RJ – Romain Jerome has evoked memories on an iconic video game from the 1980’s, by creating two limited-editions of Space Invaders timepieces. Those who were addicted to the coin-operated arcade game have gotten a great opportunity to read time from a cool and funny dial, colonized by pixilated figures of the legendary Space Invaders.
The SPACE INVADERS® was created by a Japanese Corporation, TAITO, in 1978, and soon reached global popularity, even causing a shortage of 100-yen coins in Japan. RJ-Romain Jerome used them as an inspiration for new timepieces that pay tribute to these interesting products of the late-20th century pop culture.
Launched in two limited series of 78 pieces (78 pieces imply on the date when the game was released), RJ watches feature 3.5 mm-sized Space invaders, in different colors, in the “day version”, or coated with Superluminova, in the “night version”.
A robust case, with 46 mm in diameter, has a round front and an authentic back that is almost rectangular, which is taken from a Moon Invader Series (released earlier this year, at the Basel Watch Show). Besides, it has an extremely cool feature – steel that is combined with fragments from the Apollo 11 capsule.
This case is constructed like a strongbox, or a space vessel, with four joints which are cut like the pivoting feet of the lunar landing modules. They are both, aesthetic and functional, holding the lugs of a rubber strap and making it adjustable to different wrist sizes.
The caseback is screwed by the RJ security screws (sealed with four cup marks) and covered by a stellar-pattern which represents the lunar surface. It is plated with Moon SilverRJ– a silver alloy with an extremely low oxidization rate, incorporating moon rocks.
By placing himself among the generation of former SPACE INVADERS junkies, Manuel Emch, the CEO of RJ-Romain Jerome, said enough about the enormous popularity of this arcade game. “The game has become a legend for all those who grew up in the 80’s, since it was the first Killer app for video game consoles, installed in gaming arcades. SPACE INVADERS with its pixilated figures was the first ever iconic form of entertainment: thousands of hours of TV programs and hundreds of cultural exhibitions have been devoted to this generational legend”, said Emch.
Haha, you just have to admire these quirky ideas. Looking at this watch makes me feel nostalgic. Nice work!