DJV, a profile of Dejavu, the brand born from a rebuildable
Search for DJV and the results make an odd mix. A cordless jigsaw turns up, then a playback tool used in film and animation studios, and somewhere in between a small maker of vaping hardware. The one we are interested in also goes by the name Dejavu, and it is mostly known to people who build their own coils. How did such a low-key outfit earn a place on vape shop shelves, and what does its catalogue say about rebuildable culture?
Who is DJV, the vaping brand?
DJV, also known as Dejavu, is a vaping hardware brand whose first product, in 2017, was a rebuildable atomiser, the Dejavu RDTA, and that kind of product still carries its reputation. The company describes itself as a business built on a passion for vaping, with an in-house designer, who also signs as Dejavu, aiming for premium, functional and simple objects. Its current catalogue covers atomisers, regulated mods, a mechanical mod and a few cartridge devices.
A rebuildable tank as a birth certificate
The brand began with one specific object rather than a range. To make sense of that first product, it helps to recall what an RDTA is and why the format appealed to vapers in 2017.
The RDTA, a dripper sitting on a tank
An RDTA (rebuildable dripping tank atomiser) puts the build deck above a reservoir of e-liquid. The cotton wicks dip into that reservoir and soak themselves, so there is no need to drip liquid onto the coils every few puffs as with a dripper. The user winds their own coils, chooses the wire and cotton, then sets the airflow. If any of those terms is new, our UK vape glossary explains them one at a time.
The original Dejavu RDTA of 2017
The first model was 25 mm wide and held 2 ml of e-liquid. It only took dual-coil builds, on posts drilled with three holes each, and it filled through a spring-loaded centre column. In October 2017 Vaping Post gave it 4 out of 5, praising its finish and its above-average flavour for an airy atomiser. The same review pointed to its small capacity, filling that depends on the bottle nozzle, and a slight whistle from the airflow.
The DJV RDTA V2, a clear evolution
With its second version, the brand went back to its first idea rather than leaving it behind. The DJV RDTA V2 keeps the dual-coil deck and the spring-loaded centre fill, but works on a larger scale.
According to the manufacturer’s page, it measures 26 mm across and is listed at 5.2 ml. Its two-post deck is designed to make dual-coil builds easier, the airflow adjusts from underneath with a supplied kit, and the 510 pin is gold-plated. Retailers describe a stainless steel body and a draw that runs from open direct lung to restricted direct lung (DL to RDL), which points it at direct-lung vapers first, a style covered in our guide to MTL vs DTL.
The maker offers it in three finishes, Sirocco Grey, Midnight Black and Clear. The box holds a glass tube, a screwdriver, the airflow kit and a bag of spares (screws and a tank seal). Several shops also list an edition made with Vaping Bogan and an engraved finish called Fiber Engrave.
Reading the 5.2 ml figure from the UK
That capacity deserves a closer look, because it does not travel well. In the UK, refillable tanks on vaping products are limited to 2 ml, and nicotine e-liquid is capped at 20 mg/ml and sold in bottles of no more than 10 ml.
The official RDTA V2 page does not mention a 2 ml version. The original Dejavu RDTA, by contrast, sat within that limit by design. Before buying, it is worth checking the capacity stated on the retailer’s listing and whether a compliant glass section is supplied.
The jump from 2 ml to 5.2 ml also says a lot about the intended buyer. The brand is not chasing the newcomer, but the vaper who builds coils, compares wires and wants a dense draw. Anyone who has never built a coil will find it easier to start with hardware that takes ready-made coil heads.
The DJV catalogue beyond atomisers
Reducing the brand to its RDTAs would miss part of the picture. The manufacturer’s site lists around ten products, which fall into fairly distinct families.
Mods, a mechanical tube and an AIO
On the battery side, DJV makes the D7, a 180 W mod with temperature control, the Neon, and a mechanical mod called the Mecha. That last one is for experienced users only, since a mechanical mod has no protective electronics and sends the battery’s charge straight to the coil. The Pocket AIO rounds off this side of the range in an all-in-one format.
Cartridge devices
The brand has also added cartridge-based products such as the HEX, sold alongside its replacement cartridges. In search results, though, shops mainly put the atomisers forward, and those remain the way most people come across DJV.
What DJV says about rebuildable culture
The brand’s path reflects a wider shift. In the mid-2010s, part of the vaping community wanted control over its hardware, building its own coils and favouring small batches over big brands. Independent designers, often from that community, then launched atomisers of their own.
DJV belongs to that generation. The designer’s name and the brand’s name merge, the first product still shapes the latest one, and editions made with other names in vaping, such as the RDTA V2 made with Vaping Bogan, give the range a collector’s appeal more than a mass-market one.
Rebuildables also produced their own pastimes, from cloud chasing to flavour competitions. A dual-coil deck and generous airflow still need a little upkeep, which our guide on how to clean a vape covers step by step.
FAQ
A few questions come up often about the brand, its name and how its atomisers are used. The answers draw on the manufacturer’s and retailers’ published information.
What does DJV stand for?
The three letters are the short form of Dejavu, the name the brand and its designer go by. Shops use either one, sometimes both together.
Is an RDTA suitable for a new vaper?
Rarely. You need to know how to wind wire, check a coil’s resistance and place cotton without flooding the deck. A beginner is better off learning those steps before buying this kind of atomiser.
Which mod suits a 26 mm atomiser?
One with a top plate at least 26 mm wide, so the atomiser does not overhang. The power setting also has to match the resistance of the coils fitted, which the mod’s screen lets you check.
What e-liquid works in a dual-coil RDTA?
Thicker liquids with a high vegetable glycerine share are generally advised on airy hardware of this kind. A liquid that is too thin can leak through the airflow once the cotton is saturated.
Where can I find a DJV user manual?
The manufacturer’s official site hosts manuals for several products, including the RDTA, the Pocket AIO and the HEX. They are linked from its home page.
DJV, the legacy of a first atomiser
Nine years after its first atomiser, the brand is still loyal to the object that made its name. The RDTA has grown, the catalogue now reaches mods and cartridge devices, yet the identity still rests on a dual-coil deck drawn by an enthusiast.
For anyone interested in vaping culture, DJV shows the place small makers hold in the history of rebuildables. A brand can grow out of one well-thought-out object, as long as it stays clear about who it is made for.
Further reading
Editorial content for adult readers only. Nicotine vaping products are not for sale to anyone under 18 in the UK, and nicotine is a highly addictive substance. This article is not a buying recommendation.
