Memento Mori Watches

Memento Mori Watches

 

Translating as ‘remember you must die’, our collection of Memento Mori watches, inspired by the Victorian fascination with Memento Mori keepsakes, feature an intricate skull design and serve as a reminder to live life to the full. These unisex, special edition skull watches are paired with either a black or tan leather strap.

 






Inspiration Behind The Memento Mori Watch

INSPIRATION:
This is a watch that we have wanted to make for a very long time. A watch that has been meticulously designed and thought through to the very last detail. And one that comes with a fascinating Victorian heritage.

Memento Mori literally translates as ‘Remember you must die’, a recurring theme in Victorian jewellery and art. Contrary to how that may sound, Memento Moris were intended as a celebration of life, to remind us that life is short and every second counts.








SO, WHAT IS MEMENTO MORI?

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’, is a recurring theme in Victorian jewellery and art. Contrary to how that may sound, Memento Moris were intended as a celebration of life, to remind us that life is short and every second counts.


MEMENTO MORI, A VICTORIAN TRADITION

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 your 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 cornerstones for our design.


THE CAMDEN WATCH COMPANY'S MEMENTO MORI

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.