foversta introduces the RJ-Romain Jerome Moon-DNA "1969" collection, a series that, despite its standard automatic movement, achieves artistic distinction through its design. The author highlights how Manuel Emch and his team successfully balanced a more formal aesthetic with the brand's characteristic boldness, creating a watch that is both elegant and exciting.
At the end, it is not necessary to design a gas plant to create an attractive and original watch. For example, let's take the brand new RJ-Romain Jerome Moon-DNA "1969". If we consider the pure watchmaking perspective, they don't have anything special, since they are powered by the automatic movement with the small second hand at 9 o'clock that derives from 7750 and which is regularly used by the brand. But behind the not very original mechanical context, true artistic fireworks are hidden!
RJ-Romain Jerome was facing a difficult problem to solve: how to propose a more formal, more elegant watch than the radical pieces in the permanent collection without losing the boldness that characterizes the style of the brand? Manuel Emch and his team have achieved this objective by combining a more slender case than usual with shades of light which animate the dial and which become a true show on their own.
The steel case of the 4 watches that make up the Moon-DNA "1969" line is characterized by its diameter (43mm) / thickness (12mm) ratio relatively high which gives it a rather thin design while keeping its homogeneity. Hopefully, it is not an ultra-thin case and this is good news: the case height is large enough to preserve its character and its exciting side. It avoids to be literally and figuratively too flat. I found again, but this time, less pronounced than on the Moon Dust, the 4 lateral protrusions that seem to draw an imaginary cross and visually connect the different elements of the case. The crown is more subtle and is easy to handle thanks to its fluted shape. It is also used with the Skylab, the other novelty which was unveiled at the end of last year, becoming a key component of the new peaceful design from RJ-Romain Jerome.
However, it is the caseback that houses the detail that explains the name of this line "1969" from the Moon-DNA collection: located on the solid back, the Silver Moon is a small silver disc that represents the moon and which contains the dust from our natural satellite. Is it not a nice experience to feel that something which includes extraterrestrial particles is touching our skin? Perhaps this disc has an influence on our mood, who knows? We should measure the evolution of our state of mind and feelings when the watch is worn or not.
More seriously, the caseback has been designed with care and it convinced me a lot. I love the contrast between the lunar disc, beautifully executed and the straight lines by connecting themselves symbolicly draw a constellation of stars. The atmosphere "space conquest" is therefore well transcribed! It can be also found on the sector of the second hand which symbolizes the viewfinder of the Lunar Excursion Module and on the top of the crown which contains the prints of the landing pads of the same module. They are the small details that create the overall consistency and show the care in the design of these watches.
The blue silicon dial is the most spectacular:
There is only one basic ingredient which is missing to complete the aesthetic success of the 4 Moon-DNA "1969" watches. This ingredient is obviously their dials that propel them, not deeply in the solar system but in the galaxy of refreshing watches! I often speak about reflections, lights effects that some materials can provoke depending on how the light illuminates the dial. But in this case, I found myself facing an animated dial far beyond from what I previously observed.
The gray silicon dial:
4 dials are available: 3 silicon ones (blue - gray - brown), 1 "chondrite" meteorite (gray). The latter is the more discreet of the line. It leads to the finest watch , that may be the closest to the concept of a dressed watch. The other 3 are however really amazing and surprising Thanks to the particular structure of silicon and the PVD finish that adds color and shine, the dial illuminates, animates itself, seems to move ... Imagine that each segment of the dial alternates constantly between dark and bright appearance as liquid crystals . The show is permanent and seems driven by a secret energy, such a mirror ball. Despite mesmerizing character and the devouring dial, the readability of the time remains quite satisfactory. Indexes and hands are sufficiently present to be legible and they avoid getting lost in this kaleidoscope.
The meteorite dial, the most discreet and refined one:
The watch that attracted me the most is the one with the blue silicon dial. It benefits the best, in my opinion, the advantages of silicon and it radiates the most its presence. The other watch that stands out is the brown silicon dial one due to its case with black PVD finish. But given the mood and willingness to play with the light, it would be a shame to go to the darkest watch of the line in my humble opinion.
Let it be known! The Moon-DNA "1969" are above all bright and optimistic watches before being the interpretation by RJ-Romain Jerome of what could be a dress watch. They therefore keep well the inherent playful dimension of the brand and it is the most important. Therein lies the success of Manuel Emch and his team: they managed to inject a dose of reason and refinement in their collection without falling into conformity or boredom. On the contrary ... they took the opportunity to explore a new aesthetic way magnified by the surprising dials.
The brown silicon dial:
The 4 watches of the Moon-DNA "1969" are available in limited editions of 99 pieces each with adjusted prices: less than 9,000 CHF for the watches with silicon dial, less than 10,000 CHF for the meteorite dial watch.
Thanks a lot to the RJ-Romain Jerome team for the warm welcome.
Fx
Pros:
+ The slender style of the case
+ The very nice caseback
+ The extraordinary show offered by the dials, especially the blue silicon one
+ The small details that define the "space conquest" atmosphere
Cons:
- The diameter remains large (43mm)
- Watches are sold in limited editions ... it is a pity, they deserved to go into the permanent collection.
This message has been edited by foversta on 2014-03-06 15:03:01 
