Spinnaker’s latest Dolphin Project watch leans into the charm of the sea rather than pretending to be another anonymous tool diver.
The Croft Mid-Size Automatic Dolphin Project Limited Edition 2026 keeps the familiar steel dive-watch format, then gives it a dial that’s unmistakably tied to dolphin conservation and ocean welfare.
It’s colourful, accessible and timed neatly for summer, with three versions arriving ahead of World Whale and Dolphin Day.
At a glance
- Spinnaker has introduced the Croft Mid-Size Automatic Dolphin Project Limited Edition 2026 in three dial colours.
- Each model features a wave-pattern dial with lumed dolphin motifs, a 40mm steel case and 150 metres of water resistance.
- The watch launches on July 3 at £394, with limited production across the Aqua Play, Dolphin Cave and Sunrise Splash editions.
A Croft case with proper summer-watch proportions
The new Dolphin Project edition uses the Croft Mid-Size Automatic platform, which means a 40mm stainless steel case and a 14.1mm profile.
That thickness gives it a substantial dive-watch stance without pushing the diameter into oversized territory.
Water resistance is rated to 150 metres, enough for swimming, beach days and casual time in the surf.
A unidirectional rotating bezel keeps the watch within the traditional dive-watch language, offering a practical way to track elapsed time in the water.
Three ocean dials and dolphins that glow
The collection is split into three colourways named Aqua Play, Dolphin Cave and Sunrise Splash.
Aqua Play brings the blue dial, Dolphin Cave takes the green route and Sunrise Splash uses orange for the most vivid option in the trio.
All three dials carry a wave pattern with a pod of dolphins moving through the composition.
The playful detail is more than printed decoration, as the dolphin motifs are treated with lume so they light up in the dark.
Spinnaker keeps the rest of the layout familiar, with bar markers at 12, 6 and 9, round hour markers elsewhere and a date window at 3 o’clock.
The result is a watch that still reads like a diver at a glance, but with enough personality to separate it from the usual black-dial, steel-case formula.
Automatic movement and conservation-minded straps
Inside is the Miyota 8215, an automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve and a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour.
The movement is visible through an exhibition caseback, where Spinnaker adds a wave-pattern rotor and Dolphin Project detailing.
The edge of the caseback is engraved with the individual limited edition number.
Each watch is supplied with a stainless steel bracelet and an additional RPET recycled plastic strap, a fitting pairing for a model linked to marine conservation.
The Dolphin Project itself was founded in 1970 and works to raise awareness around dolphin conservation and welfare.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Spinnaker |
|---|---|
| Model | Croft Mid-Size Automatic Dolphin Project Limited Edition 2026 |
| Reference | SP-5177 |
| Case size | 40mm diameter, 14.1mm thickness |
| Case material | Stainless steel |
| Dial | Wave pattern with lumed dolphin motifs in Aqua Play blue, Dolphin Cave green or Sunrise Splash orange |
| Movement | Miyota 8215 automatic |
| Frequency | 21,600 vph, 3 Hz |
| Power reserve | 42 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds and date |
| Water resistance | 150 metres, 15 bar |
| Strap or bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet with additional RPET recycled plastic strap |
| Limited production | 500 pieces for Aqua Play, 425 pieces each for Dolphin Cave and Sunrise Splash |
| Price | £394 |
| Launch date | July 3, 2026 |
At £394, the Croft Mid-Size Automatic Dolphin Project Limited Edition 2026 sits in the sweet spot for an easygoing summer automatic with a clear point of difference.
It’s likely to appeal most to collectors who enjoy characterful affordable divers, ocean-minded buyers and anyone who wants a watch that doesn’t take the idea of a conservation edition too seriously.
