In the annals of horology, certain designs appear as brilliant, fleeting sparks, only to be extinguished by the prevailing tides of their time. The original Amida Digitrend of 1976 was one such spark. Launched at the apex of the Space Age design craze and on the precipice of the quartz-dominated era, it was a watch that dared to be different. Now, nearly half a century later, that spark has been reignited, not merely as a flicker of nostalgia, but as a roaring flame in the form of the Amida Digitrend Open Sapphire. This is the continuation of a story, a bold resumption of a journey into innovative time-telling.
The story of Amida is intrinsically linked to the 1970s, a decade of audacious design and technological upheaval. It was an era of wedge-shaped supercars with sharp, futuristic lines, and a pervasive creative spirit that saw no limits. Amidst this, Amida launched its Digitrend, a "casquette" or driver's style watch with a mechanical heart that displayed the time digitally. It was a rebellious concept, a mechanical contender in an increasingly electronic world. However, the Quartz Crisis, a period that reshaped the entire Swiss watch industry, forced Amida into a long dormancy, freezing its creative momentum in its tracks. That break, it turns out, was not an ending but merely a long pause.
Courtesy of Amida
In 2024, after six years of meticulous planning, a duo of watch industry entrepreneurs, designer Matthieu Allègre and Depancel founder Clément Meynier, reclaimed the Amida name and its patents. Their mission was not to simply reissue a classic but to "resume the future." They envisioned a continuation of Amida's original ethos: stubbornly creative ideas, Swiss-made quality, and a rebellious streak. The result of this vision is the Digitrend Open Sapphire, a timepiece that honors its heritage while embracing contemporary materials and manufacturing techniques in a spectacular fashion.
Visually, the Digitrend Open Sapphire is an architectural piece for the wrist. Its form immediately recalls the daring automotive designs of the 1960s and 70s, drawing inspiration from icons like the Porsche Targa, Alfa Romeo concept cars, and the Chevrolet Corvair Testudo. The case is a sculpted wedge of 316L stainless steel, featuring a dynamic interplay of satin-brushed and polished surfaces that define its sharp, angular lines. The profile is designed for a specific purpose, allowing the wearer to read the time without turning their wrist, a feature that solidified the original's status as a "driver's watch."
The most significant and visually arresting update to this modern iteration is the "Open Sapphire" concept. Two-thirds of the watch case has been replaced with transparent sapphire crystal, creating a crystalline hood that offers an unobstructed view directly into the mechanical heart of the watch. This is not a simple sapphire window; it is a complex, structural component of the case itself. This design choice transforms the timepiece, moving it from a quirky piece of retro-futurism to a showcase of high-tech mechanical artistry.
Courtesy of Amida
The engineering required to create this transparent chassis is monumental. The sapphire is grown using the Kyropoulos method, a process for synthesizing large, high-quality sapphire blocks. From these blocks, each case component is milled, machined, and polished in a process that takes over 24 hours to complete. A full 20 of those hours are dedicated solely to polishing, a painstaking task required to achieve a surface with zero optical distortion, rivaling the properties of the finest camera lenses. This mastery over the geometry of curved surfaces ensures the case becomes a perfect, distortion-free window into the intricate world within.
The defining feature of the Digitrend, both past and present, is its unique time display. It appears digital, but there are no electronics or luminous paints at play. The secret lies in a patented system Amida calls the LRD, or Light Reflecting Display. This ingenious system, first patented in 1973 under No. 3,786,626, uses a solid prism of optical-grade sapphire crystal to project the time. The movement's hour and minute discs lie flat, operating horizontally, but the prism catches their reflection and turns it a full ninety degrees, displaying the numerals vertically on the side of the watch.
This principle is brilliantly simple, akin to a submarine's periscope which allows sailors to see the surface while remaining submerged. The LRD effectively changes a horizontal view into a vertical one, making the time legible with a mere glance while one's hands are on a steering wheel. For the Open Sapphire model, this prism also magnifies the numerals for enhanced legibility. The manufacturing of this small but critical component is an exercise in precision, demanding three hours of production, with two of those hours spent on polishing alone to achieve a tolerance of just 0.05 mm.
Courtesy of Amida
Beneath the expansive sapphire crystal hood beats a robust and reliable Swiss-made engine. The base movement is the Soprod NEWTON P092 caliber, an automatic movement highly regarded for its performance. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), contains 23 jewels, and provides a healthy power reserve of 44 hours. At a lean 4.6mm thick, it provides a solid foundation for the watch's signature complication.
Attached to this base caliber is an auxiliary module for the jumping hour display, developed entirely in-house by the new Amida team. This module is a testament to elegant engineering, constructed with only nine mechanical components and six screws. In a clever design choice, this 2mm thick module also serves as both a plate and a casing ring, integrating form and function seamlessly. It powers the unidirectional jumping hour and trailing minute discs, providing the crisp, instantaneous "jump" at the top of each hour that is a hallmark of this complication.
The transparency of the Open Sapphire case is not merely a gimmick; it is an invitation to appreciate the fine craftsmanship of the movement's finishing. Where the original watch hid its mechanics, the new model celebrates them. The movement plates are adorned with broad Côtes de Genève, or Geneva stripes, a classic form of Swiss watch decoration. Gleaming, mirror-polished anglage traces the edges of the bridges, catching the light and highlighting their form. Surfaces are finished with intricate perlage (circular graining) and sandblasting, while the skeletonized oscillating weight is rhodium-plated, all rewarding a closer inspection.
This level of traditional finishing, typically reserved for watches at a much higher price point, is fully visible through the sapphire case. The transparency extends to the hour and minute discs themselves, which are also see-through, allowing a view of the mainplate working beneath them. The typography has been completely redesigned but remains faithful to the emblematic orange digits of the 1970s original, creating a perfect bridge between the watch's past and its thoroughly modern execution.
Courtesy of Amida
The case of the Amida Digitrend Open Sapphire measures a contemporary 39.6 mm in width and 39 mm in length, with a notable height of 15.6 mm, a necessity to accommodate the prism and module. The lug width is a standard 22 mm, allowing for a variety of strap choices. The watch is offered with two primary options: a sporty charcoal Alcantara strap lined with vibrant orange calfskin, and a sleek, integrated stainless steel bracelet that completes the retro-futuristic look. The total weight of the timepiece is 110 grams, giving it a substantial but comfortable presence on the wrist.
Despite its complex and artistic case construction, the watch maintains a practical water resistance of 5 ATM, equivalent to 50 meters. This ensures it is protected from daily splashes and brief immersion, making it a wearable piece of mechanical art rather than a fragile object. The combination of its unique shape, side-view display, and thoughtful ergonomics makes it a compelling and functional timepiece for daily wear.
The revival of Amida and the launch of the Digitrend Open Sapphire represent a pivotal moment for the brand. It is a statement of intent, driven by a passion for horological history and a commitment to Swiss watchmaking expertise. This dedication is reflected in its limited production and focused distribution strategy.
Reflecting its complex manufacturing, the Amida Digitrend Open Sapphire is being produced in a limited series of just 150 pieces. This exclusivity ensures that each watch receives the attention to detail it deserves. It is positioned with an accessible price point, particularly given its feature set, at CHF 4,500 (excluding tax).
Courtesy of Amida
The brand has adopted a modern, hybrid distribution model to bring this unique creation to enthusiasts. It is available directly for purchase through the Amida website, offering a direct connection between the creators and their clients. Additionally, the watch is available through a carefully curated network of prestigious and discerning watch retailers around the globe, including Chronopassion in Paris, Prkjt8 in Bahrain, and The Limited Edition in the UK, among others. These partners are known for their expertise and their ability to champion independent brands that push the boundaries of horological design.
The Amida Digitrend Open Sapphire is a remarkable achievement. It successfully resurrects a cult classic not as a simple homage, but as a fully evolved and re-engineered concept. By encasing a traditionally finished jumping hour movement within a radically transparent sapphire and steel chassis, Amida has created a timepiece that is both a nod to the past and a bold step into the future. It is a watch that showcases the fascinating dance of gears, the beauty of polished metal, and the cleverness of optical physics, all in one cohesive and compelling package. For a new generation of enthusiasts, it is a chance to experience a legend, now clearer and more brilliant than ever before.
Case: 316L stainless steel with an Open Sapphire top; Dimensions: 39.6mm width, 39mm length, 15.6mm height; Water resistance 5 ATM (50 meters); Sapphire crystal reflective prism.
Movement: Soprod NEWTON P092 automatic base caliber with an in-house developed jumping hour module; 23 jewels; 28,800 vph (4 Hz) frequency; 44-hour power reserve; Finishes include Côtes de Genève, perlage, and a rhodium-plated skeletonized rotor.
Dial: Dual discs for jumping hours and sweeping minutes displayed via LRD (Light Reflective Display); An optical grade sapphire crystal prism reflects and magnifies the horizontal discs vertically; Redesigned typography with orange numerals.
Strap: Charcoal Alcantara lined in orange calfskin with an 18mm stainless steel buckle and a separate stainless steel metal bracelet; Lug width is 22mm.
Price: CHF 4,500 (excluding taxes).
Notes: A limited production of 150 pieces. The time is read on the side of the case via a sapphire prism optical projection system patented in 1973. The case is two-thirds clear sapphire, which requires over 20 hours of polishing to achieve optical clarity.