A Swiss luxury brand from Geneve, Romain Jerome, has launched yet another original watch named Liberty-DNA timepiece. As it is clearly visible from the design of the timekeeper, the main theme is the Statue of Liberty whose 125 anniversary was in fact the inspiration for the creation of the limited series. As it is usual for all the timepieces from the DNA lineage, these commemorative watches incorporate a part of the colossal landmark they are dedicated to. Not only that this model features an original bezel, never before seen in the timekeepers by RJ, which replicates the shape of the Miss Liberty’s crown, the Verdigris dial of the timepiece is made from the pieces of oxidized copper, taken from the statue, in order to provide its wearers the privilege to have a bit of historic value on their wrists.
RJ- Romain Jerome is the recently new watchmaker that has been in the industry since 2004. In the short period of its existence, it was able to strongly position itself on the market as one of the most respected timepiece manufacturers, mostly thanks to the quirky and extremely original designs (for example its Space Invaders product), combined with technically pristine mechanical calibers. As in case with the Liberty timekeeper, other interesting products with the DNA designation utilize materials from the source and inspiration of the watch. This is visible in the timepieces from three central series by the brand: Titanic-DNA, Moon-DNA and Eyjafjallajokull-DNA (named after the Volcano in Iceland that became known around the globe when it paralyzed Europe a couple of years ago). The practice of the physical incorporation of the place that influenced the creation of the watch was also visible in the Rock the Rock DNA timekeeper that the Swiss manufacturer constructed for the last year’s edition of the Only Watch charity auction.
A Bronze Bezel with Twelve Spikes
As it has been mentioned, the new Liberty-DNA (with the reference number RJ.T.AU.LI.001.01) has a dial made from the copper of the famous New York landmark which became the symbol of freedom around the world. This was possible because RJ made this watch in the collaboration with Gold Leaf Corporation and The Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, in order to celebrate a century and a quarter of the statue’s existence.. Furthermore, there is a bunch of visual cues that replicate the style of its archetype, the most obvious of them being its bronze bezel with a crown-shaped guard that utilizes the Lady Liberty’s diadem as the influence. Unlike its original that features seven spikes, the bronze guard has 12 of them that serve as hour markers. It is a very successful choice being functional, and at the same time, a very subtle way of incorporating the elements of the renowned landmark in the design of the timekeeper. Since it is just like the bezel constructed from bronze, it will develop a patina over the years, and will become even more appealing and closer to the original. The stark and charismatic watch by Romain Jerome includes only hour and minute hands which are faceted, sand-blasted and polished, and in the matching bronze color.
Still, it is a pretty notable timepiece which is undoubtedly the case with a watch that has the substantial diameter of 46 mm. The round case is forged from stainless steel with black PDV coating. The patriotic theme of the watch is clearly visible at the back of the case which features engravings that show the flames of freedom lighting up the stars and stripes of the flag of the U.S. Inside the steel case, Liberty-DNA has a self-winding mechanical caliber RJ001-A movement with 23 jewels. The automatic caliber runs at the frequency of 28,800 vph and has a power storage that lasts for about 42 hours. As the manufacturer specifies, the featured water resistance of the watch is 30 meters (100 feet).
The bronze elements and the oxidized Verdigris dial are combined with a brown alligator leather strap that has a vintage finish, a touch that resonates the overall Lady Liberty theme once again. Romain Jerome is presented in the limited edition that consists of 125 pieces, where every single watch serves as a tribute to each year of the monument’s existence. Romain Jerome Liberty-DNA vintage styled watch retails at $14,900.
