Spinnaker Razzle Dazzle Fleuss 40 Automatic Limited Edition Watch #SP-5165-11

THE RAZZLE DAZZLE RETURNS — A NAVAL LEGACY, REIMAGINED

The Fleuss 40 Automatic Razzle Dazzle Limited Edition is a unique numbered limited edition collaboration production of 500 pieces. The watch features a dial and bezel designed and individually hand painted by Chris Alexander.

Underlying the contrasting artwork, the Spinnaker Fleuss 40 is underpinned by solid watch dive spec engineering and the seamless reliability of a 24-jewel, self-winding Miyota 9 series automatic movement.

By using the Razzle Dazzle camouflage design, this unique collaboration plays a tribute to maritime ingenuity, and also creates a truly striking collectable piece of wearable art brought to life by the skill and precision of Spinnaker’s watchmaking and Chris’ own artistic flair and style.

The Razzle Dazzle artwork was first created digitally in order to create a seamless repeat pattern. This pattern was vinyl cut and applied to each dial by hand to ensure no two dials hand the same configuration, making each dial unique. Once the vinyl was applied to the dial a black lacquer was applied before the colour changing paint was painted on top. The paint had to be applied in thin progressive layers in order to not create additional thickness to the dial.

Once the desired level of colour changing paint was achieved it was allowed to fully cure over several days. Each dial then had to have the masking removed without damaging the dial or applied colour. With all the unique shapes of the dial this process was extremely time consuming but the finished results are truly worth the while. As a finished dial, the unique razzle dazzle camo pattern is further enhanced with the colour changing finish, creating a special colour and captivating dial design.

HOW RAZZLE DAZZLE CAMOUFLAGE WORKED

Dazzle camouflage, also called razzle dazzle or dazzle painting, was a style of ship camouflage used mainly in World War I. Created by British artist Norman Wilkinson (though zoologist John Graham Kerr claimed the idea earlier), it used bold, intersecting geometric patterns in strong, contrasting colours. Unlike normal camouflage, dazzle wasn’t meant to hide ships. Instead, it aimed to confuse the enemy by making it hard to judge a ship’s distance, speed, and direction. Wilkinson said the goal was to mislead enemy gunners so they would fire inaccurately.

The UK and later the US Navy adopted dazzle, giving each ship a unique pattern. Many designs were tested, but results were mixed, and it remained unclear how effective the schemes truly were. Similar experiments on aircraft weren’t successful. Dazzle also caught the attention of artists like Picasso, who joked that Cubists invented it. After the war, artist Edward Wadsworth, who helped apply dazzle to thousands of ships, painted artworks inspired by the patterns.

ABOUT THE ARTIST — CHRIS ALEXANDER

Chris Alexander, known as The Dial Artist, is a British artist based in Scotland. Chris draws his creative inspiration from his childhood memories growing up in the colourful rainbow nation of South Africa, Street/Urban Art, Pop-Culture, Astrology and Abstract Expressionism. The Dial Artist is his creative platform to seamlessly blend his experience and passions with his love for Horology.

Chris firmly believes that each unique artwork is a collaborative triad of Client, Artist and Watch. The most successful creations are those based on the client’s passions, Chris’ unique style and working with the dial not against it. Chris has previously collaborated with brands such as Oris, Bamford, Net-a-porter and has been featured in the NY Times, Esquire and other fine watch enthusiast publications.

Watch Features and Specifications

• The Fleuss 40 Automatic Razzle Dazzle is a limited edition of 500 pieces, featuring a hand-painted dial and bezel by artist Chris Alexander. ​
• It incorporates a 24-jewel Miyota 9 series automatic movement, ensuring reliability and performance.
• The watch has a 40mm stainless steel case, 15 ATM water resistance, and an anti-reflection coated sapphire lens. ​
• Each dial is unique due to the hand-applied Razzle Dazzle camouflage pattern, which is enhanced by a color-changing finish. ​

Historical Context of Razzle Dazzle Camouflage ​

• Dazzle camouflage, developed during World War I, aimed to confuse enemy gunners rather than conceal ships. ​
• The technique involved bold geometric patterns and contrasting colors, making it difficult to assess a ship's distance and speed. ​
• The design has inspired various artists and remains a notable aspect of maritime history.

About the Artist

• Chris Alexander, known as The Dial Artist, draws inspiration from diverse influences, including his South African upbringing and urban art. ​
• He emphasizes collaboration in his work, blending client passions with his artistic style, and has previously partnered with notable brands.