MARVEL Studios chose RJ to create Haute Horlogerie watches inspired by the amazing Spider-Man. The second MARVEL collaboration timepiece created by RJ, the new ARRAW Spider-Man Tourbillon, channels Spider-Man’s iconic style through every component, down to its plates, bridges, and gear. The launch also marks RJ’s first movement manufactured completely in-house. In a first for the Swiss watchmaker, the highly innovative Spider-Man inspired central tourbillon movement was developed and produced wholly in-house at the new RJ Studio in Eysin, located on the shores of Lake Geneva.The young RJ Studio team represents a new wave of watchmaking focused on developing and manufacturing timepieces notable as much for their technical originality as their unparalleled aesthetics and cultural relevance. These avant-garde watches excite the interest of comics and superhero fans as well as watch enthusiasts.
Marco Tedeschi, CEO and Creative Director of RJ comments: "It was a pleasure for us to work closely with the team at MARVEL Studios, who has put its trust in our hands for the creation and development of our first complicated watch designed in honor of Spider-Man.
For the first time, a character and his universe inspired us not only in the aesthetics, but also in the technicality of the movement. And it is no coincidence that we have chosen a tourbillon: light, rapid and ethereal. Its increased power reserve of more than six days makes a fitting tribute to Spider-Man's own endurance and performance.”
RJ-7000: in-house central tourbillon
With its first in-house central tourbillon, RJ set out to achieve a remarkably long power reserve which necessarily requires an oversized barrel. The barrel was placed at the center of the movement to accommodate its substantial width, spanning almost the entire dial. This clever design enabled the movement to generate a power reserve of 150 hours (more than six days).
The sizeable barrel naturally meant that the tourbillon cage had to be placed above it, at the center of the movement and on the same axis. This unique construction provides a fantastic view of the regulator.
A new coaxial display
The hours and minutes are displayed in a unique peripheral format, made possible by a planetary gear system that orbits 360° around the tourbillon. The movement’s construction is entirely and uniquely coaxial. A 12-factor gear ratio allows the planetary minutes system to empower the progression of the hours.Adding to this innovation, the hour and minute display system is fixed on two very wide and high-precision ball bearings in order to optimize the movement's efficiency as much as possible. The hands have been shaped to mimic the legs of the Spider icon.
Light, enduring, precise: a tourbillon dedicated to Spider-Man
The grade 5 titanium tourbillon cage and the going train wheels feature an openwork design shaped like a spider web, emphasizing lightness and leaving only the necessary material. Affixed on the main plate, the black eyes of the Spider-Man mask stand out thanks to their distinctive contrast finishing.
Two ARRAW Spider-Man variations
Made in a 45 mm case adorned with the RJ BUMPERS™ in rubber, the ARRAW Spider-Man tourbillon is available in two materials with each version limited to only 10 pieces.
The first, in red, is crafted in a high-performance composite that combines superposed layers of black carbon and red fiberglass. The material is incredibly light and also offers a finely textured matte surface.
The second variation is made entirely of carbon in stealth black. Its shimmering grey and anthracite tone imparts the piece with a strong yet sleek look, perfectly suited to Spider-Man.
A perfectly symmetrical case with a unique winding mechanism
In order to maintain perfect symmetry, the ARRAW Spider-Man Tourbillon case has no crown. Winding of the barrel’s mainspring is done by lifting a hoop found on the case back then turning it like a key. This mechanism enables faster winding than with a traditional crown. To set the time, the wearer presses a concealed push button under the strap at 6 o'clock while turning the hoop in either direction.The case back features a cartridge engraving technique. The letters are polished and stand out from the micro-blasted back surface. Four sapphire crystals on the case back allow maximum visibility of the movement.
An interchangeable strap
The strap of the ARRAW Spider-Man tourbillon is made of black polyamide and recalls the texture of the superhero's suit. It is embellished with the Spider icon which has been thermoformed on the bracelet in-between the lugs and reinforced with a black rubber inlay for optimal durability and comfort. The ARRAW Spider-Man Tourbillon is equipped with the interchangeable ARRAW strap system, allowing the strap to be released with a simple ‘click’ by pressing simultaneously on the two lug screws. On the clasp, a lever releases the strap from the deployment buckle, no tools required.
A webbed watch box
For the first time the ARRAW watch box, characterized by its round shape and the iconic four RJ BUMPERS™, has been customized with Spider-Man’s attributes. Made of black wood, the watch box resembles a spider thanks to the eight spider legs fixed to the side. Spider-Man’s web and logo are also engraved on the lid. Inside the box, the watch appears captured in a spider web made of steel. This part is removeable, making the watch box easy to repurpose as desired.
Each collaboration represents an opportunity for RJ to reinterpret Haute Horlogerie and to push back its limits. The essence of legendary characters can be found in these watches, from the aesthetic to the very components of the movement. Offering an opportunity to discover Haute Horlogerie under a new light at every turn, RJ is not done surprising.
About RJ
RJ designs and produces recognizable, ambitious, and culturally relevant luxury Swiss watches. RJ ARRAW, the brand’s core collection for men and women, is distinguishable by its RJ Bumpers™ and ingenious interchangeable strap system. RJ has made its own mark on modern watchmaking with its Collaboration watch series, which draws inspiration from icons of pop culture, from superheroes of DC Comics or Marvel like Batman and Spider-Man, to beloved video game characters like Super Mario Bros., Space Invaders™, or Pac-Man™. RJ has brought history-making material to the wrist with its DNA Concept watches, using steel from the Titanic, genuine moon dust, or remnants from the Apollo 11 spacecraft which first landed man on the moon. The brand was founded in 2004 and re-launched in 2018 under the creative direction of CEO Marco Tedeschi. Ever since, RJ proudly manufactures its own in-house movements at the brand’s headquarters, RJ Studio, based out of Geneva, Switzerland. For more information, please visit rjwatches.com.
