Considering the importance of Mexican consumers from a watch collecting standpoint, Romain Jerome celebrates and commemorates this holiday with a limited edition timepiece decorated with a traditional colorful skull emulating the look of the traditional sugar skulls —'calaveritas'— of this Mexican holiday.
'Dia de los Muertos' —Day of the Dead— is a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 2nd throughout all of Mexico and it has been classified by the UNESCO as 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity'. The holiday focuses on remembering friends and family members who have passed while setting up private altars at home —called 'ofrendas'— to honor the deceased. The altars include pictures of the deceased, votive candles, Mexican marigolds —cempasúchil flowers—, sugar skulls —calaveritas— and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed. Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl.
The Romain Jerome 'Día de los Muertos' ref. RJ.T.AU.FM.001.01 is available in a limited edition of 25 pieces in two different versions with or without spiral micro pave black diamonds on the bezel. This watch is fitted with a black PVD coated steel case —with encrusted black diamonds around the bezel— measuring 46mm in diameter, a black ceramic bezel, a black mirror-polished dial with skull shaped applique adorned with a 'champlevé' cold enameled decoration, a polished RJ logo at 4 o'clock and black satin brushed arrow-shaped hands with superluminova on the tips. The seven colors on the skull are representative of the seven stages through which the soul of the dead must pass —according to the Aztec beliefs— before being able to rest in peace. The texture and finish on the skull applique is just flawlessly executed and a real treat to the eyes. Opposed to what most stock images depict, the flowers on the skull are pink and not red providing the perfect contrast against the cream background of the skull and the blackness of the timepiece.
Just as with any other Romain Jerome timepieces, the case is very solid and massive but quite comfortable. The case features the traditional claws and hex screws on the case band and this particular watch is fitted with a very unique and nicely decorated solid case back. The beating heart inside this fascinating limited edition timepiece is the automatic calibre RJ001-A fitted with 23 jewels and which provides a power reserve of 42 hours when fully wound while beating at a frequency of 28,800 vph.
The Romain Jerome 'Día de los Muertos' is fitted with a beautiful black hornback alligator strap with deployant buckle that rounds up the interesting and fascinating design of the watch.
On the wrist, the 'Día de los Muertos' Limited Edition wears true to its size and quite comfortably. The wrist presence of this watch is spectacular and if you want to highlight the pink flowers on the skull even more, make sure you pair it with a pink shirt or any shirt with pink accents. If you are Mexican or just someone that worships 'la calaca tilica y flaca' this watch is a must have.
Sticker Price $21,450 USD. For more info on Romaine Jerome click here.
