The Amida Digitrend Open Sapphire builds on a cult-classic 1970s watch in a new and innovative way in 2025. With a pronounced sapphire crystal hood, side-mounted prism display, and Swiss mechanical heart, this driver’s watch is as much a conversation piece as it is a watch. Let’s delve into what makes it tick.
Digitrend Heritage: From 1976 to Revival
The original Digitrend was released in 1976 as a mechanical “digital” watch with a side prism display—an imaginative digital-watch alternative to LED watches of the time. Amida fell to the wayside for various reasons by 1979, but its eccentric driver’s watch retained a cult following. Fast forward to 2024, where Amida came back in spectacular fashion with a faithful revival of the iconic model, then took it to the next level with this Open Sapphire edition on June 19, 2025.
Retro-Futuristic Design Language
The 2025 model operates in the sci-fi and cutlery heritage of the 1970s. Imagine the sloping curves of a Porsche Targa top merging with the angle of a Corvette rear window—sleek, bold, and somewhat industrial in a playful way. Its chunky, playful shape evokes a rocket from old sci-fi while still feeling decidedly modern.
Sapphire Hood: A Look Inside
What makes this version unique, is the large curved sapphire crystal that makes up about 2/3 of the case top–hand shaped with ~20–24 hours of labor each timepiece. The movement is easily visible, and it doesn’t distortion when looking through an irregular shape that it is.
Side Prism Display: The Driving Angle
As is the mindset of Digitrend, the time is displayed through the side mounted sapphire prism which give you the ability to read the jumping hour and the drifting minutes through the the dual rotating discs, with the numbers printed in reverse so that they show on the prism as legible–perfect for looking at your wrist when driving.
Movement & Mechanics: Soprod Newton P092
Inside beats the Soprod Newton P092 automatic movement, with Amida’s 9 piece in-house jump hour module, that runs at 28,800 vph, has 23 jewels and a 44 hour power reserve, and is beautifully finished with Geneva stripes, perlage pattern and skeleton rotor.
Case Details & Dimensions
The case is stainless steel and measures 39.6mm × 39mm × 15.6mm and holds 50m of water-resistance. It is thick, not typical, and thick to its design so that the top-heavy piece sits nicely on the wrist; comfort engineering.
Material Construction & Finish
As with the sapphire top and prism, the case is brushed and polished 316L steel. The inside movement is fully finished with Geneva stripes, anglage, circular graining and rhodium plating – no lack of effort for visual appeal.
Strap and Colorway
It comes on a standard Alcantara strap in charcoal, lined with bold orange calfskin, reminiscent of motor racing style. A full stainless steel bracelet is offered as an option to bring a more restrained look.
Limited Edition Appeal
With only 150 pieces produced, it will have great appeal for collectors. The buyer can register with selected retailers including Chronopassion, Prkjt8 and Chronométrie Clarence.
Pricing and Availability
At CHF 4,500 on strap (approx. USD 5,600) and CHF 4,850 on bracelet (approx. USD 6,000), it is a fair price for the work put into the sapphire, the other finishes and its rarity – maybe about CHF 1,600 more than the steel-only execution.
Why It Matters Today
At a time where sport style, smartwatches, and digital play are dominant, the Digitrend Open Sapphire represents a creative pursuit of mechanical creativity: a watch that is not afraid to be different. A watch that is truly a wearable piece of art that engages optics, mechanics, and nostalgia.
Collector or Casual Wear
For collectors it’s a unique nod to retro-mechanics—open and bold. For casual wearers, the prism display may seem quirky at first but it will grow on you. It is not so much a tool watch, it is more of a wearable paradox designed to provoke curiosity.
Care & Use Suggestions
Be careful with the sapphire—it is hard, but it can chip if you impact it. Clean it with a microfiber cloth. If you want to maintain movement precision, have the movement and water-seals serviced every couple of years. And don’t accidentally mug the prism!
Market Comparisons
It is a rare relation to MB&F’s HM5/HMX and GP’s Casquette 2.0. While they are more sculpture than watch and command six-figure price tags, the Digitrend is a tribute to mechanical innovation—niche, creative, and relatively attainable.
Conclusion
The Digitrend Open Sapphire is much more than a watch; it’s a statement. It combines 1970s futurism and modern craftsmanship in a tactile optical display that redefines time-telling. A limited commodity; Swiss precision; a design engine that never stops, this watch is for anyone who wants to wear conversation.
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