Rabbit on the Moon: Revolution × De Rijke & Co. Miffy Double Moonphase

The world’s most beloved cartoon bunny takes middle stage on this whimsical timepiece from Dutch unbiased watchmaker Laurens de Rijke.

Wait, what’s that? The beloved Dutch cartoon character and image of optimism, Miffy, is gazing beatifically at you, ensconced in her swish repose on a crescent moon. All of a sudden, you are feeling all of your worldly troubles slip away as you might be spiritually uplifted to hitch her amongst the world of luminous stars. That was exactly the impact that Laurens de Rijke’s fantastic Miffy Moonphase watch had on me the primary time I set eyes on it final yr. So what could possibly be higher than one Miffy sitting on the moon sending you optimistic vitality? How about two Miffies, the second of which is now revealed, because of the translucent sapphire dial on the Revolution × De Rijke & Co. Miffy Double Moonphase?

From a technical perspective, this particular watch has the additional advantage of performing like a twin hemisphere moonphase indicator, providing you with an outline of the waning and waxing of the heavenly physique from each the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It’s possible you’ll really feel awash in heat comforting sensations as if swaddled in your favourite blanket. I get it, and you aren’t alone, such is the optimistic emotional impact of this timepiece. However let me inform you a bit of bit extra about its creator, Laurens de Rijke, and his fateful assembly with the world’s most edifying cartoon rabbit.

Laurens de Rijke bought the concept for his watch model using a restored 50-year-old Vespa alongside the Silk Highway, making his approach from Europe to Asia. As he seemed down at his wrist, he realized that the orientation of his classic Vostok watch made it arduous to learn whereas he was clutching his handlebars. So with a deftness of thoughts and the dogged dedication of youth, he set about rectifying this drawback. De Rijke checked out options supplied by conventional driver’s watches such because the Cartier Tank Asymétrique and the Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921.

Says de Rijke, “Each of those watches are masterpieces of design. Nevertheless, in each instances, the case is angled and stuck in place. However the actuality is, relying on the way you drive or if you’re using a bike or scooter, your wrist is perhaps in many alternative positions. To me, the answer was to create a watch with an internal case that might rotate or pivot, in an effort to place it precisely the way you need it.” As luck would have it, de Rijke had a level in mechanical engineering, and whereas not a skilled watchmaker, was extremely expert along with his arms. Certainly, he had earned cash by means of college restoring Vespas to concours high quality. He was additionally lucky to be a superb autodidact and shortly picked up the talent set of micro- machining from the famend Dutch industrial designer Bruno Ninaber. To fund the creation of his watch model, de Rijke bought his prized classic Vespa, promising himself that if he managed to promote his first watches, he would attempt to purchase it again.

After some experimentation, de Rijke was happy along with his watch. The 2-part case allowed the internal container to rotate 90 levels, in order that the dial of the watch could possibly be oriented to the proprietor’s desire. He explains, “For these of us who wish to journey classic bikes or drive classic, the dream drive is the street alongside the Amalfi Coast [in Southern Italy]. This can be a difficult street as a result of it’s so slim, however it is usually some of the lovely vistas on the planet. So, my thought was, if you’re piloting your classic Alfa Romeo downshifting into the turns, the very last thing you need is to take your hand off the steering wheel. Utilizing the rotation system on my watch, you possibly can orientate the dial in order that it’s good so that you can examine the time at a look.”

Accordingly, the identify he chosen for his watch was the evocative “Amalfi Collection.” At 38mm in diameter and simply 9.5mm in top, the unique Amalfi Collection channeled de Rijke’s love for classic timepieces and traditional proportions. The horse bit lugs, that are made in a single piece with the outer case, are charmingly designed and ergonomic. The standard of the 316L chrome steel case, and particularly the smoothness of rotation when altering the dial place, speaks of de Rijke’s give attention to high quality. He explains, “Watches are extremely tactile. I wished the Amalfi to be easy to put on and a pleasure to make use of. I don’t use any bearings for the rotation however merely labored on probably the most exact tolerance to create the right friction between the outer and internal case.” The motion for his watch was the Swiss-made Soprod M100 automated, which relies on the venerable ETA 2892.

However de Rijke’s model hit true essential mass in 2022 when he bought the concept to place the world’s most beloved rabbit on his dial, and in so doing, created some of the charming moonphase watches in existence. Says de Rijke, “Within the Netherlands, we develop up with Miffy. Whilst adults, there’s a lot affection for this character, which we at all times equate with a way of child-like innocence and optimism. So when the chance arose to create a watch that includes this well-known cartoon character, I used to be actually excited.”

Dick Bruna — the identify may sound like a quaint British pudding, however in reality he was one in all Holland’s most beloved, prolific and gifted illustrators. Whereas he was a religious modernist who fell beneath the spell of Fernand Léger’s machine artwork and was intoxicated by Henri Matisse’s bewitching Fauvism as a younger man, he’s greatest recognized for his creation “Miffy” or “Nijntje” — a cartoon rabbit. This small mammal with a beatific countenance may seem deceptively easy in pure creative phrases, however to many artwork historians, she represents a masterwork of expression by means of minimalist line drawing and first colours. The primary Miffy guide was produced by Bruna in 1955, and since then, one other over 30 tomes have adopted. In all, her books have been translated into greater than 50 totally different languages and have bought over 100 million copies. She has additionally been the topic of quite a few tv sequence and even the star of her personal characteristic movie.

It’s the intelligence and attraction with which de Rijke built-in Miffy into the Amalfi watch that basically distinguishes it from extra easy mash-ups. Says de Rijke, “Miffy is commonly advised as a bedtime story to kids. Many people bear in mind this. So I assumed it might be nice to characteristic Miffy sitting on the moon and have that be a moonphase indicator. However I wished this to be actually seen.”

With that inspiration, de Rijke set about designing one of many largest moonphase indicators in fashionable watchmaking in order to create a beautiful and visually interesting dial-side animation. However he didn’t cease at that. He additionally determined to color all the celebs, the moon and Miffy herself, together with her gown, with totally different colours of Tremendous-LumiNova in order that in darkish environments, she involves luminous techni-colored life. Says de Rijke, “I wish to think about that house owners will take their watch off and put it on their bedside tables. In the event that they wake through the night time, they are going to see Miffy glowing at nighttime, like a form of good luck attraction. It jogs my memory a little bit of the night-lights that kids have of their rooms.”

I bear in mind sitting within the bar of the Lodge Beau- Rivage final yr throughout Geneva Watch Days, when a buddy of mine, a widely known collector, occurred by the desk the place de Rijke and I had been seated. He observed the watch in my arms and requested to take a look at it. He lifted it to his face and paused for a second. Then he burst right into a smile and mentioned, “Dude, you guys did a form of Lange Lumen model of the Miffy watch!”

Each de Rijke and I laughed because it hadn’t been on our minds, however we realized there have been some non secular similarities regardless of the vastly totally different worth factors. What I respect about de Rijke is that he has set about creating a really actual watch model that expresses each real high quality and worth, particularly contemplating that he makes all his instances himself and assembles the watches himself in Holland. His Miffy watch might have been endearing however unimaginative, but he has finished simply the alternative and made it horologically significant, along with being extremely charming.

I recall the second I noticed the Miffy watch, I knew I wished to create a model of it with a see-through dial. Firstly, I wished to point out the internal workings of the additional massive 20mm broad moonphase indicator. Secondly, I beloved the concept of the double hemisphere moonphase show. I assumed that by making the dial both translucent or clear, it might enable UV gentle to continuously cost the luminous show with Miffy, the moon and the celebs. Happily, de Rijke additionally appreciated this concept and acquiesced to this collaboration. To be able to make the price of the sapphire dials cheap, we needed to create a sequence of 100 watches. However we felt that the attraction of the timepiece would assist it discover its viewers.

It provides me nice pleasure to current the De Rijke & Co. × Revolution Miffy Double Moonphase, made in 50 items and priced at EUR 2,888. You is perhaps shocked that, regardless of the price of the sapphire dial, we’ve priced the watch across the identical worth vary because the sold-out common Miffy version. That was de Rijke’s thought. He defined to me, “Because it’s the Chinese language Yr of the Rabbit and we’ve a rabbit on our dial, we should always give one thing again to the watch neighborhood.” And that’s I like him a lot.

De Rijke & Co. × Revolution Miffy Double Moonphase will probably be out there on RevolutionWatch.com on 6 June 2023, 10pm SGT / 4pm CET / 10am EST. For enquiries, please e-mail shop@revolutionmagazines.com

De Rijke & Co. × Revolution Miffy Double Moonphase

Motion: Self-winding Sellita caliber SW 288-1; 38-hour energy reserve
Features: Hours, minutes, seconds and double hemisphere moonphase
Case: 38mm; chrome steel; water-resistant to 100m
Dial: Translucent sapphire; Tremendous-LumiNova coated hour markers and moonphase
Strap: Blue leather-based; chrome steel pin buckle
Worth: EUR 3,100
Availability: Restricted version of 100 items