Inside the artistic world of Mr. Jones Watches
Russell SheldrakeYou’ve definitely seen their watches on Instagram, and they often look nothing like watches. Mr. Jones creates some of the most creative and left-field timepieces in the industry right now, and they are all printed and constructed here in the UK. You would think that if something was made in the UK, that of course it would be pretty local to me… But Mr. Jones is literally made around the corner from where I currently live, and so when I was invited by the founder, Crispin Jones, to take a look around one of their three spaces, it took me all of 30 seconds to stroll down there on a warm London morning.
I took a tour around the young British brand’s Forest Hill studio which holds their printing, construction, QC, and fulfilment departments. Stepping inside was like stepping into a little slice of Switzerland for me. Seeing the watchmakers’ benches with the team constructing these colourful timepieces with all the recognisable tools, and then you head to the back and see the pad printing being done, I could have sworn I was the Vallée de Joux, not Zone 3.
I should make it clear that Mr. Jones is not about high horology; they are about making watches fun, at times whimsical pieces of art that you can put on your wrist. This is evidenced by the team they have. Most of the people working for them have an art or illustration background, so they are constantly getting new proposals from the team for new designs. In fact, they were making one while I was there that’s due out next month, and there is only one person on the team who is classically trained in watchmaking.
It’s a small team at Mr. Jones, about 30-ish in total, and you get a sense that they all take their work very personally. Everyone cares about the designs they’re making: the creative ethos of the company has permeated every facet, and that appears to be thanks to Crispin’s artistic background. He’s managed to surround himself with like-minded people, and that’s why so many of their watches catch us off guard, as they have so many creative resources to pull from.
This constant creative process is most evident in their workshop, and when Crispin decided to pull out a box of samples they used to develop an upcoming release, you could see that process physically manifested in front of you. This is something I love to see from small independents such as Mr. Jones, as there is complete transparency in what they do and how they do it.
Yes, they are not carrying out hand-finishing or developing highly complicated grand sonneries, but they don’t want to either. They are putting their resources into iterating and perfecting the designs they believe are missing from the industry, and doing them in a completely unique way. And if you visit their Covent Garden store, you can even pick up a t-shirt with some extra art on it from one of the many artists they work with.
I could probably go on for even longer about what this tour told me about this company’s processes and philosophies, but I know you all just want to get to the meme of the week. So I’ll leave you with this parting thought. Watchmaking takes many forms, and it should not be about what the form is but how it is executed, and to me Mr. Jones is doing an incredible job of mastering their form of watchmaking in the colourful, creative niche they own. And that bigs a lot of joy to a lot of people. Hope you had a great weekend!
Russell and the Time+Tide Team
Watch meme of the week: it’s not just a watch
Is this how I would react when I finally get mugged for a watch in London? Very likely. Will I live to tell the tale? Unlikely. So thank goodness @an.shih has brought us this meme to document my eventual demise.
Wristshot of the week: watch of the year?
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Are you like me and still unable to stop thinking about how well this Reverso on a bracelet looks? It has captivated me from the moment I laid my hands on it and seeing amazing shots of it like this only cements those feelings.
Time+Tide shop pick of the week: Mido Ocean Star Worldtimer
This is an unapologetic Mido if I’ve ever seen one. The Ocean Star Worldtimer brings retro styling to this incredibly functional diver’s watch: the blocky dial brings flashes of red to an otherwise monochromatic affair, and if you really want to amplify those retro vibes, you can fit it to the included bund strap for some real wrist presence.
The Mido Ocean Star Worldtimer can be ordered from the Time+Tide Shop now, anywhere in the world except the UK and EU. Price: A$1,625, US$1,082
Our favourite Time+Tide coverage this week
Change my mind: the modern Rolex Datejust is the best option in the brand’s current catalogue
You’re not going to change his mind, no matter what the challenge in the title says. Zach is set that the Datejust is the best Rolex in the catalogue right now. He’s got his reasons, as I’m sure you can expect, and he’s got his personal connection to the model, too. But you’re going to have to watch the video above (or read his article here) to get a full understanding of his argument, and if you want to try and change his mind, you know where the YouTube comment section is…
The big dogs and underdogs in 2025’s GPHG
The long list for this year’s watchmaking Oscars has been announced, and I’ve gone through all of them for you to figure out what I think has the best shot of taking home each prize and what might come in with an outside chance. There are big dogs and underdogs in every category, and if you enjoy placing a bet, this might help give you a bit of a guide.
What is “new” with the latest Snoopy MoonSwatch?
That’s right, another MoonSwatch, as if we didn’t have enough already. That said, the early consensus on the new Swatch x Omega Moonswatch Mission to Earth Moonshine Gold is one of the best yet, combining touches of Moonshine Gold and a little bit of fan favourite Snoopy to jazz things up. We ran through all the new features in this model that make it stand out from the pack.