Its a me, Mario! For anyone who grew up in the early 80’s and even the 90s, you would have definitely played a Nintendo game featuring Mario! This writer can certainly remember playing Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Kart 64 on the Nintendo 64 in addition to the original Super Mario on the Gameboy. To recreate the nostalgia of many peoples childhood memories, Romain Jerome created the Super Mario Bros in collaboration with Nintendo to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original Super Mario Bros game released in 1985. We recently took a closer look at this colourful timepiece.
The Romain Jerome Super Mario Bros.
The Romain Jerome Super Mario Bros is apart of the Generational Icons series which features watches that pay tribute to other icons such as Batman, Space Invaders and Tetris.
The Case, Dial and Hands of the Romain Jerome Super Mario Bros
The case of the watch is 46mm and is made from grade 5 titanium with black PVD Coating. It is in the signature Moon Invader case shape with its four rounded lugs which form an “X” outline. The lugs have been fitted with safety screws and integrated ball and socket joints to allow for maximum comfort on the wrist. The rounded bezel provides a nice frame for the dial of the watch where the showpiece art is displayed.
The 46mm titanium case is complemented by the colorful dial.
The dial has been made up of three layers giving it a 3D effect. It was designed to reflect to the pixelated graphics of Super Mario Bros when it first come out in 1985. Back then the graphics were very advanced for the time and Romain Jerome have replicated that retro vibe perfectly! The base of the dial is black with its textured pixelated pattern and the RJ Logo. Surfaces were either bead blasted or drawn out to create the 3D feel. The pixelated Mario, the cloud, green bush and the magic mushroom have been all painted by hand with cold enamel and then set onto the dial. These give the dial a wonderful colour and will definitely have the wearer recalling fond memories of trying to obtain a magic mushroom so that Mario would increase in height in the game. The hands are oxidized black and have been stain finished. They have been skeletonized and the tips are filled with blue C1 Superluminova. Matching the colour of the case is the black rubber strap with PVD coated steel folding clasp.
The colourful dial featuring the iconic character Mario jumping through the land!
The Movement
Powering the watch is the RJ001-A self winding movement with a power reserve of 42 hours and water resistance of 30 metres. Romain Jerome doesn’t specify what movement it is but after further research it is a ETA/Valjoux 7750 with chronograph and date functions removed. This is reliable and tested movement. When the dial of the watch is so cool all you need is a workhorse movement to ensure the time is displayed accurately. As the caseback is solid there is no viewing the movement but it has been textured and there is a silver medallion placed on the back of Mario jumping for joy!
The back of the watch features a silver medallion of Mario!
Concluding Thoughts
The Romain Jerome Super Mario is a very cool and fun looking timepiece and will appeal to gamers of old who grew up playing Super Mario Bros. It is a limited of 85 pieces. The number 85 was chosen as a tribute to the year the game was released which was 1985. It is priced at S$24,800, which may seem a little high for a time only watch, but if you would like a memento of your childhood memories which can be passed on to your kids then the Romain Jerome Super Mario is a great choice! A nice tribute to the legendary game Super Mario Bros and its main character Mario!
A different view of the colourful dial of the Romain Jerome Super Mario Bros!
Technical Specifications
Reference: RJ.M.AU.IN.011.01 I Collection: GENERATIONAL ICONS I Universe:
COLLABORATIONS
Caliber RJ001-A – Mechanical self-winding movement
Frequency: 28,800 vph
Jewelling: 23 jewels
Power reserve: 42 hours
Water resistance: 30 atm (30 meters)
Functions: Central hours and minutes
Case: Ø46 mm, black PVD-coated titanium with integrated back
Case back: Grainy-textured stellar-patterned with Super Mario Bros. medallion RJ safety screw exclusively accessible to watchmakers
Dial: Black pixelated 3D dial built on three levels, Pixelated Super Mario Bros. character and elements appliques hand painted in cold enamel with the 30th anniversary colours
Hands: Oxidized black and satin brushed with Superluminova C1 “blue emission”
Lugs: Fitted with safety screws and integrated ball-and-socket joints in Teflon coating
Crown: Black PVD-coated screw-lock
Strap: Black rubber Grainy-textured interior of stellar-patterned with black PVD coatedsteel folding clasp
Limited edition 85 pieces
2 Comments
Am I the only one who thinks this looks like a watch you find in the children’s section of the catalogue. I think computer games are great, and I can understand spending a bit of my own money for a fun watch. But a watch that costs this much, and looks like it does…