In the world of horology, it’s nothing new to work with brand ambassadors. Two examples, Hublot and Richard Mille, have enjoyed phenomenal success using this form of strategic marketing. It’s rare for small microbrands to venture down this road because of the cost incurred. However, there are exceptions like MAN of the SEA, who have just created a special, unique 1/1 piece for Russel Crowe. Amazingly, this occurred via the world of TikTok and was facilitated by Andy Berke (Andy’s Watches), who has a well-publicised friendship with the Australian actor.
MAN of the SEA is the brainchild of Don Weismantel and has become very popular in watch communities. The timepieces are customisable via the brand’s website. This allows the recipient to choose from a range of cases, bezels and dial designs. What makes these watches so appealing is the meticulous attention to detail. For example, the solid bronze case uses a bygone wax casting technique, which is highly effective. Previously, I reviewed the ‘Smooth Seas’ and was hugely impressed with the overall aesthetic.
When Don Weismantel embarked on the (top secret) Russell Crowe project, he had a clear vision about the design. The main concept was inspired by the film ‘Master and Commander’. For example, Captain Aubrey’s (character played by Crowe) comedic line, “Always choose the lesser of two weevils’ is engraved on the bezel. The hand-painted dial features an illustration of the tall ship Rose (HMS Surprise) set against a blue sky. Other refined details include a sculpted ship wheel crown and special case back (with a personal message from Don to Russell). It’s also important to mention that the case sides have a bas-relief sculpture of Captain Aubrey peering through his telescope. Judging by the Australian actor’s face whilst opening the package, I’d say the project was a roaring success.
Powering the watch is Swiss automatic movement sourced from Sellita. The Calibre SW200 – 1 comprises 26 jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. In addition to the personal message on the case back, Don Weismantel also has an illustrated scene from the film. Functionally, the ‘Lucky Jack’ features hours, minutes and seconds. The watch also has a power reserve of 40 hours and is water resistant to a depth of 100 metres. As a perfect finale, the timepiece is presented on a 26mm handcrafted leather strap with a complementary bronze cast buckle (depicting an intimate musical scene from the film).
For more information about MAN of the SEA follow this link
