The Kingsman Knife watch is only limited to 100 pieces.
Ever wished you could accessorise like a secret international spy?
Now you can, with the new Master Ultra Thin Kingsman Knife watch by Jaeger-LeCoultre and MR PORTER. Limited to only 100 pieces, this timepiece is specially adapted for The King’s Man, the upcoming Kingsman origin film directed by Matthew Vaughn that’s slated to be released this September.
The newest film in the Kingsman series weaves a story linking past and present, travelling back 100 years to the origins of the elusive Kingsman agency. Jaeger-LeCoultre draws upon its own historic mastery of ultra thin calibres to develop a new timepiece that’s inspired by the celebrated 1907 ‘Couteau’ (meaning knife in French) pocket watch. The Master Ultra Thin Kingsman Knife watch is an ultra-refined dress watch that blends tradition and modernity that works as the perfect practical, sleek accessory even for a modern day spy. Its elegant design and masterful make perfectly captures the Kingman maxim: ‘Manners Maketh Man’.
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s traditional pocket watches are clearly the inspiration for the aesthetic of this new timepiece. The broad bezel slopes gently from the sapphire crystal to the edge of the case to create a profile reminiscent of a knife blade, and the winding crown that’s protected by its triangular bow, is placed at 12 o’clock. The classic traditional elements are given a modern update with subtle contemporary details, such as simple index hour markers to give the dial a clean and refined look, while a finely drawn ring is repeated as a circular highlight on the bezel.
“Our Manufacture is proud of its heritage which drives the creativity of our master watchmaking since 1833. We are delighted to partner with Matthew Vaughn and MR PORTER to unveil a unique timepiece celebrating the elegant pioneering spirit,” said Catherine Renier, the CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre, in a press release. “The thinness of this watch, inspired from a pocket-watch with a knife shape from 1907 is illustrating the skills and creativity of our fully integrated Manufacture. It represents the spirit of times with timepieces passed from generation to generation.”
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The Kingsman Knife watch is presented in 40mm, with a 4.25mm thick pink gold case. The ultra thin case is home to the Swiss watchmaker’s hand-wound calibre 849. The movement measures a mere 1.85 millimetres thick, and underlines the century-old mastery of a truly demanding form of Haute Horlogerie. Ultra thin movements require a perfect ratio between thinness and solidity, in order to ensure that components retain sufficient strength for reliable timekeeping.
The caseback of the watch is engraved with the Kingsman logo, as a tribute to the film’s narrative, alongside the legend ‘One of 100’. The Kingsman Knife is also presented in a specially designed Kingsman sleevebox.
“We at MR PORTER are thrilled to be working with Matthew Vaughn and the Jaeger-LeCoultre team to exclusively launch the limited edition Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Kingsman Knife, in advance of the global release of The King’s Man later this year,” wrote Sam Kershaw, the Buying Director of MR PORTER. “The watch has a strong heritage styling coupled with being limited to only 100 pieces and will sure to be received extremely well with our growing global watch community.”
From now till September 6, the Kingsman Knife watch will be offered exclusively on MR PORTER as a key part of The King’s Man ‘costume to collection’. After that date, the watch will also be available directly from Jaeger-LeCoultre online and in selected boutiques.
Photos: Jaeger-LeCoultre