ROMAIN JEROME | Historical Timepieces from a Young Watch Company

ROMAIN JEROME

Historic Timepieces from a Young Watch Company

Romain Jerome was previously sold at select watch retailers. Some of you may be familiar with the brand. As of this year, Noble Styling has become the official distributor.

Photographs & Text by parametric

Dials and Bezels Infused with DNA

“The company name is said to be derived from the names of two sons of a famous watchmaker. We don’t have detailed information about that watchmaker…” (Mr. Kotoku Yamaguchi, Noble Styling – hereafter referred to as such)

Romain Jerome is a young company, founded in 2004, with its headquarters in Geneva. The founder was Ivan Arpa, former General Director of Hublot, but he has since left Romain Jerome (he recently garnered attention for his new company, ‘ArtyA,’ which unveiled watches incorporating Euro banknotes). The current president is Manuel Emch (former president of ‘Jaquet Droz’).

The brand’s concept is to incorporate the DNA of significant events from the recent past—roughly the last 100 years—into watches, preserving them for the future. This involves integrating ‘materials’ related to these events into the timepieces, transforming them to leave a legacy, or genetic imprint, of that moment.

The collections are the ‘Titanic DNA Collection,’ ‘Moon DNA Collection,’ and ‘Eyjafjallajökull DNA Collection.’

“Titanic DNA Steampunk”
Ref. RJ.T.AU.SP002.01
Price: ¥2.1 million (excluding tax)
Stainless steel case, black PVD
Automatic winding
50mm diameter
Limited to 2012 pieces

The ‘Titanic DNA Collection’ uses parts recovered from the ill-fated ship Titanic as watch components. A distinctive feature is the bezel, crafted from steel salvaged from the Titanic. This is intricately made by combining the rusted Titanic steel with Grade A stainless steel material from the ship’s builder, Harland and Wolff (which still operates as a shipyard today). Naturally, special treatments have been applied to prevent further corrosion. Some gold-toned models incorporate coal dust found in the ship's boiler rooms into the dial.

The ‘Moon DNA Collection’ carries the legacy of Apollo 11. It incorporates parts made with lunar dust and fragments from the spacecraft.

“The black mood dial is said to be mixed with material collected from a film canister that was accidentally dropped on the lunar surface during exploration,”

Material certificate and USB drive for handling
The watch's warranty card, containing the instruction manual and other information.

The etched motif is a footprint on the moon.
Each watch features a serial number

The folding clasp has
a standard buckle.

The ‘Eyjafjallajökull DNA Collection’ uses volcanic ash from the eruption in Iceland two years ago.

In Japan, the release order is ‘Moon DNA Collection,’ ‘Titanic DNA Collection,’ and then ‘Eyjafjallajökull DNA Collection.’

“The Titanic is associated with sinking. Due to retailer preference, the Moon DNA Black Mood from the Moon DNA collection became the first release in Japan.”

As a side note, the Japanese watch industry seems to place importance on auspiciousness. In the past, some companies would write the warranty purchase date as ‘Auspicious Day, Month, Year.’

The movements used are either from La Joux-Perret, a spin-off from the former Jaquet company, or Concept. Each watch comes with a certificate of authenticity for the materials used.

Optional crocodile strap (price undecided). “It’s said to be made by mixing fibers and debris from the Apollo 11 spacesuit,” (Mr. Yamaguchi)

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking, and a commemorative model is planned. Additionally, they are reportedly working on a watch using parts from the DeLorean time machine from ‘Back to the Future.’

“Moon DNA Black Mood”
Ref. MG.FB.BBB.00
Price: ¥2.1 million (excluding tax)
Stainless steel case, black PVD, carbon fiber
Automatic winding
46mm diameter
3 ATM water resistance
Limited to 1969 pieces

The Moon Dust series from the ‘Moon DNA Collection.’ The dial, inspired by lunar craters, features moon dust, while the bezel incorporates steel components from Apollo 11.

“Moon Invader Speed Metal Automatic”
Ref. RJ.M.AU.IN.005.01
Price: ¥1.6 million (excluding tax)
Stainless steel case
Automatic winding
46mm diameter
3 ATM water resistance
Limited to 1969 pieces

This is the Moon Invader series from the Moon DNA Collection. While part of the same collection, it presents a modern aesthetic, completely different from the Black Mood. The case back features a medal made with parts from Apollo 11.

“Moon Invader Space Invaders”
Ref. RJ.M.AU.IN.006.02
Price: ¥2.5 million (excluding tax)
Stainless steel case, black PVD
Automatic winding
46mm diameter
3 ATM water resistance
Limited to 78 pieces

There is also a model inspired by Taito's Space Invaders (available in color and monochrome versions). No parts from the original game console are used. Unfortunately, it does not function as a game. This watch also features a medal on the case back made with parts from Apollo 11.

Noble Styling
Tel. 03-5775-1866
http://noblestyling.com/