French watchmaker Reservoir has built its growing renown around timepieces inspired by the functional and aesthetic components of measuring instruments. The brand’s latest debut follows this legacy, this time taking inspiration from the world of Sound and Hi-Fi via the new Sonomaster Chronograph in silver and black. The new model embodies many of Reservoir’s unique design capabilities, with it importantly set to be the brand’s wand as such, will be on display at this year’s WatchTime New York.
WatchTime New York 2022 is a three-day event dedicated to showcasing the most sought-after watch releases from the past year. The event will take place from October 21-23, with more than 30 participating watch brands joining together at Midtown Manhattan’s Gotham Hall. You can learn more and buy your tickets, here.
On the wrist, the watch wears 43mm in diameter, with a stylized, flat crown and push buttons that are all inspired by the flushed control buttons on an amplifier. A fine polished finishing is applied throughout, while a tachymetric bezel completes the style of the outer style of the uncommon chronograph.
Notably, the new Reservoir Sonomaster Chronograph is the second iteration of the model, being a silver and black variation of the original black and beige option first unveiled earlier this year. Like the original, the Sonomaster features a “Bi Retrograde” display, with two half-moon-shaped areas contrasting the main dial and creating space for date and seconds windows. Emphasis is placed on the functionality of each individual sub-dial, made cohesive with aesthetically retro overtones. A visual trademark of the sound measuring equipment that inspired this watch is a slim needle that operates against a scale, which Reservoir mimics in its pin-thin hands.
Regardless of its inspiration from various avenues, Reservoir keeps one thing consistent across its collections: its distinct use of retrograde hands. These are used as a mechanism for both practical timekeeping and as a reference to traditional analogs. Seeing this watch in person provides an exciting opportunity to witness the movement of the hand, which snaps back to reset every 30 seconds with such precision that if you blink, you just might miss it.
Helping accomplish the unique functioning of the timepiece is the new caliber RSV-Bi120. Described by the brand as a “manufacture bi-retrograde chronograph movement, [with] automatic mechanical winding and column wheel,” it features an uncommon engineering to help the model display its timekeeping. The mechanism, for its unique construction, still offers a solid power reserve of 60 hours.
The Reservoir Sonomaster Chronograph is available for purchase via the brand’s online store and authorized retailers, with pricing marked at $6,350 on a leather strap, and at $6,750 when placed on a steel bracelet also newly introduced by the brand.
To learn more, visit Reservoir, here.
And to learn more about WatchTime New York and to purchase your tickets, visit here.
