“Its designed like a pebble”, a deep voice boomed behind me as I was being presented the Romain Jerome Subcraft by CEO Manuel Emch. I turned around and saw the familiar face of Alain Silberstein. “Hello Peter”, he greeted…”Salut Alain”, I replied.
Manuel Emch, CEO of Romain Jerome wearing the Titanium Subcraft and Alain Silberstein, maestro watch designer wearing the black pvd version of the Subcraft.
It was indeed a nice surprise to see Alain Silberstein in the Romain Jerome booth at BaselWorld 2015. “We collaborated with Alain to design the Subcraft”, beamed a proud Manuel. “He saw our Spacecraft, and proposed to smoothen the angular lines. The result was the Subcraft.” Like a pebble, which one keeps as a kid in one’s pocket, rubbed till smooth all round.
Romain Jerome Subcraft and the Romain Jerome Spacecraft. Same movement, different case. Totally different emotional feel of the watch.
That was the design principle. And indeed a very successful one. We found the Subcraft to be lovely to the touch. The case felt, organic…like it was…a pebble. But this is a case crafted in grade 5 Titanium. Two versions are available, one in natural titanium matt finish, and the other in black pvd.
The Romain Jerome Subcraft case is crafted in titanium and the design concept is to have a smooth case, with no sharp edges.
The Romain Jerome Subcraft utilizes the same movement as the Spacecraft in the form of the Jean-Marc Wiederrecht designed Caliber RJ2000-A. The movement features a linear retrograde jumping hour indicator, visible on the “business end” of the case.
The case is magnificently finished, and the reading of time indicators are quite clear. The linear retrograde hour indicator on the front side of the case, with the minutes read under a black glass circular cover on the top.
Where one turns the case, one is confronted with this fluid, smooth, pebble like nature of the case. No hard edges anywhere. Very organic to the hand. Very comfortable on the wrist.
The fluid like nature of the case is totally in line with the nature of the watch.
A black smooth calf cuff echoes the unique shape of the Subcraft. The cuff has been designed with an opening under the watch’s case-back, allowing the wearer to see the “RJ X Alain Silberstein” signature and which limited timepiece he owns, out of the 99 available worldwide.
Caseback, showing the signatures of both Romain Jerome and Alain Silberstein
Very interesting timepiece from Romain Jerome. And it looks like Manuel and Alain had fun collaborating too.
Manuel Emch and Alain Silberstein
Romain Jerome Subcraft Titanium
Caliber RJ2000-A – Mechanical self-winding movement
Frequency 28,800 vph
Jewelling 54 jewels
Power reserve 38 hours
Water resistance 3 atm (30 meters)
Functions Linear, retrograde and jumping hour indicator by a white-lacquered cursor
Case 52.3 x 40.1 x 17 mm
Beadblasted titanium with RJ logo engraved
Anti-reflective metallised sapphire crystals
Dial indication Dragging minute black disc with white indicators
Metallised lateral sapphire crystal with black transferred hour indicators
Hands Hour indication by white indicator with Superluminova C1
Crown Beadblasted titanium
Strap Black calf strap with beadblasted steel pin buckle
Limited edition 99 pieces
Retail price CHF 19’950.-* / EUR 22,500.-* / USD 24,500.-*
