Daniel Wellington Classic Petite York DW00100226: Black dial, rose gold hands and markers

The Daniel Wellington Classic Petite York DW00100226 is a 28 mm women’s quartz watch with a black dial, a rose gold PVD stainless steel case and a dark brown leather strap embossed with a crocodile pattern. The embossing is what sets York apart from the other Petite references in this finish, which use smooth leather.

The watch is part of the Classic Petite range, Daniel Wellington’s small-case line for narrower wrists. At 28 mm across and 6 mm thick it is light and low-profile, designed to sit flat and slip under a sleeve without catching. The design is deliberately simple, with a round case, a minimal dial and a 12 mm strap, and it is built around quartz timekeeping so there is nothing to wind or adjust day to day.

Case and Wrist Presence

The case is round, 28 mm in diameter and about 6 mm thick, made from stainless steel and finished with a rose gold PVD plating. PVD is a thin vacuum-applied coating that bonds to the steel, giving a consistent warm metallic colour that holds up better than simple paint or lacquer. A small pull crown sits at three o’clock, and the case back is stainless steel and snaps into place. A mineral crystal covers the dial, giving a clear, flat view of the face.

Because the case is under 30 mm and weighs very little, the watch is comfortable for a full day and does not tip or slide around the wrist. Under the house sizing rule used in this catalogue, a case of this diameter is classed as a women’s watch, which matches how the brand markets the Petite range.

• 28 mm rose gold PVD case – a compact size that suits slim and medium wrists
• 6 mm profile – slim enough to sit under a fitted cuff
• Mineral crystal – a hardened glass cover over the dial

Dial

The dial is black and uncluttered. Rose gold hands sweep over a thin minute track, with slim rose gold hour markers and the Daniel Wellington logo below twelve. There is no date aperture and there are no sub-dials, which keeps the face calm and makes the three hands easy to follow. Against the rose gold bezel, the black centre looks sharply drawn without being heavy.

The finish and layout are the same across the Petite range, so the dial colour and the strap are what give each reference its own character. On this reference the dial is the first thing you notice, and it is the reason to choose it over its siblings.

Movement and Functions

Inside is a Japanese quartz movement, which runs from a small silver oxide battery and shows hours, minutes and seconds only. There is no date, no chronograph and no alarm to learn, so the watch is set once with the crown and then left alone. A quartz movement is accurate to within a few seconds a month and needs no winding. When the battery is exhausted, after a few years of normal use, it can be replaced by a watchmaker.

• Time only – hours, minutes and seconds with no extra complications
• Quartz accuracy – steady timekeeping with no winding
• Simple operation – one crown, set it and wear it

Strap and Fit

The strap is Italian-style genuine leather in dark brown with a crocodile embossing and brown stitching, 12 mm wide and fitted with spring bars. It closes with a rose gold-toned pin buckle and fits wrists of roughly 145 to 185 mm. The textured surface hides small marks well and gives the watch more character than a smooth strap would, while the dark brown stays neutral enough for most wardrobes.

The strap uses standard spring bars with a 12 mm lug width, so it is easy to change at home with a small tool. Daniel Wellington sells straps in the same width in leather, mesh and other materials, which means this case can be dressed up or down without buying a new watch.

Water Resistance and Everyday Use

The watch is rated to 3 ATM, which is 30 metres. In practical terms that means it handles rain, hand washing and accidental splashes. It is not intended for swimming, showering or diving, and the leather strap should be kept away from water in any case, because repeated wetting dries and cracks leather. The crown should stay pushed in against the case at all times to maintain the seal.

Who This Watch Suits

• Women who want a textured strap rather than a smooth one
• Buyers who like dark brown leather with rose gold more than black with rose gold
• Wearers who prefer a small 28 mm case that sits neatly under a cuff
• Anyone building a rotation of 12 mm straps on one Petite case

Care and Maintenance

Wipe the case and crystal with a soft, dry cloth to remove fingerprints and dust. Rose gold PVD is hard-wearing, but avoid abrasive cleaners and rough surfaces that could scratch it. Keep the leather strap away from perfume, hand cream and prolonged direct sun, and let it dry naturally if it gets damp. Leather darkens and softens with use, which is normal, and a worn strap can be replaced with another 12 mm band. Have the battery changed by a watchmaker who will also check the case-back seal, so the 3 ATM rating is preserved.

About Daniel Wellington

Daniel Wellington is a Swedish watch brand, founded in 2011 by Filip Tysander, known for slim, minimal watches with interchangeable straps. York is named after the English city, and sits in the Petite range with Sheffield, St Mawes, Bristol and Melrose. The brand’s approach is to keep the dial clean and let the strap and case colour carry the style, which is exactly how this reference is built.

Technical Specifications