Thirty-five years ago, I graduated from Manchester University with a BA Honours degree in Design for Communication and Media Studies. In layman’s terms, I became a freelance artist, illustrating mainly book covers. At this time Illustration was a very precarious industry and payment terms were not that favourable. However, I was fortunate to get a lot of work published and it’s given me a lifelong passion for the industry. That’s why it fascinates me to discover watch brands that focus on originality rather than ones that duplicate other designs. Mr Jones Watches is a great example of a small independent who has adopted a successful artistic approach.
Mr Jones Watches was established in 2007 by design aficionado Crispin Jones. Originally he began designing watches from his home in London and discovered his concepts resonated with a large demographic. Fast forward 17 years later and the company now has two workshops, where all their watches are made in-house. If this wasn’t impressive enough they also have a boutique store in Convent Garden. Ultimately, this means clients can view a range of beautiful timepieces in the metal, Within the world of horology this is exceptionally rare as most watchmakers only have an online presence.
One of Mr Jones’s pieces that caught my eye is ‘The Silent Thief’ designed by British Artist, Andy Wilx. In the brand’s own words “the watch is both a play on the thieving nature of the magpie and time as an ever-present, silent thief” It’s a very imaginative concept because hours and minutes are presented on two intricately patterned discs. The dial is exceptionally ornate and has a very colourful almost mosaic appearance. However, in my opinion, the pièce de résistance is a meticulous central bird illustration. It’s important to note this type of aesthetic is normally found in much more expensive collections like the Metiers d’Art from Vacheron Constantin.
Beneath the 45mm brushed steel case lies a Swiss automatic movement sourced from Selita. The Calibre SW200 comprises 26 jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. This entire mechanical splendour is visibly showcased via a sapphire crystal exhibition case back. Functionally The Silent Thief’ features hours and minutes. The watch also has a power reserve of 40 hours and is water resistant to a depth of 50 metres. As a perfect finale, the timepiece is presented on a black leather strap with a matching steel buckle.
‘The Silent Thief’ retails for £695 (approximately $891) which in my opinion is great value. For more information follow this link.
