The DeWitt brand was established in 2002 by Jérôme de Witt whose illustrious ancestry includes Napoléon I (1769-1821), many of whom were ardent watch collectors. Watches created by DeWitt stand out from the crowd by their bold and unusual design as well as innovative technology. The case for the 'Academia' series combines modernity with reference to a historical past: deriving from the fluted Ionic column, the 'Academia' cases are closely related to architecture. One of the watches in the series has been awarded the First Prize for Innovation at the Grand Prix de l'Horlogerie de Genève in 2005, only three years after the firm's foundation. The 'Academia' mechanic movement will run for 42 hours.