If traditional watch manufacturing seems overly conservative, and even a touch boring, then no one at the Romain Jerome design department seems to have received that memo. However, this is not a new thing, because since its foundation in 2004, this Geneva based watch brand have been pushing the boundaries in terms of materials and in how they let emotion define their creations.

One of the Romain Jerome traits has been their love for the heroes of small screen computer games made famous by Nintendo in the 1980s, and there have been several editions featuring the much loved pixelated characters, which put an untapped level of levity into the sober world of watchmaking.

The Donkey Kong edition comes in a 46mm titanium case, with the signature Romain Jerome articulated lugs, which gives it the distinctive ‘X’-like shape. Coated with jet black PVD, its surface combines the polished effect of the bezel, with matte case and grainy pawls.

Under the sapphire crystal, the dial is completely dedicated to the cult Nintendo game, with its Donkey Kong and Super Mario characters and icons frozen in cold enamel across three levels. The black pixelated backdrop is intricately finished in three dimensions, with sandblasted and satin brushed treatments to add increased definition of the various game elements, creating a true rendition of the game scene. With only hours and minutes on offer, the hands are bold, and in low light glow with a vivid blue Super LumiNova

Using high grade Swiss made watch movements from the specialist Concepto horologic innovators, behind the bright and cheery face of each Romain Jerome, beats a very serious automatic self winding mechanism. Fully wound the movement will run for 42 hours, although of course, any movement on the wrist keeps the power reserve topped up. The black titanium caseback conceals the movement, and its grainy surface carries the Donkey Kong motif.

The watch is fitted with a red natural rubber strap with PVD steel tang buckle ensuring a luxuriously comfortable wear on the wrist.