Having undergone a recent rebranding, and despite not really having gone away, the Romain Jerome brand has disappeared to return as RJ, and apart from that subtle evolution, not much else has changed. The styling, the big, oversized proportions and the tie-ins with heroes of the gaming and comic book worlds are all still very much present and intact.

The fact that in its previous guise RJ have always veered towards the eccentric and unconventional has actually been key to the brand’s success, building a cult following with (dare I use the word ‘fun’ in this serious world of watchmaking) watches made from super exotic materials which celebrate milestones in engineering, space and nature at its most extreme.

Based on the Skylab collection, which boasts a completely stripped back and skeletonised movement, the RJ X Spider-Man is not for the shy, retiring or faint of heart. With a mega sized case and a face dominated by a huge red spider motif, it’s as discrete as Spidey’s jumpsuit, and surely the ultimate luxury accessory for the Spiderman completest, and it’s not a watch that’s going to go unnoticed.

Measuring 48mm across, the RJ X Spider-Man comes in stainless steel with matte black PVD treatment. The case is round but pronounced lugs and the four signature bumpers, which define the brand’s styling DNA, add even more presence to the imposing 

Beneath the sapphire crystal there’s no dial or plate to obstruct a see through three dimensional view, with the skeletonised hours and minutes hands rotating over the gleaming red lacquer of the spider resting above the exposed movement, and a fine black web which has been printed onto the inside of the back crystal to complete the effect. Inside, everything, from the gear wheels and bridges to the open barrel with the mainspring coiled within have been reduced to their bare essentials, which serves to remind that behind the extroverted appearance, lies a highly technical and beautifully executed heart of horologic craftsmanship. Manual winding, the Calibre RJ004-M is the designed and developed by movement specialists Concepto, and boasts 48 hours of power reserve as it beats at 28,800 vph.

The RJ X Spider-Man is rated at 30m of water resistance and is presented on a black rubber strap with folding deployant clasp. It is produced in a limited run of only 75 pieces.

With its gigantic proportions and contemporary styling the RJ X Spider-Man is a watch with a massive presence. It is presented on a black rubber strap with folding deployant clasp.