Blake and Mortimer Reservoir Watch “By Jove !!!”

The Franco-Swiss watch brand Reservoir presented a few days ago a most interesting novelty: a 41.5 mm brushed steel watch produced in partnership with the publisher Dargaud which presents on its dial, the hero duo of Blake and Mortimer comic. As usual, we find the retrograde minutes (here indicated by Blake’s arm) and jumping hours inseparable from the brand. Limited edition of 75 copies. Count 2,990 euros.

The world of comics and luxury watchmaking have already crossed paths on numerous occasions … This allows collectors of high-end watches to retain, in a certain way, their childish soul. We know that men never really grow up, only the price of their toys changes!

As proof of the success of the famous Genta Fantaisies which appeared on the market in the 90s and which have been very successful in the past few years. So much so that their price has doubled and that Bvlgari, current owner of the Gerald Genta brand, has just released a Mickey watch with jumping hours and retrograde minutes!

In this re-entry 2021, it is Reservoir which created the surprise. Indeed, for once, the brand retains its principle of jumping hours and retrograde minutes but changes universe! No more measuring instruments, planes, submarines or racing cars… This time, the watchmaker plunges into the world of comics.

The first part of the collaboration between the Reservoir and Dargaud houses, publisher of the Blake and Mortimer series, this Blake and Mortimer “By Jove !!!” watch »Resumes the graphic universe of Edgar P. Jacobs on its dial where Francis Blake, one of the two heroes, indicates the minutes with his arm, the hour and minute numerals using the lettering of the comic strip, as in a bubble !

As such, many people wonder about the expression “By Jove! »Often repeated in Blake and Mortimer. Well, you should know that at 18^th and 19^th century in England, it was forbidden to say “My god!” “. Instead, we said “By Jove! », Jove being an alternative to the Roman name of Jupiter. It therefore made it possible to swear without offending God …

This anniversary watch commemorates the 75 years of the inaugural adventure of Blake and Mortimer (hence the 75 examples): “The Secret of the Swordfish”. In the heart of Asia, on September 26, 1946, Colonel Olrik is preparing to lead an armada of bombers to set the capitals of the free world ablaze… ” By Jove !!! In England, Captain Francis Blake and Professor Philip Mortimer are determined to lead the resistance!

Symbol of quality mainstream comics, the Blake and Mortimer series has become over the years a real myth. Its author, Edgar P. Jacobs, who was close to Hergé, liked excessiveness.

And this takes on its full dimension in his work and the scientific inventions that punctuate it! With an extraordinary gallery of characters and evil geniuses (Septimus, Olrik or Miloch), the series is anchored in turn in thriller, science fiction and great adventure.

Today, the fascination exercised by Blake and Mortimer remains intact: as proof, the unprecedented success of his comeback in 1996 with The Francis Blake Affair, signed by Jean Van Hamme and Ted Benoit. Until today, there have been successive duos or trios of authors who have taken up the adventures of these two essential heroes, to the delight of readers.

The first plates appeared on September 26, 1946 in the first issue of the weekly Tintin. Even if the success is immediate, neither the young readers, nor the author, imagined that the two characters – Francis Blake, the handsome officer with the physique of a young pioneer and Philip Mortimer, the iconoclastic scholar with the red beard -, would become cult and that their adventures would continue to fascinate young and old for decades. Nearly 15 million copies will be “sold”.

The one Hergé nicknamed “the watchmaker” as Yves Schlirf, director of Blake and Mortimer editions reminds us, “because of his love for perfection and precision”, would certainly be honored with the wink of history. and this most successful watch.

” Blake and Mortimer are “old-fashioned” heroes: they throw themselves headlong into the adventure to save the world »Specifies François Moreau, founder and boss of Reservoir, who has a particular fondness for these two heroes whose adventures have fascinated him since his childhood.

On this first model (we can imagine that this is a start), we find on a black dial, the two heroes clearly threatened by imminent danger … If Mortimer is “static”, Blake is animated: his The arm acts as a hand and indicates the minutes in a retrograde manner while at its feet, in an aperture, the hours scroll.

We notice in the upper part of the dial on the right, a bubble taking up Mortimer’s favorite expression: “By Jove !!! “.

Equipped with the same mechanical caliber – ETA 2824-2 base – as the other Reservoir collections, the watch is distinguished by the absence of any power reserve indication at the bottom of the dial in order to leave more room for the design.

Not to mention that this makes it possible to offer it a little cheaper and that the power reserve in this model would not add much more (vs a watch related to the mechanical world where it is much more consistent). Its power reserve is 37 hours.

The 41.5 mm 316L steel case (water resistant to 50 meters, screw-down crown) of the Longbridge type, features brushed finishes to reinforce the vintage look of the piece. The back is engraved with a design of the swordfish and the words “So British since 1946”.

This model is mounted on a black leather strap (a little too appropriate given the originality of the watch, but nothing prevents to change it) equipped with a folding clasp. Deliveries are scheduled from November 19, 2021.

Montres-de-luxe.com | Posted on September 29, 2021 | Read 7561 times