Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Reservoir X Popeye Cricket Limited Edition
Popeye plays cricket on an India-inspired dial sporting Reservoir's signature retrograde minutes and jumping hours.
Popeye-themed watches are all the rage these days, seemingly popping up everywhere from brands big and small. Recent examples include the Bamford London Popeye GMT Limited Edition and Reservoir’s own x LabelNoir x Popeye Watch, which also features retrograde minutes and jumping hours. These complications are a speciality for the brand and seen on (almost) its entire collection, but adding a legendary cartoon character brings fun. Reservoir also did this with the Reservoir Blake & Mortimer “By Jove!!!” Edition a couple of years ago, but the Popeye watch is all about India and the 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup.
The stainless steel case is typical Reservoir with a 41.5mm diameter and flat, screw-down crown. Water resistance is rated at 50 metres. The finishing of the case is brushed, save for some subtle polished edges. An anti-reflective sapphire crystal protects the dial, while a special exhibition caseback has a colour print of Popeye and a cricket theme underneath. This is a limited edition of 100 pieces, so each case back is individually numbered. The case is fitted with a 20mm black nubuck leather strap with black stitching and a stitched Indian flag near the top right lug. It is secured with a steel pin buckle.
The dial steals the show with a painted Popeye character holding a cricket bat in his right hand and pointing to the retrograde minutes via his animated left arm. Behind him is a cricket field and oversized white Arabic numerals for minutes. A large jumping hour window sits at 6 o’clock and a detailed retrograde minute track spans the outermost perimeter. The fun masks a sophisticated piece with two advanced complications.
Powering the Reservoir X Popeye Cricket is the calibre RSV-240, derived from a La Joux-Perret G100 base. A 113-piece patented/proprietary module from Telos Watch operates the retrograde minutes and jumping hours, completing the visual spectacle with Popeye and cricket. The movement has 44 jewels, beats at 28,800vph (4Hz) and delivers a 56-hour power reserve. Seen from the exhibition caseback, the rotor is decorated with Côtes de Genève and the brand’s logo, the indentation on a military-type jerry can.
The new Reservoir X Popeye Cricket is limited to 100 pieces and comes in a custom white wooden box with the entire Popeye Family printed in colour. The watch retails for EUR 4,400, USD 4,400 or GBP 3,950 (with VAT). Deliveries are expected in mid-November.
For more information and to place an order, please visit Reservoir’s website.
4 responses
Popeye playing cricket? We’ve truly run out of ideas.
I truly enjoy “fun” watches. My favorite is an Armitron Marvin the Martian. Of course the inexpensive quartz movement did not approach the cost of the Reservoir, but it is a great watch to wear. Sometimes, just sometimes, watch collectors get a bit, just a bit, too serious.
@DG Scott Popeye has become a somewhat common theme these days, for better or worse, and it’s a fun way to integrate some lightheartedness with a serious movement.
@Brian There’s nothing wrong with a little fun