD case to create a very retro travel watch.
- The new range consists of contrasting, split dual stone dials, each side featuring its own movement, crown and handset.
- Available in polished stainless steel or gold PVD-coated finishes, the case remains a typical Dennison, with the 37mm soft square ALD case.
Who doesn’t love a two-for-the-price-of-one? No, Dennison hasn’t launched a new sales tactic, but you are definitely getting twice the watch you were before, with the new Dennison ALD Dual Time. Dennison is receiving a lot of attention lately, and rightly so, with its varied collection of stone dials being worn on the wrists of celebrities such as Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz. We’d also like to think our Time+Tide x Dennison DateNight collab has also helped fuel the hype… The truth is, designed by the legendary Emmanuel Guiet, the ALD was destined to be a hit, and now, this revived old British brand is really getting into its stride. To prove this, they’ve released a new dual time model to sit alongside the current ALD range. Let’s dive in.
The ALD case is wonderfully comfortable and wearable, even for someone with slightly larger wrists. At 37mm, the square design makes it wear somewhat larger than it looks, and the bezel-less case frames the dial beautifully. The overall case design is thankfully unchanged in the new model, albeit with a small addition of a secondary crown on the left; we’ll discuss that in a moment. The recent interest in dressier watches being worn every day has resulted in Dennison fitting in quite perfectly, offering the softly rounded square case in either polished stainless steel or gold PVD if you’re feeling a little more daring.
It’s painfully thin to wear, in a good way. At just 6.1mm thick, it’s 0.05mm thicker than the standard ALD, which is imperceptible, and as an ALD owner, I can tell you that it’s probably one of the most comfortable watches I own. The sapphire crystal up front is completely flat, thereby keeping things nice and slim on the wrist, and the underside of the case is cleverly sculpted to hug the wrist nicely.
The most significant change for this new Dual Time model is, of course, the dial, or rather, the dials. There are two style options for the watch; the first features two dials, split down the middle with different combinations of contrasting stone finishes meeting in the centre. While the others are solid single stone dials, if you’re not a fan of the clashing stones, there is a second time display centred in a sunburst finish subdial. The result is a vintage-Piaget-esque look, which, honestly, still looks brilliant and unique today. As with the ALD, there is no other dial furniture apart from the polished hands, and there’s nothing to clutter the design, apart from a subtle Dennison logo.
Dennison is a master of offering a vast array of stone dials at an affordable price level, and the new Dual Time is no different. There’s tiger’s eye/marble, bloodstone/lapis lazuli, green malachite, full lapis, aventurine and black dials on offer, and if the rest of the range is to go by, expect many more to follow. Naturally, because each stone is completely, well, natural, each dial is unique, making each ALD technically a one-of-one.
Some dual-time watches utilise sophisticated movement modules to maintain regulation and synchronisation; these can be inherently expensive and challenging to manufacture and maintain. Dennison has you covered, though, because the ALD Dual Time remains quartz-powered, which, if I’m honest, is part of its recent success. However, you will have to shell out for two batteries in this one every 6 years or so, because the ALD Dual Time features not one, but two Swiss quartz Ronda movements. If the hilariously low doubled maintenance costs are acceptable to you, the dual movement setup makes for an elegant and simple way to follow two time zones, and it looks pretty cool, too.
The world is a much smaller place these days. Even if you don’t travel extensively, you likely interact with people from the other side of the world regularly, such as British contributors like me, who deal with Australian Time+Tide editors every day… (Editor’s note: timezones are a b*tch.) Tracking two time zones is all the more critical for many of us these days, and watches like this can make it fun without turning the watch into a utilitarian tool.
The case’s design cleverly conceals the strap ends, creating a seamless and deliberate appearance. Each strap protrudes out from the ends of the case cleanly, and allows for the colours and textures of the leather to pair well with whichever case finish you choose. The straps are made from Epsom calfskin leather and are incredibly supple. They also feature quick-release spring bars, should you wish to swap them out, and fit standard 20mm straps.
There are several colours to choose from, each matching the dials, and there are some other options in Dennison’s catalogue too. The final touch is a favourite detail of mine from designer Emmanuel Guiet, where he designed the buckle to match the rounded square silhouette of the case. It’s something that makes me smile every time I look at it.
Dennison ALD Dual Time pricing and availability
The Dennison ALD Dual Time is available from Dennison and soon from Time+Tide London and Melbourne Discovery Studios. Price: USD$890
| Brand | Dennison |
| Model | ALD Dual Time |
| Case Dimensions | 35.6mm (D) x 6.1mm (T) x 37mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel or gold PVD-coated |
| Water Resistance | 30 meters |
| Crystal(s) | Flat sapphire front |
| Dial | Tiger’s eye/marble Bloodstone/lapis lazuli Malachite/green sunray Lapis lazuli/blue sunray Aventurine/black sunray |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Bracelet | Epsom calfskin leather strap with pin buckle |
| Movement | Ronda 1062, quartz |
| Battery Life | ~6 years |
| Functions | Hours and minutes x 2 |
| Availability | From September 2nd 2025 |
| Price | USD$890 |