Reservoir is a new watch company and one of a growing band of watch producers specializing in wristwatches themed from vintage vehicle instruments, most notably those from aircraft and motor/racing cars. The Paris-based company is the brainchild of Francois Moreau, who made his fortune as a banker with HSBC in Japan, Hong Kong and finally in his homeland of France. Moreau was fortunate in setting up Reservoir to have substantial investment from Thierry Chaunu, founder of Beaugeste Luxury Brands, which distributes Reservoir watches in the United States along with other important Swiss brands such as Eberhard, Kerbedanz and Chronoswiss.
Note the cedilla under the c in Francois used here (pic from i.ytimg.com):
![maxresdefault.jpg]( "maxresdefault.jpg")
Francois Moreau had been a watch collector prior to him giving up the banking world in 2015 and it was at that point that he decided he would prefer to actually make watches rather than collect them. In addition to a love of watches, Moreau had also become highly interested in measuring instruments that are so vital for the mechanics and functioning of aircraft, cars, and even submarines. It was therefore almost inevitable that when Moreau gathered together his team of designers and watchmakers, he would base his watch designs on these instruments.
Reservoir's first collection appeared in 2017, and from the outset we find the characteristic retrograde minute hands resembling instrument needles and the jump hour display at 6 o'clock that resembles a car mileage counter. There is also a power reserve indicator below the jumping hour.
The main central instrument dial from the classic Mini, used as the basis for the Reservoir Longbridge wristwatch (pic from watchpro.com), and the Reservoir Longbridge Lady Longbridge colourway (pic from WatchProZine at storage.googleapis.com):
![Longbridge-Mini-dash.jpg]( "Longbridge-Mini-dash.jpg")
![home_5693206.jpg]( "home_5693206.jpg")
The 2017 reservoir watch collection garnered some attention, but it was the launch earlier this year of the Reservoir Longbridge that really pressed the right buttons, probably because it so directly plugged in to the popular nostalgia for the great British Mini - itself a national and international phenomenon of the 1960s and manufactured at Longbridge. Reservoir had already mastered the technology or engineering needed for the Longbridge courtesy of its 2017 collection, and all that was really required was to fit the aesthetics of the original Mini centre instrument dial into the new Mini-inspired watch, with considerable success and fidelity to the car dial's design. One nice little touch is the use of semi-precious stone cabochons to indicate diodes in the original Mini dial indicating, "ENGINE" and "BEAMS."
The black dial colourway of the Reservoir Longbridge, named the Longbridge Club (pic from automotivpress.fr):
![RESERVOIR_LONGBRIDGE_CLUB_RSV01-1.jpg]( "RESERVOIR_LONGBRIDGE_CLUB_RSV01-1.jpg")
I do not need to explain here the clever similarities between the Longbridge watch and the original Mini instrument/speedo dial as they are visible and obvious. In terms of versions, the watch has been produced in both women's and men's versions, and in terms of colourways, the green-dial version with green-stitched black leather strap is perhaps the closest to the spirit of classic British motoring.
The Longbridge is powered by a modified ETA 2824-2 automatic movement which operates the retrograde minute hand and jump hour display, working with a 37 hour power reserve. The special module for the movement was the work of TĂ©los (also circumflex on 'o'), which has worked on some watch complications for other firms and which has done a very good job here with the Longbridge. The gents' and ladies' version of the Longbridge both have a 39mm stainless steel case - sharp and angular with a play of polished and matt surfaces. The screw-in crown is stamped with the 4-sided reservoir logo, and the winder is connected to a special clutch that protects the retrograde mechanism when the time is adjusted. It would appear that the detailing and finish of the Longbridge are very good. Water resistance is stated to be 50 metres and the crystal is anti-reflective sapphire.
The green dial colourway of the Longbridge, named the Longbridge British Racing (pics from fpy51u9pzflaqm93bqsamvy-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com, veritime.london, and bottom, WatchProZine at storage.googleapis.com):
![RESERVOIR_LONGBRIDGE_RSV01.LB_130-62s_3-]( "RESERVOIR_LONGBRIDGE_RSV01.LB_130-62s_3-")
![Longbridge-BR-table-shot-6-IG-600x600.jp]( "Longbridge-BR-table-shot-6-IG-600x600.jp")
![home_5617061.jpg]( "home_5617061.jpg")
Interestingly, two prestigious retailers in the UK have apparently stepped up as stockists of Reservoir watches (Jura Watches may be one of these, as they claim to be an official stockist of the brand), and in the US, Beaugeste Luxury Brands are involved in presenting the watches and distributing them. The price of the gents green-dial leather strap Longbridge is ÂŁ3,500. The gents' version is available in black and green dial colourways, while the ladies' version has a cream-coloured dial and pastel leather strap. In connection with strap choice,it has been remarked that a pin buckle could have been offered as an alternative to the steel butterfly clasp provided.
I am not noted for being a great fan of motor instrument themed wristwatches generally, but there are certain exceptions, and I do find the Reservoir Longbridge somewhat irresistible. The main Mini instrument dial could have been made for the format of Reservoir watches both in terms of aesthetics and mechanics, and the Longbridge is almost perfect as an exemplar for how to theme a watch on a vintage instrument dial. I am not going to try and identify whether or not the Longbridge is a bargain, a good buy, or a trifle expensive. For those who love or own original Minis, this watch must surely be on the radar and if it isn't then it certainly deserves to be.
COLOUR NOTES: It has clearly been difficult for photographers to accurately render the green of the dark green dial in the Longbridge British Racing colourway with a tendency for the dial to appear almost black. I have also noticed that in some photographs of the British racing colourway, what appears to be a green leather strap has been used even though the watch as sold apparently has a black leather strap with green stitching.
![RESERVOIR-LONGBRIDGE-BRITISH-RACING.jpg?]( "RESERVOIR-LONGBRIDGE-BRITISH-RACING.jpg?")
(Pic from i2.wp.com/shoppingenville-paris.com)
Note the cedilla under the c in Francois used here (pic from i.ytimg.com):
Francois Moreau had been a watch collector prior to him giving up the banking world in 2015 and it was at that point that he decided he would prefer to actually make watches rather than collect them. In addition to a love of watches, Moreau had also become highly interested in measuring instruments that are so vital for the mechanics and functioning of aircraft, cars, and even submarines. It was therefore almost inevitable that when Moreau gathered together his team of designers and watchmakers, he would base his watch designs on these instruments.
Reservoir's first collection appeared in 2017, and from the outset we find the characteristic retrograde minute hands resembling instrument needles and the jump hour display at 6 o'clock that resembles a car mileage counter. There is also a power reserve indicator below the jumping hour.
The main central instrument dial from the classic Mini, used as the basis for the Reservoir Longbridge wristwatch (pic from watchpro.com), and the Reservoir Longbridge Lady Longbridge colourway (pic from WatchProZine at storage.googleapis.com):
The 2017 reservoir watch collection garnered some attention, but it was the launch earlier this year of the Reservoir Longbridge that really pressed the right buttons, probably because it so directly plugged in to the popular nostalgia for the great British Mini - itself a national and international phenomenon of the 1960s and manufactured at Longbridge. Reservoir had already mastered the technology or engineering needed for the Longbridge courtesy of its 2017 collection, and all that was really required was to fit the aesthetics of the original Mini centre instrument dial into the new Mini-inspired watch, with considerable success and fidelity to the car dial's design. One nice little touch is the use of semi-precious stone cabochons to indicate diodes in the original Mini dial indicating, "ENGINE" and "BEAMS."
The black dial colourway of the Reservoir Longbridge, named the Longbridge Club (pic from automotivpress.fr):
I do not need to explain here the clever similarities between the Longbridge watch and the original Mini instrument/speedo dial as they are visible and obvious. In terms of versions, the watch has been produced in both women's and men's versions, and in terms of colourways, the green-dial version with green-stitched black leather strap is perhaps the closest to the spirit of classic British motoring.
The Longbridge is powered by a modified ETA 2824-2 automatic movement which operates the retrograde minute hand and jump hour display, working with a 37 hour power reserve. The special module for the movement was the work of TĂ©los (also circumflex on 'o'), which has worked on some watch complications for other firms and which has done a very good job here with the Longbridge. The gents' and ladies' version of the Longbridge both have a 39mm stainless steel case - sharp and angular with a play of polished and matt surfaces. The screw-in crown is stamped with the 4-sided reservoir logo, and the winder is connected to a special clutch that protects the retrograde mechanism when the time is adjusted. It would appear that the detailing and finish of the Longbridge are very good. Water resistance is stated to be 50 metres and the crystal is anti-reflective sapphire.
The green dial colourway of the Longbridge, named the Longbridge British Racing (pics from fpy51u9pzflaqm93bqsamvy-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com, veritime.london, and bottom, WatchProZine at storage.googleapis.com):
Interestingly, two prestigious retailers in the UK have apparently stepped up as stockists of Reservoir watches (Jura Watches may be one of these, as they claim to be an official stockist of the brand), and in the US, Beaugeste Luxury Brands are involved in presenting the watches and distributing them. The price of the gents green-dial leather strap Longbridge is ÂŁ3,500. The gents' version is available in black and green dial colourways, while the ladies' version has a cream-coloured dial and pastel leather strap. In connection with strap choice,it has been remarked that a pin buckle could have been offered as an alternative to the steel butterfly clasp provided.
I am not noted for being a great fan of motor instrument themed wristwatches generally, but there are certain exceptions, and I do find the Reservoir Longbridge somewhat irresistible. The main Mini instrument dial could have been made for the format of Reservoir watches both in terms of aesthetics and mechanics, and the Longbridge is almost perfect as an exemplar for how to theme a watch on a vintage instrument dial. I am not going to try and identify whether or not the Longbridge is a bargain, a good buy, or a trifle expensive. For those who love or own original Minis, this watch must surely be on the radar and if it isn't then it certainly deserves to be.
COLOUR NOTES: It has clearly been difficult for photographers to accurately render the green of the dark green dial in the Longbridge British Racing colourway with a tendency for the dial to appear almost black. I have also noticed that in some photographs of the British racing colourway, what appears to be a green leather strap has been used even though the watch as sold apparently has a black leather strap with green stitching.
(Pic from i2.wp.com/shoppingenville-paris.com)
