A watch characterised by three icons, the new Reservoir LabelNoir Popeye Limited Edition see’s Swiss watchmaker Reservoir combine forces with bespoke watch customisation retailer LabelNoir to pair a stealthy DLC coated case – something of a speciality for LabelNoir – with the famed cartoon character of Popeye.
Collaboration watches are becoming a major trend right now, just as much as luxury timepieces adorned with our favourite cartoon characters. The new Reservoir LabelNoir Popeye Limited Edition watch is both, embodying the brave, salty spirit of Popeye with the creativity of LabelNoir. Popeye is a one of those few characters the entire world is familiar with, first introduced on January 17, 1929, by E.C. Segar in the “Thimble Theatre” comic series. The sailor has since portrayed a rough-and-ready, spinach-loving underdog with a heart of gold, his growing biceps at the consumption of greens making him one of the most popular cartoon characters of the 20th century. This is certainly not the first time there’s been a Popeye watch (a particular Bamford Watch Department model comes to mind) but this new collaborative timepiece is the sailor’s latest canvas.
Familiar to Reservoir is a talent for boldness and originality which we can safely say is shared within the new 200-piece limited edition Reservoir LabelNoir Popeye watch. Boasting a philosophy much the same, LabelNoir feels like a natural partner for the Swiss watchmaker, utilising their own customisation techniques in watchmaking to employ a grey DLC coating to the Popeye watch’s titanium case. The coating is beautifully satin-finished, adding a clean and contemporary finish to the 41.5mm architecture. The case maintains Reservoir’s famous silhouette with slightly curved lugs and the signature knurling on the crown. The crown is screw down assisting in a 50 metre water resistant rating.
The dial of the Reservoir LabelNoir Popeye Limited Edition watch is the highlight of the design. The matte grey dial features a beautifully bold, hand painted picture of Popeye in full charge surrounded by bright white comic book-style indices for the hour markers. In typical Reservoir fashion, the dial has a 240° retrograde configuration which means the minutes are presented upon three-fourths of the surface while the running hours are displayed in the large aperture placed at the cartoon sailor’s feet. Popeyes arm indicates the running minutes moving from the “00” at what would normally be 8 o’clock and the “60” at 4 o’clock. When the minutes reaches the 60, the arm snaps back to the “00” position”.
Powering this complex yet beautiful retrograde display is the Reservoir Calibre RSV-240, an automatic winding movement which was only recently launched in the spring of this year. It was produced in association with TELOS, a Swiss engine manufacturer and uses the LJP-G100 base with a patented, proprietary 113-pieces module. Alongside the aforementioned retrograde minute and jumping hour, the movement promises a 56 hour power reserve and a running frequency of 28,800vph. You can admire the movement through the case back of the Reservoir LabelNoir Popeye watch including the Reservoir-signed, Cotes de Geneve striped rotor. The exhibition case back is also adorned with a winking Popeye painting at its centre.
Completing the Reservoir LabelNoir Popeye Limited Edition watch is a comfortable grey nubuck leather strap with red and grey stitching and a grey DLC pin buckle. The watch is also delivered in a special white wooden box adorned with the image of “The Popeye Family. An additional Chrome Painted Figurine of “Popeye eating spinach” and a special Popeye embroidery also accompanies the watch inside the box.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Reservoir LabelNoir Popeye watch and shop one of the 200 limited edition pieces for yourself, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 41.5mm
- Case Material: Titanium with grey DLC coating
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw down
- Case Back: Exhibition with Popeye painting
- Water Resistance: 50 metres
- Movement: Calibre RSV-240 automatic winding movement
- Functions: Retrograde minutes and jumping hours
- Power Reserve: 56 hours
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Matte grey dial with hand-painted figure of Popeye, retrograde minutes indicated by Popeye’s right arm, jumping hours at 6 o’clock
- Strap: Taupe grey nubuck leather
- Buckle: Pin, grey DLC
- RRP: £4,350s
- Reference: RSV04.PO/433
- Limited Edition: 200 pieces
