Heavy Fuel

Inspired by measuring instruments and mechanical counters, the single-hand Reservoir watches, became available in India last year. With the brand set to strengthen its presence in the country in 2023, we spoke to founder François Moreau about what sets Reservoir apart.

                      

That the world of automobiles, aircrafts, and marine activities are inextricably linked to watchmaking is a common fact. The need for innovation and precision timing in racing, flying, and diving has ensured that watchmakers are always stretching the limits of timekeeping. But Reservoir watches’ approach to these genres is different, more design-led. Inspired by measuring instruments, Reservoir watches are characterised by one-hand timekeeping. On the dial is a retrograde minutes hand that is reminiscent of RPM counters, a jumping hours that reminds one of mileage metres, and a power reserve display akin to fuel gauges. Based out of Paris, the brand is the brainchild of François Moreau, whose

obsession with dashboards of cars and instruments like manometers, VU meters and gauges, goes back to when he was a child. Launched in 2017, Reservoir already has a rich lineup of offerings, divided into ‘Car’ with four sub-collections, ‘Marine’ with two subcollections, and ‘Aeronautic’. The brand has also created collaborative pieces that include this year’s limited-to-200-pieces Reservoir x LabelNoir x Popeye watch, and last year’s Blake and Mortimer watch with Dargaud, publisher of the Belgian comic book series of the same name. In 2022, the brand’s novelties included the bi-retrograde Sonomaster Chronograph, deeply inspired by VU meters from analogue stereo amplifiers; the Hydrosphere Cenote, which takes