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This week a new special edition has been added to our No.253 family, the No.253 Memento Mori Special Edition watch.
Like all of our products, this timepiece has been thought through to the very last detail, and comes with a fascinating Victorian heritage.
Allow us to take you behind the design of our No.253 Memento Mori watch, starting with a little bit of history…
Established during the Medieval era and continued up until Victorian times, a Memento Mori was a form of art designed to remind the viewer that death was inevitable. It symbolised the fleeting nature of our time on earth and forced the viewer to consider their own mortality.
The latin phrase, which translates to ‘Remember you must die’ was interpreted during the early ages in paintings and architecture often as winged skeletons and skulls.
However, it is of course the Victorians who elevated the Memento Mori into extremely beautiful and elaborate objects, and it is those pieces that are the main inspiration behind our special edition watch.
Whilst the Victorians were certainly known for their strange and oftentimes morbid traditions, they were also known to be fine creators of stunning objects. Turning the most gruesome things into true pieces of art.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that the Memento Mori was firmly anchored into Victorian traditions.
These Memento Mori however had a different purpose. It was first a form of mourning, from post-mortem family portraits to jewellery that incorporated pictures or locks of the deceased’s hair, but they also served as an inspiration to live each day to the full. You could carry them on you wrist (like ours) or as jewellery, or perhaps in your pocket as a bizarre little trinket.
The skulls and swirling baroque motifs found on these pieces of jewellery and watches were the true cornerstone for our design.
The Memento Mori Special Edition is more than just a watch, it is a real piece of art. At the centre of the dial on a clean black background, surrounded by black indices with white accents, lies the beautiful engraved reminder of the unavoidability of death.
This meticulously engraved motif is repeated on the back and on the side of the all-black 41mm stainless steel case. Available on either a tan or black leather strap, the Memento Mori is a unique timepiece that will not only stay unnoticed, but will be the constant reminder to live life to the full.
Because to remember you must die is to remember you must live.
Back in late 2016, we launched what our first ever Limited Edition watch. Based on Tom Sayers, a champion bare-knuckle boxer from Camden, it was a steel No.88 with a black dial limited to 200 pieces, and we loved it.
Produced in four batches of 50, each batch sold out fast, and ever since we have received emails and messages asking us if by any chance we've held any back (we haven't), or even if it was possible buy our very own edition (it isn't).
