Words: Wei Koh (Revolution) “When the opportunity arose to create a special edition watch with RESERVOIR, it was without hesitation that I asked for it to be on the Hydrosphere platform. And as it turns out, we had the perfect theme. We will be opening our first physical retail shop in the beginning of 2021. While many might have speculated that this would be in a major city like London, New York or Singapore, our first boutique will be located in the Maldives. Specifically, 50 minutes from Malé by speedboat, on a reef owned by our partners Pontiac Land where they have reclaimed three islands for three different hotels comprising a total of almost 300 villas on the water. To celebrate our launch in this diving and water sports mecca, we decided with RESERVOIR to create a very special version of the Hydrosphere — one that evokes the sun as it dips into the water. The setting sun is a promise that it will rise once again tomorrow, bringing with it a brand-new day. It symbolizes the beginning of 2021, a year that we know will bring a renewal of hope, optimism, and prosperity to the world.

We selected bronze because this has been a material for some of Revolution’s best-selling special-edition watches, including the IWC Mark XI in 36mm with a George Cleverley 200-year-old Russian reindeer-hide strap. I recall all 150 pieces of this watch sold in 14 minutes in 2019 when it was launched. Says Moreau “But even more because, in the context of a diving watch, bronze was always the material that [was] used to create ancient marine elements like hardware, oarlocks, latches and even propellers. The use of bronze gave our Hydrosphere the sense that it was an artifact from a Jules Verne fantasy. We loved the idea of this watch developing a beautiful patina [because it] was used in the stunning blue waters of the Maldives. To complement the bronze case, we found a dial with the perfect color of the sunset and complemented by a beautiful sunray effect emanating from the center. Then, we found the perfect tone of brown ceramic for the bezel insert.”

Note that on this special edition, the indexes are rose gold in color, filled with luminous material, then applied to the dial for an extra touch of vibrancy and richness from the regular production watch. The entire design was an interesting exercise in playing with much warmer color codes, such as the cream colored Luminova used on the bezel. The end-result is a watch with a totally different character — much warmer and somehow sensual — and we love it. With the watch, we include both a rubber strap and a NATO strap with bronze hardware and keepers. This is an all-new strap design for us and is exclusive to the Revolution model. The RESERVOIR × Revolution Bronze Hydrosphere will be made in a limited edition of 100 pieces. It also comes with a print of an original artwork by Alain Bouldouyre, commissioned by RESERVOIR to tell the story of our collaboration in the lush and wonderous Maldives. Says Moreau, “It’s funny, when I look at the watch and dream of wearing [it] in the Maldives, I am filled with optimism. In some ways, the watch fills me with hopefulness for the future.” I am most inclined to agree with him.”