The newest classic video game-inspired watch from Swiss Romain Jerome (RJ) is the Tetris-DNA, and it serves as yet another homage to a great 1980s-era video game. Tetris was actually a soviet game created in Moscow during the time of the USSR. Romain Jerome has already graced us with watches inspired by Space Invaders, PAC-MAN, and now, Tetris. In the future, more video game-inspired watches will come from Romain Jerome – we can promise you that.

Romain Jerome now calls watches such as this which use their Moon Invader case style to be “Generational Icons.” Romain Jerome had some interesting success with the “Titanic-DNA” watch that contained some metal actually collected from the Titanic. Even though the Titanic-DNA watch collection was controversial, it did spawn a lot of “DNA” watches. The goal of each is, of course, to contain some material from something special. That isn’t possible with every type of watch that celebrates a unique and often important cultural icon, so Romain Jerome evolved the “DNA Watch” concept to include watches such as these which are produced as limited editions in celebration of a time, place, era, and of course, game and life style.

Originally from 1984, Tetris is a game that continues to be relevant today. I recall playing Tetris back in the day on my black and white screened Nintendo Gameboy – and that was years after the game first came out. The race against the ever increasing speed to arrange the blocks and wipe out lines is a testament to deceptively simple and mentally challenging games that changed the face of entertainment and puzzle solving forever.

The Romain Jerome Tetris-DNA watches will come in 46mm-wide PVD-coated black titanium cases with special dials that include hand-set “Tetris dials.” Each “Tetrimino” block is produced from colored anodized aluminum and is set by hand. The Tetriminos are thus three-dimensional and set against the iconic game screen frame of actual bricks.

Ironically, even though the colors used for the Romain Jerome Tetris-DNA watch are attractively laid out, if this were actually someone’s Tetris game screen, they would be a terrible player! Inside the watch is a Swiss automatic mechanical movement that displays only the time with hours and minutes. Attached to the case is a black rubber strap.

Given that this is an RJ watch, the price isn’t going to be cheap. Then again, only 84 pieces of the Romain Jerome Tetris-DNA watch will be produced as part of this limited edition. Thanks to the current exchange rate from Swiss Francs, price for the Romain Jerome Tetris-DNA watch is $18,950 (15,555 Swiss Francs). romainjerome.ch

Tech specs from Romain Jerome
Model: Tetris-DNA
Reference RJ.M.AU.IN.010.01
Collection GENERATIONAL ICONS
Universe COLLABORATIONS

Movement
Caliber RJ001-A
Mechanical self-winding movement
Frequency: 28,800 vph
Jewelling: 23 jewels
Power reserve: 42 hours
Water resistance: 30 meters

Functions
Central hours and minutes

Case
Ø 46 mm
Black PVD-coated titanium
Lugs fitted with safety screws and integrated ball-and-socket joints for optimal wrist adjustment
Grainy-textured stellar-patterned back with Tetris medallion
RJ safety screw on the case-back, exclusively accessible to watchmakers
Screw-lock crown

Dial
Black brushed Matrix with aluminum “Clou de Paris” Tetriminos. Anodized aluminium
“Clou de Paris” in different colours
Engraved bricks for the Tetris scene setting
Hands: Oxidized black and satin brushed, with superluminova “blue emission”

Strap
Black rubber
Grainy-textured interior of stellar-patterned strap
Buckle: Black PVD-coated steel

Limited edition
84 pieces