Dutch independent watchmaker De Rijke & Co. returns with a distinctive new release—three ceramic Amalfi Series 2 driver’s watches created in collaboration with automotive illustrator Guy Allen. Limited to just 50 pieces per design, the Amazon, Sahara, and Turini editions fuse automotive storytelling with mechanical watchmaking, resulting in a trio of timepieces built for enthusiasts who appreciate both fine watches and iconic cars.
At their core, these watches stay true to the brand’s unconventional approach to design: mechanical watches built for people who actually drive.
A Creative Collaboration Built Around Cars
The partnership between De Rijke & Co. and Guy Allen has been evolving for nearly a decade. What began eight years ago with illustrated artwork supporting the brand’s early timepieces gradually developed into full creative collaborations.
In 2024 the duo introduced the first Amalfi special editions—Land, Sea and Air—which brought Allen’s distinctive automotive-inspired artwork into the world of watch dials. The enthusiastic reception from collectors encouraged a second chapter.
Series 2 pushes the concept further, centering each watch around an automotive icon illustrated directly into the dial design.
Each model draws inspiration from a legendary machine:
- Amazon references the Porsche 911
- Sahara celebrates the rally legend Lancia Stratos
- Turini pays tribute to the rugged Land Rover Defender
The result is a trio of watches where car culture and traditional craft meet in a surprisingly refined way.
A Driver’s Watch With a Rotating Case
The Amalfi is not just visually inspired by cars—it is designed for driving.
The watch features a two-piece case that can rotate 90 degrees, allowing the dial to be angled toward the wearer when their hands are positioned on the steering wheel. It’s a concept reminiscent of historic driver’s watches from the early 20th century, yet executed here with contemporary materials.
For this new generation, De Rijke & Co. introduces a fully ceramic case. While some brands rely on hybrid constructions with internal steel structures, the Dutch atelier opted for the far more complex process of producing an entirely ceramic two-piece case.
The result is a case that is both highly durable and visually crisp, paired with a sapphire crystal for everyday practicality.
Enamel Dials That Turn Automotive Illustration Into Craft
The most captivating element of the new Amalfi Series 2 watches lies in the dials.
Each dial begins with a 925 silver base, which is then engraved with a detailed automotive scene. The lower half of the dial features three-dimensional engraving, creating subtle variations in depth before being sealed under a layer of transparent grand feu enamel.
This technique—known as champlevé enamel—creates vibrant colors and remarkable depth as light interacts with the engraved surfaces beneath the enamel. The enamel work is produced by a specialist craftsman in the UK, while the casebacks are engraved and finished in-house at the De Rijke atelier outside Rotterdam.
The effect is striking: miniature automotive artwork rendered in traditional decorative watchmaking techniques.
Technical Specifications
Inside the Amalfi Series 2 beats the Sellita SW300 automatic movement in a high-grade execution, chosen for its reliability and slim architecture.
Key specifications include:
- Case diameter: 38.2 mm
- Thickness: 11 mm
- Movement: Sellita SW300 automatic
- Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
- Jewels: 25
- Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds
- Water resistance: 50 meters
- Sapphire crystal
- Quick-release strap system (18 mm lug width)
Each model is limited to 50 numbered pieces, priced at €4,595 (ex VAT).
A Driver’s Watch for a New Generation of Collectors
Independent watchmaking thrives on personality, and De Rijke & Co. has carved out a distinctive niche by blending traditional mechanical watchmaking with enthusiast culture. The Amalfi Series 2 exemplifies that philosophy perfectly.
By combining rotating driver’s watch ergonomics, enamel craftsmanship, ceramic case construction, and automotive illustration from Guy Allen, the brand delivers something genuinely different in a market often dominated by safe design choices. Each dial tells a small automotive story—whether inspired by icons like the Porsche 911, Lancia Stratos, or Land Rover Defender—while still remaining unmistakably a serious mechanical watch.
For collectors who appreciate cars as much as watches, the Amalfi Series 2 may be one of the most charming niche releases of the year. And in a landscape where many timepieces borrow from motorsport aesthetics, these are among the few that truly feel designed for life behind the wheel.
