By looking to the darker side of the DC Universe and focusing on the Batman franchise’s infamous villainy, Geneva-based RJ Watches brings a fresh perspective to horology. It sits in line with a number of other successful RJ collaborations that have previously featured Spider-Man, Pac-Man and Space Invaders.

“It is a statement of confidence in RJ’s place in both popular culture and watchmaking that Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment have collaborated with us to bring their most infamous villains to life as rare, limited-edition collectors’ watches,” says CEO and creative director of RJ Watches, Marco Tedeschi. “The villains of the DC Comics universe have always appealed to audiences around the world for their evil brilliance and ability to shock and thrill in equal measure. We believe that our first two DC Comics Villains watches will be a fitting tribute to their spirit of anarchy and disruption.”

Originally appearing in DC Comics in 1940, the Joker’s presence and attitude have inspired and enforced the Batman narrative for decades. RJ’s timepiece takes all of that into account, drawing on his eccentric dress sense and iconic makeup to form a statement accessory. Each dial is individually hand-painted, making each product individual, and the dial design itself is a stylistic take on the Joker’s face, with hands designed to hold playing card aces at their tips. With only 100 watches produced, the timepiece also comes with a laser-engraved portrait of the Joker on the reverse, and a number stating which one you own. Originally a strong ally to Batman, Two-Face is another villain with an equally interesting backstory, existing to personify the struggle between good and evil. RJ brings that same duality to the Two- Face timepiece. Where the left side of the watch is intentionally clean and structured, the right side exposes the inner workings of the watch, as if acid has burned away the outer casing and dial in the same way it marked half of Two-Face’s face in the comics.

“Two-Face is such a complex character, that only a watch with an equally split personality can truly do justice to his malice and tricks,” Tedeschi continues. “To recreate his scarred face and exposed features has been a fantastic challenge and has forced us to push the envelope of what is possible when the worlds of horology and comic culture collide.”

For those keen to customize, straps on both watches are removable, so colours can be interchanged, and the Joker watch comes with three interchangeable straps. As part of the collectors’ edition, each watch also comes with an extra token, showcasing the brand’s dedication to the characters. The Joker watch comes with a deck of Joker playing cards, and the Two-Face watch comes with a specially designed coin, which Two-Face flips to determine his decisions.

www.rjwatches.com