The Reservoir Kanister watch recalls the gauges of the 1950’s speedsters.
In an era when all the rage is about vintage-inspired racecars and the reiteration of life’s classics, French watch brand Reservoir, which offers Swiss-made watches, deftly reinterprets vintage auto gauges of all sorts for spectacular results on the wrist. The newest Kanister is a prime example. For all of its features and functions, this watch should be triple, if not more, its retail price tag, but car/watch lovers are in for a real value proposition when it comes to this colorful instrument.
Speeding onto the scene less than 10 years ago, Reservoir takes inspiration from the measurement instruments of yesteryear – whether they be automotive, aeronautic, military, diving or other. The unique concept is one embraced by certain brands for a timepiece here or there, but Reservoir embraces the idea across all of its lines – bringing the true meaning of a tool watch full circle. Additionally, the brand chocks its watches with complexities and useful tools that one would only expect in a luxury watch – at a price point well below the $10,000 mark.
Car lovers could never get tired of wearing this watch on the wrist. (Photo: R. Naas)
Review Of Reservoir Kanister
I didn’t get to wear this watch long enough. I am not sure if, even if I owned it, I would get to wear it enough. The looks, the feel, the concept and the mechanics of this under-$5,000 watch all scream vintage with a vision.
The newest Reservoir Kanister is destined to put the brand on an all-new map thanks to its colorful aesthetic, historic references and functional implications. The watch is inspired by the speedometer of the legendary 356 Speedster and boasts paste green minute indexes, a bright red warning area and a black dial with white hands: the perfect gauge reinterpretation.
A close-up look at the jumping hour, retrograde minute, power reserve displays of the Reservoir Kanister watch.
Perhaps even better than the look is the functionality: the 45mm grade 5 Titanium case houses a patented proprietary 124-part module atop an ETA 2824-2 self-winding mechanical caliber. It boasts a retrograde minute hand (that flies back to zero to start its recount once the hour is up) located at 240” on the dial to recall the RPM counters, and a jumping hour that reinterprets the mileage meters and a power reserve display (37 hours) that is designed to emulate fuel gages – all in once.
Water resistant to 5 ATM, the watch boasts a domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal and a sapphire case back for viewing to the movement and rotor. The watch is sold in a boxed set with a choice of either three leather straps inspired by the speedster’s bucket seats and featuring a quick-release spring bar for easy interchangeability , or with an additional fabric NATO strap. The set retails for $4,980 – s veritable steal!
The Reservoir Kanister watch is sold in a boxed set with three leather straps or with a NATO strap. Photo: R. Naas.
I firmly believe that what Reservoir is doing with its collection – revisiting vintage in a thoroughly modern and radical manner – makes it destined to be a true young collector’s brand. But, believe me, this watch is designed to appeal to any age and everyone who loves mechanics.
Reservoir Kanister watch retails for $4,890.
