RJ-Romain Jerome has launched its first contemporary art timepiece under the Art-DNA banner, collaborating with Swiss artist John M Armleder.

These Art-DNA pieces are made of polished steel. The skull motif applique is raised and serves to decorate the hammered, polished dial. The skull motif, already featured in mural paintings by Armleder, is said to be inspired by Amerindian culture.

The underside of the applique is lacquered with a colour revealed by a subtle play of shimmering reflections on the dial. Each piece is a different colour. The back of the watch is numbered and bears an engraved medallion with the artist’s signature.

For John M Armleder, ″the skull evokes a memento mori and an allegory of the passing of time, which is an appropriate subject for a timepiece and which interests both art and watch collectors″.

The artist adds: ″All these watches that give the impression of looking alike are ideally suited to death, which is basically the same for everyone, but which takes place differently each time.″