REVOLUTION_International_Vol 54

THE THRILL OF IT ALL
Reservoir plays off its design strengths to appeal to our sense of adventure.
WORDS STEPHEN WATSON
Before the brand, there was
an idea. Or, rather an object:
the jerrycan.
Initiated during the 1930s,
these handheld metal petrol tanks
were invaluable tools in wartime
logistics, ensuring jeeps were
fueled, tanks topped up, airplanes
ready to take off and fight. They
remain synonymous with smart
and robust industrial design, and
are still used by the military today.
For the watch company Reservoir,
though, the jerrycan is an allegory:
for any action, energy is essential.
After all, Reservoir means “fuel
tank” in French.
So when the brand launched, it
used the markings found on the sides
of jerrycans as an emblem. It was a
clear indication that Reservoir wasn’t
afraid of doing things differently.
Combining French savoir faire with
Swiss-made mechanical expertise,
its debut timepiece concept proved
uniquely imaginative yet endlessly
adaptable. Dispensing with the usual
three-hand approach to time-telling,
this watch featured a retrograde
minute hand, a jumping hour function,
and a 37-hour power reserve,
amounting to an ingenious reimagining
of horological convention.
Just a little over five years after
entering the super-competitive luxury
watch market, the upstart brand has
managed to fix its identity and take
off. Creative thinking is the norm at
Reservoir. Rules simply do not apply.
For Bruce Pask, men’s fashion director
at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman
Marcus, this unorthodox approach was
a large part of the appeal in carrying
Reservoir at his stores.
“Our specialty is fine vintage
watches, so for us to bring in a new
brand was a long and thoughtful
process,” Pask says. “I advocated for
[Reservoir] because I think it comes
down to quality, plus this aspect of
design that felt very singular. I love
the reference points that relate to
gear and instrument panels, and
that they’re purpose-driven, not
purely aesthetic, and that the design
supported this purpose. I think
referencing marine, aeronautics,
and automotive details, done with
complications that supported the
styles, for us, was a great match.”
It’s within these three distinct
categories that Reservoir defines itself
further; a host of design elements
allow that same basic jump-hour,
retrograde concept watch to be
adapted for different specialties
and inspirations. An automotivethemed
collection includes the GT
Tour (sports cars), Longbridge
and Supercharged (classic cars),
and Battlefield (World War II allterrain
vehicles). The Tiefenmesser
(submarines) and Hydrosphere
(diving) pay homage to the underwater
realm, while two Airfight watches
(propeller and early jet planes) recall
the skies. The diversity of products
means Reservoir isn’t just for aero
fans or battleship enthusiasts.
It’s for anybody who appreciates
beautiful, analog instrumentation.
To that end, Reservoir’s strength
comes in the combination of these
design elements with a proprietary
module of complications, which
makes the watches work exactly like
a speedometer or a depth gauge.
(The usual wristwatch layout — two
hands working on a 360-degree
basis — isn’t found in real-world
cockpits or dashboards, save for the
atypical altimeter). The jump-hour
and retrograde minutes utilize an
ETA 2824-2 movement, handmade
in Switzerland, at La Chaux-de-
Fonds, in compliance with traditional
craftsmanship to qualify for the
“Swiss made” label. The patented,
124-component module, oscillating
at 28,800 alt./h (or 4Hz), is created
exclusively for Reservoir.
FUELED BY PASSION
The brand took care to do things
right — hardly surprising when
The Tiefenmesser in
bronze pays homage
to the underwater
and diving realm,
with Reservoir’s
signature
retrograde minute
dial and jumping
hour display.
112 BACKTOTHEFUTURE