Part of the UNESCO “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”, Día de los Muertos is arguably the most widely celebrated holiday in Mexico. The three-day festival is a time to remember those who have passed on while celebrating life and facing the inevitable fate that awaits us all.

When I learned of the new “Día de los Muertos Diamante” collection by RJ Romain Jerome, I asked if they would be kind enough to let me get my hands on one or two of the models to photograph with my recently acquired Our Exquisite Corpse Huichol beaded human skill (don’t worry, it’s not an actual human skull, just beaded resin). RJ Romain Jerome were happy to oblige and sent me 3 of the 5 pieces from the new collection.

While the collection is not exactly new (RJ did the first Día de los Muertos piece last year) here we have 5 stone-encrusted models with different dials and cases. All 5 editions of the “Diamante” edition come in 46mm PVD steel cases, with either diamond or black sapphire set bezels or a plain matte black ceramic bezel, depending on the version.

The main model, like the original “Día de los muertos” watch from last year, comes with a mirror-polished black dial set with a raised champlevé skull, cold enameled in different colors to mimic a “calavera”, a traditional skull-shaped sugar candy offered as good luck charms during the 3-day festival. On this variant, the claws on the case as well as the iconic “X” on the dial are set with brilliant-cut white diamonds.

The other two models come with a bezel set in a revolving pattern; either in white diamonds or black sapphires. The dial is set either with a black applique skull set with black spinels or a dial set entirely with white diamonds and black spinel skull.

Each of the 5 editions of the Día de los Muertos Diamante collection is limited to 25 pieces, with prices ranging from $21,450 to $42,950 USD.

More information at www.romainjerome.ch