The eight arms of a new chapter in the contemporary Legends sagaTitanic-DNA by RJ-Romain Jerome: The OCTOPUS
This is the very first diver’s watch conceived by RJ-Romain Jerome. CEO Manuel Emch wanted it to be different in terms of both its aesthetic expression and its technical execution. It carries the large X-shaped intersection found on dials in the RJ-Romain Jerome collections. It also features the oxidised and stabilised metal concept that created such a shock wave in the watch industry by breaking the watchmaking taboo on rust and has now become an integral part of RJ-Romain Jerome’s pioneering identity.
A diver’s instrument must of course be both highly legible and functional. Superluminova-enhanced to create a vivid contrast on the under side of the sapphire crystal, the minutes turning in step with the rotation of the bezel and serving a vital role in timing decompression stages, stand out clearly against the dark dial background. The standard watch minutes are engraved on the inner bezel ring, with blue emission Superluminova-treated markers. The hour and minute hands are also luminescent, while the seconds hand is tipped by an easily readable dot in Superluminova. Like all professional diver’s watches, the Octopus is driven by a self-winding movement.
The Octopus, named after the ocean giant that became a powerful symbol in Jules Verne’s famous novel Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea, is first and foremost a sports watch and a genuine diver’s model: it is equipped with an exclusive unidirectional rotating bezel system held by four external pawls, thus enabling the Octopus to maintain the four signature “paws “ of RJ-Romain Jerome cases, while remaining perfectly suited for diving. A small amount of oxidised and stabilised steel from the Titanic – another maritime giant – has been incorporated into the notched bezel. The crown with its eight rivets is naturally screw-locked, since this model is prepared to venture to depths of 888 feet (270 m).
Octopus boasts lines that are virile and expressive, but never brutal, in harmony with the RJ-Romain Jerome design codes, including the rough yet non-aggressive dial with its carefully satin-brushed traverse struts. The rugged appearance of the Octopus style makes a striking contrast with the meticulous watchmaking care devoted to each detail of the finishing and to the refined red gold accents on certain models. The RJ logo stands out in 3D. Eight 8-sided screws serve to secure the case and strap – which echoes the shape of the “suction cups” found on the tentacles of an octopus; and eight other screws are featured the back of the 46 mm case, engraved with an Octopus which thereby becomes the symbol of the conquest of great depths successfully undertaken by RJ-Romain Jerome.
Destined to become a future pillar of the RJ-Romain Jerome sports collections, the Octopus is naturally issued a range of different versions and finishes.