You could see this one coming from a long way off, certainly a lot further than the icebergs that doomed the Titanic. Romain Jerome has released a limited edition watch to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the legendary ship. The Titanic set sail on its ill-fated voyage across the Atlantic and met with disaster on April 15th 1912.

As moviegoers across the world are queuing up to see the 3-D re-release of James Cameron’s 1997 smash-hit film Titanic, Swiss watchmaker Romain Jerome has busied himself with the development of two limited-edition anniversary wristwatches.

The two new models, each limited to 100 pieces, are the Steampunk Auto 100th Anniversary and the Steampunk Chrono 100th Anniversary. Each is housed in a reassuringly large 50-mm-diameter case featuring the signature rough, raw finishes that are a hallmark of the brand’s very first collection, called Titanic-DNA.

Both of the Steampunk models feature a bezel of oxidised and stabilised steel, created by a fusion of metal from the underwater wreck of the Titanic, lying 3,840 metres under the sea, and another metal provided by the Harland and Wolff shipyards, where the ship was built.

For these anniversary pieces, the mobile propellers reminiscent of those on the ship, have been oxidised and stabilised by the same process used for the bezels. The models feature engraved casebacks with a medallion commemorating the centennial of the Titanic’s launch date.

Specifications

Movement: Calibre RJ001-AS, automatic with RJ oscillating weight; 28,800 vph; 23 jewels; 42-hour power reserve

Functions: Central hours and minutes, small second at 9 o’clock

Case: 50-mm diameter; stabilised, rusted steel from the Titanic in the bezel; bead-blasted black PVD paws; caseback engraved with 100th anniversary emblem; water-resistant to 30 metres; on black rubber strap with black PVD buckle

Dial and hands: Dial integrated into the movement; bead-blasted & circular-grained ruthenium coloured bridge with four steel pistons and beadblasted ruthenium bearings ; ruthenium coloured Roman numeral VI and XII with “raw” finishing; small seconds subdial with “ship’s propeller” in rusted, stabilised steel at 9 o’clock; black and satin-brushed hours and minutes hands inspired by Titanic’s anchor

Limited edition: 100 pieces