The Kanister collection is inspired by the RPM counter of the legendary 356 Speedster car. The Kanister 316 variant takes on a new look with its brushed steel case mounted on a vintage five-link bracelet. The combination of modernity and the retro aspect creates an obvious harmony. The pastel green minute indexes, a red area, a black or silver dial and a white hand housed in a 316L stainless steel case with brushed finish, mounted on a stainless steel bracelet elegantly sign the breathtaking design of this model. The collection is powered by the caliber RSV-240, a proprietary patented three-complication module coupled to a manufacture movement (LJP-G100 base), combining retrograde minute, jumping hour and a 56-hour power reserve. Awarded by a Red Dot for Product Design in 2022, the collection is delivered in a prestigious wooden box with an additional black leather or taupe ostrich strap.
The Kanister collection: always choose boldness
“A furtive caress on the curve of the hood, gloved hands. I open the door. Click. I close it. Clack. The sound is reassuring, familiar. A look in the rearview mirror, a hand in the hair. Start. It is a soft, powerful voice. It is nearly 10.30 a.m. The sun is warming the bodywork. The engine is roaring. The tachometer needle comes to life. Thus is born audacity, when passion defies the ordinary. The leather of the seat passenger is weathered like an old bracelet. He has seen it too. Sunlight streaks across the dashboard. On the mechanical timepiece, a faithful ally of our adventures, the minutes tick away. It is time to go, the Kanister watch on your wrist. Its radical design is inspired by the speedometers of the mythical 356 Speedster automobile of the 1950s. The adrenaline is there, palpable, in search of a new playground. The appointment is at noon. The beautiful stranger will wait, or not.
Driving fast is not only synonymous with performance, it is also a way of life. First, second. The engine rattles, the trees scroll. Everything is here. The hoped-for moment becomes reality. The senses are awakened, the intensity growing. Third fourth. Rolling with your feet to the floor is essential to follow your route, when the pressure reaches its limits. That’s what’s on our minds when checking the time on the Kanister.
Wearing it is the promise of a road-trip through time. The radical nature of its alternative way of reading the time is the watchmaking signature that has made Reservoir such a success: jumping hours, retrograde minutes and power reserve. It is 11 a.m., the minute hand returns to its starting grid, as if traversed by a regular shudder. Another hour’s drive. And this mystery of waiting. Will she be there or not? Only one obvious thing: never give up.
Tight turn on approach. Third, second. Braking. It dances in the curve. Palpitations. An eye on the Kanister. It’s almost noon. The colors of its dial are inspired by those of the tachometer of this car that I love so much. Its leather strap is reminiscent of saddlery. The phone is ringing. Hand brake. “Hello, yes…” Smile. For a moment, everything then becomes possible at the very moment when the will regains control, when the mind empties. The call ends. Disappointed. The 356 is at a standstill, not the Kanister. I take it off my wrist to admire, thanks to its transparent back, the beating of its mechanical heart – the RSV-240 caliber. I open the glove box to store the phone and change the strap thanks to the interchangeability system developed by RESERVOIR. It’s almost noon. My gestures find their address until the ultimate thrill that closes the experience and sets the next hour in motion. Like an eternal departure. Startup. U-turn. I’m going back. The beautiful stranger will wait, or not.”
Red Dot Product Design Award 2022 winner
RESERVOIR was honored to win the 2022 Red Dot Product Design Award, for its now iconic Kanister model, whose aesthetics are inspired by the legendary Speedster 356 car. The Kanister collection continues to appeal to the public of automobile enthusiasts and lovers for its original and innovative design. The Red Dot Award for Product Design recognizes both the impeccable quality of the Kanister’s design and the functionality of its sophisticated horological complications. RESERVOIR always strives to combine the design of its watches and collections with a functional aspect, which has earned it the Red Dot label.
About THE RED DOT DESIGN AWARD
The Red Dot Product Design Award is one of the highest distinctions for design and innovation, awarded in an international competition. The Red Dot label is highly valued and sought-after by brands for its prestige and for the advantages it provides international credibility and visibility, a strengthened and attractive employer brand image, a trendy and contemporary brand positioning… A considerable number of participants apply to this competition, but only the most innovative brands are awarded the Red Dot prize in one of the 3 following categories: Best Product Design, Best Brand & Communication Content, Best Product Concept. A selective jury of about 50 members makes a pre-selection of brands and products in various sectors (lifestyle, jewelry & watchmaking, urban design…) before electing the lucky winners.
Find out more: https://www.red-dot.org/
The new RSV-240 caliber:
The boldness of RESERVOIR combined with the know-how of TELOS, the Swiss engine manufacturer.
To design the new RSV-240 watch caliber, RESERVOIR is continuing its original association with TELOS, the Swiss motor manufacturer specializing in the tailor-made manufacture of high-end mechanical movements.
Since its creation, the association with TELOS has been a strategic partnership for the Franco-Swiss watchmaker RESERVOIR, nourished by human affinity, technical challenges and the challenge of manufacturing larger series. Over the past decade, the engine manufacturer TELOS boasts remarkable watchmaking achievements in the world of Swiss fine watchmaking. This structure combines the skills of its teams with the proximity of high-tech Swiss suppliers. Since its creation in 2017, all RESERVOIR collections have been equipped with a bespoke 124-piece module, designed by TELOS and called P068, which drives the three watchmaking complications (retrograde minute, jumping hour and 37-hour power reserve), mounted on a Swiss automatic movement.
In 2022, this association continues to give birth to the new RESERVOIR RSV-240 caliber, whose revisited P168 module has been specially developed to measure, still animating the three horological complications (retrograde minute, jumping hour and power reserve) but benefiting from several optimizations. This module is now coupled to a manufacture movement (LJP-G100 base) and has an increased power reserve of 56 hours. From a horological point of view, the new P168 module required in-depth consideration for its development, its mass production and its reliability. The new RESERVOIR Kanister Silver inaugurates the RESERVOIR RSV-240 caliber, that will be deployed across all collections in the coming months.
3 Questions addressed to François Moreau (Founder & CEO RESERVOIR):
1/ Why anchor RESERVOIR in Swiss Made manufacturing?
FMO : “For the design and manufacture of its watches, RESERVOIR has opted for a Swiss Made approach for the following reasons. There is unique watchmaking know-how in Switzerland that is unequaled in any other country in the development of complications, with the presence of many very specialized watch designers renowned for their innovative character. In addition, the very high standards attached to the Swiss Made designation constitute essential elements of reassurance for a large number of international collectors.”
2/ How does TELOS respond to RESERVOIR’s creative approach?
FMO : “TELOS Watch is a renowned watch designer that already has many complications available but also very specialized know-how in many watchmaking fields, and in particular the jumping hour and the retrograde minute. These characteristics have made it possible to develop a RESERVOIR complication module in perfect response to the initial specifications, and present a very significant potential in terms of innovation for future complications, some of which are already under development.”
3/ What is the specificity of this collaboration?
FMO : “The collaboration between TELOS and RESERVOIR has made it possible to develop and then manufacture a fine watchmaking module comprising three complications: jumping hour, retrograde minute, power reserve. These three complications have been designed specifically for the RESERVOIR brand and have benefited from numerous innovations in the way they have been designed, in particular on the necklace or on the various so-called ‘release’ safety devices. Its unique characteristics allow RESERVOIR to hold a patent on this module today.”
The RESERVOIR collections bear witness to unique watchmaking know-how by satisfying the strictest professional requirements. It is in Switzerland, in La Chaux-de-Fonds, that the TELOS master watchmakers develop the RSV-240 caliber, and in Neufchâtel where they are assembled. All their art is revealed in the precision of the measurements, the rigor of the controls and the attention paid to each stage of work, regardless of the mechanical complexity of the watch.
About TELOS – The engine manufacturer with tailor-made movements.
Founded in 2009 by Franck Orny and Johnny Girardin in La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland), two specialists in watchmaking development and longtime friends, Télôs quickly found its place by developing ultra-complicated movements and by assigning the patents associated with major watchmaking companies. In 2015, they had the idea of offering a unique concept of à la carte movements, which, using the same components, made it possible to create several movements which could then be personalized according to their customers’ expectations. Success is on the way. Directly inspired by the automotive sector, it consists of keeping the strategic components, such as: barrels, gear trains, stem system, timer, 4Hz oscillator, 20.3 escapements, transmissions, ratchets and winding pinions. Today, surrounded by a team of professionals, reactive and very competent, they are recognized for the quality of their creations which come to adorn many watches of large Houses or structures which start their activity.
TELOS has recently made a name for itself for its Haute Horlogerie know-how, with achievements widely recognized by the world’s watchmaking media, such as the ARTYA Purity Tourbillon (manual skeleton movement equipped with a large-diameter tourbillon, central hours and minutes, two parallel barrels, operating at a frequency of 4 Hz, 70-hour power reserve), the CUSTOS Challenge III Double Tourbillon Differential-s (double tourbillon manual movement, central hours and minutes, seconds on differential, 4 parallel barrels, 4 Hz frequency, 60-hour power reserve, patented bearing differential), the Gimbutis caliber P307 (automatic mechanical movement, skeleton hours + central minutes, 2 parallel barrels, 4 Hz frequency, 72-hour power reserve, 4-arm balance), or the Beauregard Dahlia C1, (automatic movement, large-diameter central flywheel tourbillon, peripheral hours + minutes, two parallel barrels, frequency 4 Hz, power reserve 6 5 hours) and the Harry Winston Opus 14 (automatic jukebox complication watch).
Find out more: www.teloswatch.ch
RESERVOIR Kanister 316 watch Technical Specifications
References:
- RSV01.KN/133/BA (Black Dial)
- RSV01.KN/133.SI.BA (Silver Dial)
Movement
- Retrograde Minute, Jumping Hour, Power Reserve
- Calibre RSV-240: Manufacture Self-winding Mechanical Movement, Patented proprietary 113-pieces module (LJP G100 base)
- 56-Hour Power Reserve
- 28,800 alt./h
- Swiss Made
Case
- 41,5 mm, 316L stainless steel case with brushed finish
- Black or Silver Colored Dial
- Screw-down Crown, Water-resistant 5ATM
- Opened Case-Back at 360°
- Anti-reflective Sapphire Crystal
Strap
- Stainless steel strap, 20 mm Width Stainless Steel Butterfly Folding Clasp
- Additional Black Leather or Ostrich Taupe Leather Strap
Box
- Prestigious Wooden Box
Availability
- Available to order NOW online and through a prestigious network of 80+ high-end stores and specialist retailers in 20+ countries
Price
- 4’800 €TTC, 4’300 £ incl taxes, 4’600 $ w/o taxes MSRP, 4’800 CHF incl taxes
About RESERVOIR
Unique design inspired by mechanical measuring instruments, RESERVOIR watches redefine boldness. The Swiss Made movement offers a radical way to read time – retrograde minute, jumping hour, power reserve. It transforms time into a precious resource, a faithful ally of adventure. Every 60 minutes, the single hand retrogrades and activates the next moment with the same intensity. To make every hour count. Fail or prevail but Make It Bold.
RESERVOIR watches reflect the functionality and aesthetic appeal of counters or gauges primarily from cars, aeronautics and marine. An era in which precision instruments were at the service of mankind, when the adrenaline coursed through the driver’s or pilot’s veins as he embarked upon voyages that demanded courage and high performance.
Ten collections build the RESERVOIR assortment through five universes: GT Tour, Supercharged, Longbridge, Battlefield, Kanister (Cars), Airfight (Aeronautic), Tiefenmesser, Hydrosphere (Marine), Blake & Mortimer (Comics) and Sonomaster (Music). All models are equipped with a bespoke and patented horological module associated with a manufacture movement, assembled at La-Chaux-De-Fonds in Switzerland by a renowned watchmaker. The collections are distributed globally among 20+ countries, including the United States, Japan, Europe and Middle East, on-line and through a network of 70+ luxury retailers, the core range being priced at 4’000 euros.
Established in 2017, RESERVOIR is presenting its novelties annually at international watch fairs (e.g. Time To Watches / Baselworld (Switzerland), Couture (USA), SIAR (Mexico)) receiving outstanding reviews from the world media. Collections were nominated four times for the Geneva Grand Prix de d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, selected at the 2021 Only Watch charity auction and received the Red Dot design award in 2022.