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Sometime in late April, a message popped up on my phone: “It’s ready! When would you like to see it?” The sender was Jacob Chatzidimitriou, the founder and creative mind behind Ianos Watches. The subject of the message? The brand-new Ianos Dytis. Yes, as in “diver.” After three years, the wait was finally over. Naturally, I scheduled our meeting on the spot. I’ve known Jacob for quite a few years—since 2019, in fact, when he launched the Avyssos, the very first watch to bear the Ianos name. Back then, I had been genuinely impressed by how he managed to create something that radiated Greek identity without ever slipping into the trap of looking kitschy or touristy. On the contrary, it was a serious, thoughtful project executed with a remarkable eye for detail. At the time, I had written in Hours by Kathimerini that the Avyssos was a watch with a Greek soul and Swiss reliability. That phrase still holds true and perfectly encapsulates Ianos’ winning formula.
The Avyssos was a robust 44mm steel dive watch with a compelling story inspired by the sponge divers of Symi and an ancient traditional method of harvesting sponges. Among its standout features were the hour markers shaped like kampanelopetra—the stone weights sponge divers once used to descend to the sea floor. And then there was the small seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock, which resembled a rotating wheel—an homage to the famous Antikythera Mechanism. That first release was warmly received by the global watch community, with glowing reviews from leading blogs and enthusiastic support from collectors alike.
Two years later, in 2021, Ianos introduced its second dive watch: the Mihanikos. This model told a different tale, one rooted in Kalymnos and the evolution of diving techniques, including the use of suits and helmets that brought wealth, but also suffering and death, to the island. The steel case measured 43mm across, 15.75mm thick, with a screw-down crown and a wide, gear-like bezel that resembled an old diving helmet.
From the side, the case had the smooth, rounded silhouette of a sponge. Its minimalist, deep-blue dial featured oversized hands and sponge-shaped hour markers. At 6 o’clock, a luminous dot—representing the small seconds—spun endlessly within a sub-dial shaped like an air pump.
Along the outer edge of the dial, inscribed in Greek, were two lines from the song Mihanikos:
“Either I’ll become a diver, or I’ll be left in the sand.
And if I die, don’t weep for me, bury me in the sand.”
Only 300 units of the Mihanikos were made, and it sold out fast. But it’s also the watch that caught the eye of Laurent Picciotto, owner of Chronopassion in Paris. A true connoisseur of watchmaking with highly refined taste, Picciotto initially ordered a Mihanikos for himself. Impressed, he contacted Iakovos and commissioned a special run of 30 pieces in a unique grey version, made exclusively for his Paris boutique. That, too, has long since sold out—it’s no longer available even on Chronopassion’s own site.
And now we arrive at the present day and the third episode in Ianos’ diving adventure. I met Iakovos in a lush green garden, where we enjoyed coffee under the spring sun—and that’s where he introduced me to the Dytis. To be precise, the two versions of it: one in white, the other in blue, echoing the Greek flag.
First impression? WOW. While I mean no disrespect to the previous models—which were each bold in their own right (especially the Mihanikos, which I adored)—this third installment feels more mature, more finely tuned, and definitely more wearable. It also feels significantly lighter on the wrist, thanks to its Grade 2 titanium case. Size-wise, it’s more compact than its predecessors, at 41mm in diameter and 14mm thick (including the domed sapphire crystal and the integrated strap). Just like its predecessors, the Dytis has a rectangular channel carved into the back of the case to accommodate a one-piece rubber strap that fits perfectly into place. It’s a smart and original idea—one that makes you wonder why no one else has thought of it before.
At first glance, you might think the Dytis resembles the Mihanikos. But that’s not really the case. As Jacob pointed out, “The bezel is different, the dial is different, the lugs are different. On the Mihanikos, there was a small gap between the strap and the lugs that bothered me a little. That gap is gone on the Dytis.” Indeed, placing the two watches side by side, the differences are obvious.
The dial of the Dytis is minimalist, highly modern, and exceptionally legible—even in the dark—thanks to large, luminous hands and hour markers once again shaped like kampanelopetra. At 12 o’clock, a unique design element represents the Greek flag. “Instead of adding a cross, I chose the stripes for a more minimalistic effect,” Jacob explained. And at 6 o’clock? The small seconds now take the form of the mati, the symbolic Greek ‘evil eye’—another deeply rooted part of Greek culture.
The bezel features a matte, sandblasted texture and is unidirectional, as any proper diver’s bezel should be. Like the earlier models, the Dytis is water-resistant to 300 meters.
Until recently, the only way to buy an Ianos watch was through the brand’s official website. But during our April meeting, Jacob shared that soon there would be a single physical retail location in Athens. On June 25, the news became official: Ianos watches are now available at Ora Kessaris, the renowned watch boutique on Voukourestiou Street.
So here’s to a safe and successful journey for the Dytis. With the mati on the dial, it’s already protected against any ill will—so I’d say its success is practically guaranteed.
And what comes next? From what little I managed to extract from Jacob, the next Ianos watch won’t be a diver—it will be land-based. And it will feature a complex mechanical function. We’ll be awaiting it with great anticipation.
CASE Titanium grade 2, Ø 41mm, diving bezel made of grade 2 titanium with fluorescent dot, screwed titanium crown, channel in the back for 20 mm strap, fixed lugs | DIAL Blue or white, luminous kampanelopetra-like hour markers and hands, “Evil eye” luminous small seconds, DYTIS inscription in Greek |
MOVEMENT Automatic Swiss Made, Sellita SW360-1, 42 hours of power reserve | FUNCTIONS / COMPLICATIONS Hours, minutes, small seconds |
WATER RESISTANCE 300 metres | BRACELET / STRAP High quality customized single-pass rubber strap in blue or white color, sponge pattern on the inside, titanium pin buckle |
