RJ-Romain Jerome Moon Dust-DNA Collection 2012: Black Mood & Steel Mood Chronographs
This year, Swiss luxury watch brand RJ-Romain Jerome enriches its Moon Dust-DNA collection with two new models: The Black Mood and Steel Mood chronographs.
RJ-Romain Jerome Moon Dust-DNA BLACK MOOD CHRONO, Ref RJ.M.CH.001.01
Black Mood expresses lunar time with a PVD-blackened steel instrument featuring a round 46 mm case carrying the iconic RJ-Romain Jerome “paws” and topped by a carbon fibre-coated bezel with a soul forged from fragments of Apollo 11.
The date of that historical mission has naturally inspired the number of this limited edition: 1969. Its “instrumental” vocation is further highlighted by two large notched pushers in black PVD, one with a red insert at 2 o’clock, serving to start and stop the chronograph driven by a self-winding movement and the reset button at 4 o’clock.
The black dial is a hand-sculpted depiction of the lunar surface and its material contains a small amount of the precious Moon Dust – of which only a few thousand grams have been brought back to Earth. The circular seconds counter at 9 o’clock features a four-blade “hand” evoking satellite solar panels (one of the blades is red in order to serve as a time marker).
The deliberately oxidised black hour and minutes hands are enhanced with “blue emission” Superluminova. Devotees of astro-horological missions will be able to opt for the alligator strap with woven textile and carbon fibres recovered from ISS spacesuits.
Technical details
Movement
Caliber: RJ001-CH1
Mechanical self-winding movement – Chronograph – RJ oscillating weight
Frequency: 28,800 vph
Jewelling: 23 jewels
Power reserve: 42 hours
Functions
Central hours and minutes, small seconds at 9 o’clock
Chronograph, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock
Case
Ø46mm, Black PVD-coated steel
Pushbutton in black PDV with red insert at 2 o’clock, pushbutton at 4 o’clock in black PVD
Titanium screws
Sapphire crystal with anti-glare treatment on the underside
Water resistance: 30 meters
Bezel: Carbon fibre & black PVD-coated steel, including spare parts from Apollo 11
Dial
Black, mineral structure containing Moon Dust and hand-engraved to depict the surface of the moon
Circular satin-brushed 3 and 6 o’clock counter
Transferred inscriptions beneath the sapphire crystal
Hands: Black and satin-brushed hands with “blue emission” Superluminova C1. Black with red lacquer small seconds at 9 o’clock
Strap
Black rubber, or optional black Hornback crocodile leather partly woven with carbon fibre & fibres from an ISS spacesuit
Buckle: Black PVD-coated steel
Edition
Limited edition 1,969 pieces
RJ-Romain Jerome Moon Dust-DNA STEEL MOOD CHRONO, Ref RJ.M.CH.002.01
With the Steel Mood, the Moon Dust-DNA treats itself to a poetic flight of fancy into the dreamlike purity of watchmaking Moonlight.
The chronograph carries all the distinctive RJ-Romain Jerome design codes (a round 46 mm case with four “paws”, screw-locked lugs, large notched pushers, and a four-blade propeller shaped like satellite solar panels with a red seconds marker), but the dial appears in a “lunar grey” livery (also containing dust from the Moon of which it evokes the surface); and the bezel is made from carbon fibres (with a steel base made as always from a fusion between steel and fragments of the Apollo 11 capsule – hence the 1969-piece limited edition). 
The black rubber strap confirms this dreamlike dimension of a Moon that transcends changing times and fashions, although future owners may also choose a black leather strap reinforced by technical fibres from an ISS spacesuit.
Technical details
Movement
Caliber RJ001-CH1
Mechanical self-winding movement – Chronograph – RJ oscillating weight
Frequency: 28,800 vph
Jewelling: 23 jewels
Power reserve: 42 hours
Functions
Central hours and minutes, small seconds at 9 o’clock
Chronograph, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, 12-hour counter at 3 o’clock
Case
Ø46mm, Stainless steel
Pushbutton in steel with red insert at 2 o’clock, pushbutton at 4 o’clock in steel
Titanium screws
Sapphire crystal with anti-glare treatment on under side
Bezel: Carbon fibre & stainless steel, including spare parts from Apollo 11
Water resistance: 30 meters
Dial
Lunar grey, mineral structure containing Moon Dust and hand-engraved to depict the surface of the moon
Circular satin-brushed 3 and 6 o’clock counter
Transferred inscriptions beneath the sapphire crystal
Hands: Rhodiumed and satin-brushed hands with “blue emission” Superluminova C1. Rhodiumed with red lacquer small seconds at 9 o’clock
Strap
Black rubber, or optional black Hornback crocodile leather partly woven with carbon fibre & fibres from an ISS spacesuit
Buckle: Steel
Edition
Limited edition: 1,969 pieces
