Watch Paparazzi

Actor Dominic Purcell spotted wearing Bausele Watches

Bausele Australia's promotional campaign for the Ocean Moon II Drover put actor Dominic Purcell front and center — fitting, given that the brand was looking to punch above its weight against established Swiss sport-watch names. The image, released alongside renewed buzz around Prison Break's revival season, shows Purcell with his hands clasped, the Drover sitting squarely on his wrist, its black dial and steel bezel unmistakable even at a distance.

The Ocean Moon II Drover is a 46mm stainless-steel chronograph powered by a Swiss ETA/Sellita-based movement, delivering tachymeter-scaled sub-registers, a date window at six o'clock, and the brand's signature 'Low Tide' inscription on the inner chapter ring — a nod to Australian coastal culture. The dial is matte black with luminous baton indices and Arabic numerals at 12 and 4, giving it a deliberately asymmetric, contemporary layout. Inside the crown, Bausele encapsulates a fragment of Australian material — in the Drover's case, Australian earth — a patented technique that defines the brand's origin story and differentiates it from generic Swiss-made sport watches.

Founded by French-born, Sydney-based entrepreneur Christophe Hoppe in 2012, Bausele positions itself at the intersection of Swiss watchmaking precision and Australian identity. The Ocean Moon II line — named for tidal patterns — represents the brand's most sport-forward collection, targeting active buyers who want Swiss movement credentials without the six-figure price tags of established dive or chronograph brands. The Drover variant specifically references Australia's outback heritage, a counterpart to the coastal-themed models in the same family.

Purcell's role as ambassador was a smart alignment for both parties. His tattooed, physically imposing image matched the Drover's rugged aesthetic, and his global profile from Prison Break gave Bausele reach into markets — particularly the US and Europe — where the brand was still building recognition. The campaign photography, shot in a dark, industrial palette, suited the watch's character far better than a traditional lifestyle shoot would have.

At an RRP equivalent to roughly $780–$850 USD at the time of release, the Ocean Moon II Drover occupies the accessible end of Swiss-movement chronographs, competing with mid-tier offerings from Victorinox, Ball, and Raymond Weil. Grey-market activity on Bausele remains limited given the brand's niche status, but the ambassador campaign with Purcell measurably raised its collector profile in the English-speaking world.