Introducing: Amida's 'Digitrend Open Sapphire' Shows You All Its Tricks (Live Pics)

June 17, 2025

It's only been about a year since the revival of the 1970s retro-futuristic brand Amida, with their "casquette" style watch called the Digitrend. The watch and its design C?featuring a digital display rendered through a prismatic crystal to display the jump hour and wandering minutes C are so iconic in certain circles that they have inspired creations like Max Bsser's HM5 and HMX. We covered the relaunch back then, but the watch has taken on a slightly new form today with the Digitrend Open Sapphire C a watch covered mainly with a domed sapphire crystal that offers a fascinating look at how everything functions. Cased in 39.6mm by 39mm stainless steel, the new Digitrend Open Sapphire functions identically to the past versions. Powered by an automatic Soprod NEWTON P092 movement with a jumping hour and wandering minute display, the watch features a 44-hour power reserve and beats at 28,800 vph. That jump hour is powered by an additional module, while the verticality of the display necessitates the watch being 16mm thick. But what you get is a wearable drivers watch, with the time visible through a prism that reflects the hours and minutes from two horizontal discs and renders them vertically on what normally would be the side of the watch. Previously, the re-released Amida Digitrend featured a full stainless steel case including the sloped "top" or "back" that Max Bsser has treated as the "fastback" in the car-inspired take on the casquette design. The new Open Sapphire design is more like a Targa top, of sorts. With a shaped sapphire top, you can see portions of the movement and jump hour design. You also get the trippy view of the backwards numerals, which are then reversed when they enter the prism's view, where they are displayed at a 90o angle from their actual orientation, giving you the driver's watch view. The movement features industrial yet thoughtful touches, including Geneva stripes, circular graining, sandblasting, brushing, a skeletonized oscillating weight, and rhodium-plated finishes. The watch is delivered on a charcoal Alcantara strap with an orange calfskin lining and an 18mm stainless steel buckle. A metal bracelet is available as an optional addition. The Digitrend Open Sapphire is limited to 150 pieces and costs CHF 4,500. What We Think This was my first time spending any real length of time with the Digitrend. First things first, it's more legible than you'd thinkholding my hands out like I was driving a car, I could imagine being able to tell the time quickly at a glance. It's not the most accurate display, but it's one that works. The top-down view is pretty wild. It kind of felt like my brain was broken looking at the numerals and thinking "what's 2 4 E 5 I?" Oh, no, that's 5 4 3 2 1 backwards. The sapphire top offers a glimpse into how the entire system works and how creatively the digital display has been achieved. It also likely accounts for the large price increase from the steel model on the bracelet, which otherwise costs CHF 2,900. While he's not involved in this project, Bsser has talked about how shaped sapphire is both incredibly difficult to source and incredibly expensive, so I imagine that's the reason you see a CHF 1,600 price increase. The profile of the case shows how thick the watch is, but also how smartly that thickness is allocated. The watch is much more top-heavy, which means it sits comfortably and low on the wrist. Sure, it might not fit under the cuff of a tight dress shirt (and don't you dare threaten to think you're Gianni Agnelli with that watch over cuff look), but it's not distracting to wear. At least, not with your eyes closed. However, the display itself is up to you to love or not. The Basics Brand: AmidaModel: DigitrendDiameter: 39.6mm by 39mmThickness: 16mmCase Material: Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, 316L stainless steel, brushed and polishedDial Color: Hours and minutes using two display discs (Light Reflective display) in orange numeralsIndexes: Digital displayLume: NoneWater Resistance: 50mStrap/Bracelet: Charcoal Alcantara with orange calfskin lining, 18mm stainless steel buckle, metal bracelet available as an option The Movement Caliber: Soprod NEWTON P092Functions: Jumping hours and minutesPower Reserve: 44 hoursWinding: AutomaticFrequency: 28,800 vphJewels: 23Additional Details: Geneva stripes, circular-grained, sand-blasted and brushed, skeleton oscillating weight, rhodium-plated finishes Pricing & Availability Price: CHF 4,500Availability: ImmediatelyLimited Edition: Yes, 150 piecesFor more, click here.