There are some true pioneers out there; just read our article on the watches that survived their boundary defying expeditions and adventures. These are the individuals that rather than thinking ‘that’s enough’ think ‘what’s next?’ They’re also the individuals Reservoir builds watches for.
Founded by horologically-obsessed Frenchman François Moreau in 2015, Reservoir’s main inspiration is the knife-edge world of racing. It’s the only other industry that puts as much emphasis on each second as watchmaking. But where most watches tend to just take elements of the design – a flash of fluorescence here, a speedometer-like chapter ring there – Reservoir build it right into the very mechanics.
Each Reservoir is dominated by a retrograde minute display, the hand revving up through the arch of a speedometer before snapping back to the beginning. For more brands it’s used as a talking point; for Reservoir it’s par for the course. Paired with jumping hours, it’s possibly the most faithful interpretation of that particular automotive motif.
Reservoir GT Tour Watch (£3,670)
The mechanics are underpinned by designs that split the core concept into three distinct areas: cars, aviation and marine. The changes between them are small – the red zone of a rev counter on the Supercharged Sport or a different power reserve indicator on the Tiefenmesser – but they build the movement into a surprisingly diverse (not to mention handsome) collection.
Reservoir Tiefenmesser Watch (£3,490)
Those designs may be French, but the mechanics inside are pure Swiss engineering in the form of an ever reliable ETA movement. It’s definitely a higher complication than you’d normally see from the specialist movement makers. They and the cases that contain them are assembled in La Chaux-de-Fonds with all the expertise that entails.
Whether you need the adrenaline of the race track or the cockpit in your life, or simply need a seriously good-looking watch that’s a little more unusual, Reservoir is a watchmaker that deserves your attention. More at: www.reservoir-watch.com
