The phrase ‘enfant terrible’ doesn’t even begin to describe Romain Jerome. After several dalliances with rusted steel, moon dust and volcanic ash from the infamous and utterly unpronounceable Eyjafjallajökull, what does this renegade watch brand do? It decided to get a tattoo. But trust CEO Manual Emch to find the right collaborator for this latest endeavour. It was none other than the UK’s most famous (or rather, notorious) tattoo artist, Mo Coppoletta.

Ominously called ‘A Sailot’s Grave’, Coppoletta’s creation for Romain Jerome would undoubtedly strike one as a work of contemporary art. Issued in a 25-piece limited edition per model, the Tattoo-DNA pictures a pirate’s ship in the middle of a storm. Choppy waters threaten to sink the ship while bolts of lightning in red or yellow lacquer dominate the sky; in the dark they glow green. Prominently positioned in the foreground, an anchor reminds one of the most famous nautical emblems of all time… and a sailor’s obligatory body-art motif.

The 50mm steel cases are finished with black PVD coating and reinforced with either black PVD-coated or stainless steel paws. Ready to face depths of up to 30 metres, the watches in the Tattoo-DNA collection are paired with either a black fabric or skin-coloured leather strap tattooed by Mo Coppoletta himself.

Discover more about A Sailor’s Grave in this video below