Davosa Ternos Professional 68h Carbon Limited Edition 161.539.50

In today’s post, we’ll briefly introduce watches from the Swiss company Davosa. Many people may be hearing about this company for the first time. However, behind its name lies a history spanning several decades and, above all, a quite diverse product lineup. We’ll focus on one specific model: the Ternos Professional 68h Carbon, reference number 161.539.50. It’s a rather unusual watch and certainly not for everyone, but it definitely deserves its own article. So let’s take a closer look at these gunmetal-colored dive watches with a carbon dial.

Review Contents

Their design stands out

First, let’s focus on the design. It differs significantly from what we’re used to seeing in diver’s watches. The most distinctive feature, visible at first glance, is the carbon dial, which is made of carbon fiber and resin. This combination results in a completely random pattern, making every watch produced a one-of-a-kind piece.

Currently, Davosa is certainly not the only company producing such dials. On the other hand, we can see that the company chose the same material for the bezel insert, which is definitely very unusual. The case and strap of this watch are made of stainless steel with a PVD coating in a slightly edgier gunmetal finish. 

When we look at the overall silhouette of the case, it’s impossible to overlook the striking resemblance to the iconic Rolex Submariner. Unfortunately, in its current line of sports watches, Davos quite often imitates the designs of certain luxury brands. But it’s not the only one—see, for example, the article by my colleague Patrik. On the other hand, one might ask whether this is a bad thing. The answer to that question is up to each of you.

In the case of Ternos, while the design is iconic—and the company does a great job of executing it—it’s unfortunately relatively far from being original. However, this particular carbon-fiber model does feature a few unique elements of its own. If the issue of design originality isn’t all that important to you, there’s no need to worry about it. On the contrary, you can simply enjoy the fact that, visually, everything works as it should.

The specs won’t let you down

The diver’s watch-style design isn’t just for show—it’s practical, too. This timepiece is water-resistant up to 300 meters, so even deeper dives in the ocean won’t be a problem. In addition, the carbon dial is protected by a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating, ensuring maximum scratch resistance.

As with other watches featuring this type of glass, however, it’s important to keep in mind that while it’s resistant to scratches and hairline cracks, it can shatter if subjected to a strong impact. We’re talking, though, more about extreme cases that most people won’t encounter during normal wear. Nevertheless, for watches designed for harsh conditions, it’s worth at least mentioning this.

▶️ Suggested reading: For an overview of the properties of the most commonly used watch crystal materials and their applications, see the article “How to Choose a Watch Crystal?”

And how do you wear it?

When you put the watch on your wrist, you immediately notice its heavier weight and substantial case. This piece weighs over 200 grams and has a diameter of 42 millimeters, so we’re clearly talking about a men’s watch that’s best suited for larger wrists. The black PVD finish in a gunmetal design also won’t be for everyone. On the other hand, combined with the aforementioned carbon fiber on the bezel and dial, it’s certainly a unique choice—and in the classic steel version, the carbon finish would lose some of its charm. 

Despite the irregular pattern on the dial, the watch is easy to read, which is definitely a big advantage. All three hands are prominent, and the hour markers are also quite large, so telling the time won’t be a problem even for owners with poor eyesight. In the dark, the SuperLuminova luminescent coating—applied generously to both the hour markers and all three hands—comes in handy.

Movement on a La Joux-Perret base

Throughout this article, we’ve covered a lot of information about the design and functionality, but the movement itself has taken a back seat. But that definitely needs to be rectified, because inside the case of these Davos watches ticks the automatic DAV 3121 caliber, which is based on the La Joux-Perret movement.

There’s no question that, at a list price of 42,300 CZK, this is a rather unusual choice, since movements like this are often found in much more expensive watches. The power reserve here is a generous 68 hours, and the accuracy should range from -10 to +25 seconds per day. However, it’s safe to say that for most people, the watch will run much more accurately than that.

So what’s the final verdict?

With this model, more than ever, each reader will have to decide for themselves whether a piece like this is right for them or not. That’s because there are a few things here that might be absolutely essential to some people, while others will simply shrug them off.

It’s definitely fair to say that this isn’t a poorly crafted piece. Its durability is very good, the movement is also flawless, and the combination of a carbon dial and bezel would be hard to find among the competition. On the other hand, its heavy weight and a certain lack of original design might be a bit off-putting.

However, if this model catches your eye, it’s definitely worth noting that it’s a limited edition of just 200 pieces, so we recommend not putting off your decision for too long. One thing is certain: we probably won’t see watches like this very often.

▶️ Suggested reading: The “limited edition” label has lost some of its appeal lately. In the article “Pick Me a Watch: Limited Editions,” we tried to find models that we believe truly live up to this label.