De Carvalho - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

De Carvalho is a Swiss watch brand founded in information not confirmed in La Chaux-de-Fonds; it focuses on small-batch pieces with intensive skeletonisation and hand-finishing, with a visual identity built around the “Dragonborn” collection and an explicitly workshop-driven message.

“Maîtres Angleurs” bevels and the Dragonborn skeleton language

The house signature is hand-bevel finishing pushed to demonstrative levels across bridges, markers and even openworked case elements, so that time-telling unfolds within a mechanical stage; within this approach, the primacy of mirror-polished edges and inward angles shapes aesthetics as much as finishing quality.

The “Dragonborn” motif delivers a discreet figurative theme: a stylised head integrated into the balance bridge, wings suggested by bridge contours, and “scale” textures on ratchet and crown wheels; storytelling remains restrained to protect daily usability, and the two-level dial balances theatre against clarity.

Steel cases and bracelets, with titanium variants depending on the reference, are topped by sapphire crystals and specified to 5 ATM for everyday life; the package aims for confident wrist presence without losing ergonomics, and the proportions are engineered to stay wearable despite the open architecture.

Dragonborn family: S01 / S02 / S03, in 45 mm and 40.8 mm

The current line revolves around three key references, conceived as “chapters” of one object: a blue, steel-on-steel skeleton S01, a more “classic” S02 with a full dial and a flower-like animated wheel in lieu of small seconds, and a green titanium skeleton S03, offered in 45 mm or 40.8 mm depending on model; in practice, you choose first by openness (full vs skeleton) and then by size.

• De Carvalho Dragonborn S01 — blue skeleton, steel case and bracelet, 45 mm or 40.8 mm, small seconds at 9 o’clock, 5 ATM, hand-wound DR01 (ETA-based).
• De Carvalho Dragonborn Classic S02 — 40.8 mm full dial, animated “flower” wheel in place of seconds, skeleton back, blue leather strap.
• De Carvalho Dragonborn Green S03 — green skeleton in titanium, 45 mm or 40.8 mm, green leather strap, positioned between S01 and S02 in expression and price.

Each model is announced as a 25-piece limited run, with an “integrated” steel bracelet on S01 and leather options (alligator or calf) across the family to suit preferences for wear and mass; in effect, strap modularity lets you tune wrist presence without changing reference.

Decohorologe workshop, La Chaux-de-Fonds anchoring and a Portuguese flavour

The brand’s industrial base is the Decohorologe workshop (La Chaux-de-Fonds), cited as a backbone for fabrication and finishing to luxury-brand standards, which explains the emphasis on bevels and surface treatment; this location provides access to a rich skills cluster and short logistics, and it situates production within a dense, recognised watchmaking ecosystem.

The name “De Carvalho” (“oak” in Portuguese) acknowledges the owner’s background and a Lusophone sensibility in the brand story while claiming Swiss execution; the blend yields image-forward communications and a deliberately artisanal stance, and identity is expressed more through handwork and material than through a sprawling catalogue.

DR01 calibre (ETA-based), hand-wind and technical choices

The mechanical core is the DR01 calibre, described as an ETA-based hand-wound architecture beating at 18,000 vph with 17 jewels and around 46 hours of autonomy; a small seconds at 9 and openworked bridges round off the set, and the choice of manual winding deepens the tactile relationship to the object.

Mainplate and bridges are opened to provide surfaces for light-catching bevels, including multiple inward corners—claimed in high counts—while sapphire crystals and surface treatment guide legibility; within this frame, technique serves a readable aesthetic rather than a race for complication.

Positioning, published prices, channels and buyer profiles

Public stickers set clear markers: about CHF 18,000 for De Carvalho Dragonborn S01, about CHF 12,000 for De Carvalho Dragonborn Green S03, about CHF 6,000 for De Carvalho Dragonborn Classic S02; these levels reflect materials, labour intensity and very small runs, and they place the brand in “independent premium” territory with finishing as the value driver.

Distribution is primarily direct (workshop contact, official channels) and relies on showings during Geneva watch weeks, with targeted editorial presence; rarity stems as much from workshop capacity as from the 25-piece format, and build scheduling itself contributes to perceived exclusivity.

The core audience includes fans of clean skeletons and demonstrative bevels, buyers drawn to understated figurative storytelling, and collectors who value localised manufacturing; in that spirit, the watch is conceived as a signature piece rather than an entry ticket.

Selection advice: use case, size, dial openness and care

Start with use: daily desk wear (full-dial S02), the desire for measured stage presence (steel skeleton S01), or a lighter, more technical feel (titanium S03); then arbitrate size (40.8 mm for ease, 45 mm for impact), because comfort depends on diameter as much as on lug design and lug-to-lug span.

Validate wear context next: 5 ATM suits everyday life (rain, hand-wash) but not prolonged swimming, and leather needs more care than steel; because mass and volume distribution track dial openness, a try-on in natural light remains the best test for legibility and stance.

For upkeep, wind regularly and gently, avoid lateral shocks and keep solvents away; periodic water-resistance checks and gentle cleaning of polished bevels protect long-term looks, and full service should be decided by need rather than on arbitrary time alone.

Conclusion

De Carvalho speaks to those who want an object-watch where handwork and light take the lead: intelligible skeletonisation, generous bevels and quiet storytelling rooted in the workshop. The Dragonborn family offers three straightforward routes—S02 for restraint, S01 for blue steel-on-steel staging, S03 for titanium lightness—sorted first by use, then by size. The lean range (three models, 25-piece runs) simplifies decision-making and strengthens the workshop relationship. To ground expectations in real-world wear—comfort, clarity, finishing durability—the most useful compass remains Dialicious customer reviews.

(Updated August 2025)