Fascinated by our universe and man’s accomplishments, Romain Jerome reinterprets contemporary history through the design of a new and aesthetically advanced timepiece, the Skylab. The infinity of space has intrigued mankind for centuries. When Magellan established the spherical shape of our planet or when Galileo, the father of modern observational astronomy, discovered Heliocentrism — astronomical model in which the earth and planets revolve around a relatively stationary sun at the center of the solar system—, the reality of space changed the vision of contemporary dreamers.
In honor of these discoveries, Romain Jerome has imagined a new timepiece with an avant-garde design and to be the first skeletonized timepiece from the manufacture. Named Skylab after NASA’s first space station and celebrating the 40th anniversary of its launch, the Skylab is available in three limited edition references —99 pieces each— featuring parts of the Apollo 11 in their 44 mm diameter cases, a skeletonized dial, a display case back and black calf straps with pin buckle. The Skylab Red ref. RJ.M.AU.028.01 features a black PVD-coated steel case with red gold bezel and polished black-PVD coated steel lugs and paws; the Skylab Speed Metal ref. RJ.M.AU.025.01 features a satin-finished black PVD-coated steel case with black PVD-coated bezel and lugs and paws in polished steel; lastly, the Skylab Heavy Metal ref. RJ.M.AU.023.01 features a satin-finished stainless steel case with satin-finished stainless steel bezel and lugs and paws in polished steel.
The generous yet refined case nests a complex five layered skeletonized movement giving place to one’s imagination: every single component of the movement looks like it is floating in space carefully held by angled bridges that recall the geometrical patterns of a computer mother board. At the same time, the display case back enhances the sense of zero gravity highlighting the single barrel at 12 o’clock and revealing the balance wheel at 6 o’clock while the Romain Jerome’s monogram subtly appears at 3 o’clock on the inferior level. The beating heart inside the new Skylab is the manual wound Romain Jerome calibre RJ004-M with 21 jewels and which provides a power reserve of 48 hours when fully wound.
Externally, the timepieces’ paws have been enlarged to enhance this new model while the lugs have been hollowed to lighten the watch and create a unique case closing system with fewer visible screws than on a regular timepiece. By enabling the main parts of the movement to be seen, the architecture of the skeleton shines in anthracite or represents the infinity of space in black PVD coated-steel, both declinations are finished with a hand drawn stroke. True to the DNA of the brand each watch contains material from Apollo 11 mission on the bezel. The brands new design is a testimony to the conquest of space and the underlying dreams that made it possible.
Sticker Price $18,950 USD Skylab Heavy Metal and Speed Metal. $21,950 USD Skylab Red. For more info on Romain Jerome click here.
