Sameera Gamage 
A watch that captures the beauty of the Arabian Desert while staying true to Perrelet’s timeless design language. The Weekend Sand Dunes proves that even simplicity can tell a story worth wearing!
Perrelet has just recently unveiled a new limited edition Weekend model, named the Weekend Sand Dunes, a 99-piece limited edition timepiece that is dedicated to the mesmerising atmosphere of the Arabian Desert. This timepiece certainly livens up the brand’s Weekend collection, which normally takes a simplistic design approach that features easy-to-read dials in a everyday dress-watch format.
When I think of Perrelet, their Turbine collection is what first comes to mind. But there is so much more to this brand, and the Weekend collection is a perfect example of how Perrelet brings together understated elegance with everyday versatility. First introduced by the Swiss brand in 2017, the Weekend collection is synonymous with timeless style. The minimalistic design of the timepieces makes them not only highly versatile but also a great choice for a daily watch.
While the Weekend collections more classic colours such as silver, black, and blue give a refined and timeless aesthetics, it’s the more bold colours like ice blue, green mint, or even aventurine dials that allow the collection to make a statement on the wrist. The timeless aesthetic of the watches is further hammered home with the sharp baton-style hour indices and hands, which also give the dial easy readability.
The Weekend Sand Dunes in comparison to the existing collection, bring a more bold and distinctive characteristic to the lineup. While the core models of the collection focus on simplicity, this limited edition timepiece adds warmth and personality, capturing the essence of the Arabian desert, but also at the same time staying true to the characteristic design of the Weekend collection.
Case Design
Perrelet presents the Weekend Sand Dunes on a 39mm x 9.56mm thick stainless steel case. This slim, refined design makes the timepiece highly wearable for a wide range of wrist sizes, ensuring that it retains an elegant presence while being comfortable to use as a daily watch. To match the beautiful dial aesthetics, the case features a combination of polished and satin-brushed finishes, adding a subtle contrast which enhances the watch’s refined character without overpowering the minimalistic design.
Dial Design
The highlight of this timepiece is, of course, the stunning dial, which depicts the sandy dunes of the Arabian Desert. Perrelet chose this desert landscape as the inspiration for the dial due to it being a symbol of unspoilt nature, with the Arabian Desert being the fourt larges desert in the world and largest in Asia, occupying almost the entire Arabian Peninsula, stretching from Yemen to the Persian Gulf, and from Oman to Jordan and Iraq. The embossed dunes are done in Pantone colour 727C, which gives a beautiful fade from light brown to salmon pink at different light angles.
Another design aesthetic that sets this model apart from the rest of the collection is the hour indices. In keeping with the Arabian theme, the silvered applied hour indices, minute flange, and even the date wheel at 3 o’clock are displayed in Arabic numerals. The hour, minute, and seconds hands have taken inspiration from the Weekend collections’ GMT and skeletonised models, which now feature Super-LumiNova for a beautiful glow in low-light conditions!
Movement
Inside the Weekend Sand Dunes edition is the Perrelet P-321 calibre movement, powering the time and date functionality of the timepiece. Designed and developed entirely in-house, the movement is manufactured by Perrelet’s sister company, Soprod, which manufactures movements for the brand. Soprod is owned by the Spanish entrepreneur Miguel Rodriguez, who also owns Perrelet. The movement has a high rate of accuracy with a frequency of 4Hz (28,800 VpH) and delivers enough power reserve of 42 hours to get you through the weekend!
The case back features an artistic image of the sandy dunes of the Arabian desert, overlayed on the transparent caseback. The partial view of the P-321 calibre movement showcases the movement’s impeccable finishing, including the circular-grained bridges and the refined oscillating weight, which is decorated with the Bienne Maison logo.
Initial Thoughts
Perrelet’s latest Weekend Sand Dunes brings a refreshing new design to a collection that’s known for its simplicity and versatile wearability, proving that even a minimalistic dress watch can tell a beautifully captivating story. There are many aspects of the design that I love about this timepiece, from the embossed sand dunes, which make the dial aesthetically captivating while also showing its desert inspiration, to the various Arabic numerals shown throughout the dial, to how the sand dunes change colour at different lighting angles.
Whether you appreciate the exquisite execution of the dial or the comfortable, slim case, the Weekend Sand Dunes is a timepiece that invites you to appreciate the craftsmanship while bringing a touch of adventure to your daily wristwear!
Specification: Perrelet Weekend Sand Dunes – Middle East Limited Edition (A1300/S3)
- Dimensions: 39mm x 9.56mm thick
- Case Material: Stainless steel with polished and satin-brushed finishes
- Dial: Embossed dunes done in Pantone colour 727C, which fades from light brown to salmon pink
- Water Resistance: 50m (5 Bar)
- Movement: Automatic Perrelet Calibre P-321
- Movement Power reserve: 42 hours operating at 4Hz (28,800 VpH)
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Bracelet/Strap: Brown crocodile-embossed leather strap and quick-release system.
