Depancel Série-R Chronograph Ice Blue: history, models and owner reviews

The Depancel Série-R Chronograph Ice Blue Limited Edition offers a rare, automotive-inspired and highly expressive interpretation of the contemporary automatic chronograph. With this ice blue version of the Série-R Chronograph, Depancel continues to explore watchmaking shaped by great French coachbuilding, sporty dashboards and mechanical forms taken from the automotive world. This limited and numbered edition of 100 pieces stands out through its ice blue dial, shaped 316L steel case and automatic chronograph movement visible through the caseback. It is priced at €1,495.

What makes this reference especially appealing is its aesthetic starting point. Depancel explains that it was inspired by a 1947 Talbot-Lago T26 bodied by Figoni & Falaschi, and more specifically by the dialogue between the deep blue of the wings and the ice blue tone of the bodywork. This inspiration gives the watch a very distinctive presence: elegant, fluid, sporty and deeply French at the same time. The Série-R Chronograph Ice Blue is therefore not merely adding an attractive colour to an existing watch. It builds a real story around coachbuilding as an art, light on metal and the beauty of mechanical curves.

What are the characteristics of the Depancel Série-R Chronograph Ice Blue?

Case of the Depancel Série-R Chronograph Ice Blue

The case of the Depancel Série-R Chronograph Ice Blue is made of 316L stainless steel. It measures 40 x 36 mm, with a 48.5 mm lug-to-lug length, a thickness of 13.3 mm, or 12.4 mm without the crystal, and a 22 mm lug width. These proportions give the watch real wrist presence without the excess one might expect from a shaped automatic chronograph. The case adopts the singular architecture of the Série-R collection, inspired by the vertical grilles of vintage automobiles. The lines are taut, the volumes balanced and the finishes alternate between brushed and polished surfaces to reveal the construction of the case as the light changes.

Ice blue dial and visual identity

The ice blue dial is the central element of this limited edition. It directly translates Depancel’s stated automotive inspiration by evoking the luminous tone of an exceptional bodywork finish. This colour brings freshness, but also genuine sophistication, as it feels more nuanced than a classic blue and more expressive than a traditional silver dial. The whole dial plays on depth, light and contrast. The hour markers and hands are treated with white Super-LumiNova® C1, preserving good legibility when the light fades. The watch therefore retains an instrumental dimension while embracing a rarer and more elegant aesthetic.

Automatic chronograph and display

The Depancel Série-R Chronograph Ice Blue is a true automatic chronograph. It displays hours, minutes, seconds and chronograph functions, within a dial architecture designed to preserve visual balance despite the richness of the indications. Where the Série-R R01 focuses on a calendar display, this chronograph version concentrates on measuring short intervals of time, with a sportier and more mechanical personality. The overall design retains the automotive spirit of the collection, but turns it toward a more dynamic reading, close to the world of gauges, lap timers and onboard measuring instruments.

Movement and performance

The Depancel Série-R Chronograph Ice Blue is powered by the Peacock SL-4801 automatic movement. This calibre offers a 55-hour power reserve, a particularly interesting figure for an automatic chronograph offered in this price range. Depancel presents it as a reliable and precise movement, visible through the transparent caseback. This choice gives the watch genuine mechanical depth: it does not rely only on its automotive aesthetic or on its limited-edition rarity, but also on the pleasure of a living automatic chronograph, with its moving gears and visible finishing.

Strap and comfort

The Série-R Chronograph Ice Blue follows a logic of balanced comfort and presence. Its 13.3 mm profile, 48.5 mm lug-to-lug length and shaped case give it an assertive personality while remaining coherent for daily wear. The 22 mm lug width reinforces the visual stance of the watch on the wrist. In this configuration, the watch is paired with a perforated blue leather strap, extending its automotive inspiration and recalling bucket seats, sporty cabins and coachbuilt finishes. This choice visually lightens the watch while enhancing its neo-retro character.

Water resistance and everyday use

With water resistance of 50 metres, or 5 ATM, the Depancel Série-R Chronograph Ice Blue is designed for everyday use. It is not intended to be an extreme tool watch, but rather a characterful automatic chronograph able to accompany urban clothing, sporty-chic outfits or a more automotive-inspired style. The sapphire crystal improves scratch resistance, while the 5-year warranty and assembly in France reinforce the coherence of the proposition. Pre-orders are announced for July 2 at 4 p.m. Paris time, with delivery expected in late October.

Depancel Série-R Chronograph Ice Blue: a rare French automatic chronograph inspired by coachbuilding

With the Série-R Chronograph Ice Blue, Depancel offers a watch that goes beyond a simple colour exercise. The ice blue dial, case inspired by vintage grilles, Peacock SL-4801 automatic movement, 100-piece limitation and inspiration drawn from a 1947 Talbot-Lago create a coherent, narrative and highly identifiable whole. This watch will appeal to enthusiasts looking for a different automatic chronograph, accessible in relation to its mechanical content, but above all shaped by genuine automotive culture.

Conclusion

The Depancel Série-R Chronograph Ice Blue is aimed at enthusiasts looking for an original, elegant automatic chronograph strongly inspired by French automotive design. Thanks to its ice blue dial, shaped case, automatic movement and 100-piece limited edition, it offers a highly appealing interpretation of the contemporary sporty-chic watch.

Dialicious owner reviews are a relevant way to choose the watch that truly suits you.

(Updated July 2026)