ROMAIN JEROME Eyjafjallajökull-DNA

A contemporary legend

With this unique Eyjafjallajökull-DNA model, RJ illustrates the legends of our time and the mythologies that will forge the memory of the 21st century. A timepiece with its finger on the pulse of the latest events, designed with ash from the erupting Eyjafjallajökull which is establishing itself as one of the most intimate symbols of our global contemporary emotions.

As if revealed beneath the dial through a bold stylistic effect and ready to burst forth at any moment, the lava ejected from the core of the planet illustrates an inner strength capable of setting fire to time – in this case held captive by a steel bezel and volcanic ash. Conveying memories of fire and lava, swept over by powerful images of dust and winds, and testifying to primeval energies as well as human vulnerability, the rough, brutal, fissured dial is crafted from ash ejected by the Eyjafjallajökull volcano.

Above and beyond the words and pictures heard and seen over and over again on our TV and computer screens, the visual impact of this form of telluric inevitability serves as a fresh reminder of the inherent vulnerability of our world view. Behind the ash cloud lies the vanity of our philosophies of time.

This one-of-a-kind model is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity confirming that the volcanic rock and the ash do indeed come from the Eyjafjalljökull volcano.

Source: www.romainjerome.ch

Mr Emch, a Swiss born in 1972, studied design at the Art Center in La Tour de Peilz, before gaining a Master’s degree in business at Lausanne University’s Faculty of Business and Economics (HEC). He began his career as a business process re-engineering consultant and a marketing manager in FMCG before joining the Swatch Group in 2001, where he successfully revived the Jaquet Droz brand, transforming it into one of the finest references in the field of fine watchmaking. He was also appointed to the Group’s Extended Management Board, with special responsibilities for a broad territory encompassing Russia, other Eastern European countries and Central Asia.

The winner of several watch design awards, Manuel Emch is gifted with considerable skills in the field of establishing and consolidating brand identity, which he ably demonstrated at Jaquet Droz, notably by initiating and designing two of his “brainchildren”: the iconic Grande Seconde and the now legendary Machine à Ecrire le Temps. He also brings to Romain Jerome his considerable experience in the fields of production and sales, having contributed to the construction of the brand-new Jaquet Droz manufacturing facility; as well as supervising the creation of a worldwide distribution network including 200 points of sale and 6 own-name boutiques.

Structuring a strong creative base

Romain Jerome, founded in 2004, has become renowned for its “DNA of Famous Legends”. This bold theme was first introduced with the Titanic-DNA watches incorporating material from the sunken liner, and which turned watchmakers’ fiercest enemy, rust, into an unexpected ally. Most recently, Romain Jerome has chosen to celebrate another legendary and truly universal human adventure with its Moon Dust-DNA, made from the metal of spacecraft and moon dust, and accompanied by a certificate from the Association of Space Explorers (ASE).

Commenting on this appointment, the company directors expressed their satisfaction with having recruited a talented individual with proven abilities in terms of structural organisation and brand building, specifying that he will be supported in his task by the existing team, along with the new Sales Director, Giancarlo Mantuano, formerly dtribution Director for Zino Davidoff. The Board also reaffirmed its determination to support the new magement by pursuing investments in all fields essential to corporate development including production, marketing and distribution. Mr. Emch stated his intention to pursue a strategy based on the philosophy of legends, exploring the concept in new directions, as well as continuing to focus on the emotional content of Romain Jerome watches.

Source: Swisstime.ch

The redesigned Romain Jerome website

Romain Jerome is putting its new website online and inviting you to enter the refined and mysterious universe of its Titanic-DNA and Moon Dust-DNA collections.

View our timepieces from another angle, on your own screens!

www.romainjerome.ch is intended as a faithful virtual mirror of Romain Jerome, combining watchmaking luxury, innovation and creativity, while reflecting the offbeat spirit of the House. Echoing its exceptional Objet d’art and Collection pieces, it offers clear and dynamic surfing through the countless cyber-tourist attractions of the RJ world.

It serves as a window onto the body and soul of Romain Jerome thanks to sections entitled The RJ Spirit, The Creator and Know-How. Its informative role includes covering all the latest events and releases on the decidedly “hyperactive” brand via the News and Press Review zones. This resolutely interactive site will also enable visitors to subscribe to a periodical Newsletter and to download various Goodies as well as the on-line Catalogue, while professionals are catered for via the Press Lounge.

Newcomers and connoisseurs alike will appreciate its understated, ergonomic and infinitely smooth navigating style.

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Yvan Arpa

Comment from the editor

I would recommend visiting this website, especially since Business Montres & Joaillerie, reported yesterday that Yvan Arpa, Nicolas Lepot, Kalina Kotseva, Katidja Valy, Julie Guichard, the so called “five fingers of the hand” of Romain Jerome had to leave the company. Watch connoisseurs are wondering about the future of Romain Jerome without Yvan Arpa. You can find the full article here.

ROMAIN JEROME - Tourbillon Steampunk A la Grande

Setting the crowning touch to the success of the new self-winding Titanic-DNA watches revisited in grand style, or A la Grande, Romain Jerome presents an original creation, the Tourbillon Steampunk A la Grande.

Within an exceptional timepiece featuring intensely accentuated physical characteristics, brand CEO and designer Yvan Arpa has brought together distinctive bolts, an anchor-shaped off-centred oscillating weight, 6-sided screws, Roman numerals, characteristic paws, a tourbillon, the collection’s trademark rust, along with a number of springs and rivets…. The result is a fascinating blend of apparent anarchy and undeniably noble charm.

The Tourbillon Steampunk echoes the A la Grande design of the Titanic-DNA collection and features a generously sized 50 mm-diameter case that reaches a full 53 mm including the screw-locked crown or the paws. The latter come in steel, ceramic or 5N pink gold depending on the model, and are applied to the entirely riveted oxidised bezel. Fashioned using 80 rivets hand-applied by the watchmaking craftsmen of the Maison Romain Jerome, the latter is inspired by the hull and the boiler room of the famous ocean liner.

The dial-free Tourbillon Steampunk proudly displays its personalised RJ 2 movement exclusively developed by Concepto and decorated in harmony with the collection signature features. The transversal cross is symbolised on this model by four bolts (including two mounted on springs), vividly evoking watertight hatches used in the marine world. The 12 o’clock Roman numeral in satin-brushed and bevelled steel makes a striking contrast with the mirror-polished finish of the mainplate and the tourbillon carriage bridge. The rear of the movement features an off-centred bidirectional oscillating weight shaped like a ship’s anchor.

Technical Specifications: Titanic-DNA, Tourbillon Steampunk A la Grande

Function: Hour, minute, tourbillon
Movement: RJ 2 Concepto. Mechanical movement with automatic winding-mechanism with an off-centred bidirectional oscillating weight shaped like an anchor
Frequency: 21′600 A/h
Number of jewels: 27 rubies
Power reserve: 72 hours
Case: Steel, titanium. Diameter 50 mm
Paws: Polished steel
Hands: Steel with Superluminova, inspired by the anchor of the Titanic
Bezel: Stabilised oxidized steel* A la Grande
Water resistance: 5 atm
Strap: Crocodile full Hornback skin or black rubber
Clasp: Polished steel folding buckle
Limited Edition: 9 pieces

Also available in Pink gold and rust

*The rusted steel horological creations in the ‘Titanic DNA’ series features an oxidized steel bezel which is the result of an extraordinary blend of authentic steel from the wreck lying 3840 meters under the sea, and from the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, where the Titanic was constructed nearly a century ago. Official certificates of authenticity guarantee the origin of materials used.

ROMAIN JEROME - Titanic-DNA: A la Grande

As part of its Titanic-DNA collection, timepieces inspired by and created in homage to the greatest maritime legend of the last century – The Titanic – the house of Romain Jerome presents a new interpretation of its automatic model: A la Grande

For Baselworld 2009, Yvan Arpa, CEO and designer of Romain Jerome, is re-interpreting the icon of his Titanic-DNA collection, bringing together into an original creation the exacerbated physical characteristics which have made his timepieces so successful, and which are here revisited in the grand style – A la Grande!

A la Grande presents a case with dimensions which are more generous than those of its predecessor, with a diameter of 50 mm, attaining 53 mm including the screw crown or clasps, the later being made of steel, ceramic or 5N pink gold depending on the model, and applied on a fully riveted oxidized bezel with pieces applied by hand by the craftsmen of the house of Romain Jerome.

The transverse cross which is an essential part of the design of the tourbillons and chronographs of the collection integrates the dial of the automatics and takes charge of the noble oxidation process *. Fashioned with 116 rivets, it is inspired by the hull and the boilers of the celebrated ship.

According to Yvan Arpa, « A la Grande is a piece which, in its design and its realization, aims towards the original design which I imagined creating for this collection in tribute to the Titanic. It will have taken us two years to fully master how to handle the rust and integrate it on the dials. In my family in Italy, when we invite friends to our house, we do things A la Grande, which means “without any compromise”, with the best possible food and wine to delight our guests. This is exactly the spirit that I wanted to convey in this timepiece. »

Technical Specifications

Movement: Concepto by Jacquet C22RJ51
Case: Steel, black ceramic. Diameter 50 mm.
Paws: Polish steel
Dial: Black with coal resulting from Titanic
Hands: Steel with Superluminova, inspired by the anchor of Titanic
Bezel: Stabilised oxidized steel*
Water resistancy: 5 Atm.
Function: Hour, minute
Strap: Crocodile full Hornback skin or black rubber
Clasp: Polished steel Folding Buckle
Limited Edition: 2012 pieces

*The rusted steel horological creations in the ‘Titanic DNA’ series features an oxidized steel bezel which is the result of an extraordinary blend of authentic steel from the wreck lying 3840 meters under the sea, and from the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, where the Titanic was constructed nearly a century ago. Official certificates of authenticity guarantee the origin of materials used.

Source: Romain Jerome

Romain Jerome Managing Director, Yvan Arpa

The Chinese ideogram for crisis, Wei Ji, comprises two parts: “Wei” meaning “danger” and “Ji” meaning “opportunity”.

The prevailing pessimism has not affected the Geneva watchmaker, according to Yvan Arpa, its Managing Director: “We don’t only manufacture luxury products, we create luxury. The materiality of the crisis has not affected the environment and values we have established.”

Romain Jerome: A Revolution in Watchmaking

DNA of Famous Legends: A new marketing proposal that stands out from among the hundreds of brands that make up the FH, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. Geneva-based watchmaker Romain Jerome was founded in 2004 by a private equity fund. In 2006, with the arrival of Mr. Yvan Arpa, the company gained new momentum and began to create exceptional timepieces inspired by, and created in tribute to, the great legends of our time. Unprecedented in the field of watchmaking, Romain Jerome offers its customers the opportunity to acquire a part of history by creating highly emotional timepieces integrating the DNA of a legend. Its products are the fruit of Swiss watchmaking tradition and bear the label “Swiss made”. They combine watchmaking complications, innovative materials and bold design.

The Romain Jerome Team

Yvan Arpa is supported by a small but exceptional team made up, for the most part, of unusual personalities from various backgrounds. “The skills and abilities of each one do not come from one particular sector. The closed world of watchmaking works in isolation and is hostage to a narrow mindset which hampers those who work in it.” Romain Jerome has ten employees, including three trainees, based at its headquarters, an apartment in downtown Geneva. Its production unit is located on the outskirts of the city and includes about ten employees.

A revolution in watchmaking – from 2006 to today

• 2006: Appointment of Yvan Arpa as Managing Director of Romain Jerome
• Basle 2007: Launch of the Titanic-DNA collection: timepieces integrating oxidized steel from the Titanic
• November 2007: Marketing of the Titanic-DNA collection
• Basle 2008: CHF 50 million of placed orders. Setting up of a distribution network with 75 sales points
• November 2008: Inauguration of the Moon Dust-DNA collection, timepieces integrating authentic moon dust. Marketing planned for June 2009
• January 2009 : closing of financial year 2008

1. Total sales of CHF 25 million, three times initial objectives for 2008 and six times total sales for 2007
2. Ratio EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes)/Turnover exceeds 20%
3. 2009 January sales: year-on-year increase of 400%

Contact : Katidja Valy
k.valy@romainjerome.ch

Day&Night Spiral © ROMAIN JEROME

The concept of Day&Night, a timepiece that does not tell the time, was such a success that Romain Jerome has responded to customers’ demand by developing a new limited edition of 9 timepieces… with hands!

Launched in 2008 at Baselworld, Day&Night was a potent symbol of the philosophical thinking of watchmakers Romain Jerome. It brought a new system of time measurement hingeing on the sequential operation of two Tourbillons that divided the temporal world into two segments: day versus night.

Received with immense public acclaim, but also evoking considerable controversy, this creation of Haute Horlogerie, formerly devoid of hands, is now entrusted with the contradictory and conventional task of displaying the time of day as ordinary people understand it – what a heresy!

However, Right-Thinking people should not rejoice too soon: the new edition of Day&Night changes tack and this time celebrates watchmaking creativity by offering food for thought on the creative freedom of the movement, symbolized here by a spiral applied on its dial.

Let its fervent admirers be reassured. The Day&Night with its spiral dial is more than ever a symbol of the creativity of a watchmaking House that in this way asserts its determination to defend freedom of expression – in the arts!

Technical Specifications

Movement: “RJ One” created by BNB exclusively for RJ
Case: steel and titanium. Diameter 46 mm.
Paws: black ceramic
Dial: metal blade made of brass in the form of an Archimedes spiral
Functions: sequential Double Tourbillon, hours, minutes
Bezel: stabilized oxidized steel from the Titanic*
Back: sapphire crystal with double antireflective treatment / bridges in stylized cross design
Glass: sapphire crystal with double antireflective treatment
Water resistance: 5 atm.
Strap: full Hornback crocodile leather
Clasp: folding clasp
Limited edition: 9 pieces

* The oxidized steel bezels are a product of the astonishing fusion of authentic steel from the wreck of the Titanic, lying 3,840 metres deep on the sea-bed, and steel supplied by the shipbuilders Harland & Wolff of Belfast, where the Titanic was built nearly a century ago. A notarized certificate authenticates the origin of the materials used.

www.romainjerome.ch

The truth about Roswell © Romain Jerome

Exclusive Limited Edition

Technical specifications

BNB Caliber 1000RJ Tourbillon
Mechanical movement with manual winding-mechanism
A one-minute tourbillon suspended without ball bearing is arranged at 6 O’clock
Frequency: 21,600 vph
Jewels: 19
Power reserve: 120 hours
Function: hours, minutes, tourbillon
Dial: mineral structure containing Moon dust*
Case: 46 mm
Bezel: Carbon fibres evoke solar panels of spacecraft – titanium and steel comprising fragments from the Apollo XI spacecraft*
Paws: rusted steel melted with fragments of the Soyuz spacecraft*

Star screw
Crown designed as space tools
Hands inspired by Sputnik antennas
Strap: alligator leather partly woven with fibres from an ISS* spacesuit
Buckle: satin-brushed steel
Exclusive Limited edition of 9 pieces

*Romain Jerome guarantees that the origin of each of these materials is duly certified by a legal document authenticated in Switzerland. Each piece in the Moon Dust-DNA collection will also be accompanied by a certificate from the Association of Space Explorers (ASE) saluting the approach of Romain Jerome and the tribute it is thereby rendering to the conquest of space.

Contact : Katidja Valy
k.valy@romainjerome.ch