Microbrand Spotlight: Mr Jones Watches
If you think all watches are created equal — think again. Mr Jones Watches isn’t your average tick-tock merchant. They're the horological equivalent of an acid trip in a Savile Row suit. Quirky, creative, and proudly made in London, these timepieces are wearable art with a side of humour. Let’s wind the clock back and explore how this gloriously offbeat brand came to be — and what’s new on their ever-whimsical dial.
The Time Lord Behind the Brand
The man, the myth, the watchmaker: Crispin Jones. No, he’s not related to Indiana — but he has gone on some wild design adventures. Originally a digital artist and designer, Crispin set out in the early 2000s with a mission: to make watches that weren’t just tools for punctuality, but conversation starters.
In 2007, Mr Jones Watches was born in London, not in a sterile lab of Swiss precision, but in a cosy workshop where creativity trumps conformity. The brand's ethos? Forget luxury status symbols and focus instead on what a watch says about you — ideally something a bit more fun than “I’m on time for my 3pm meeting.”
Early Days: Limited Editions & Big Ideas
The first watches were hand-assembled in tiny batches. Designs like The Accurate, with its infamous “Remember you will die” message (yes, really), were bold statements about time and life — and also low-key existential crises for your wrist.
Other early hits included:
The Decider, a watch that answers yes/no questions as the hands cross.
The Last Laugh, which uses skull teeth to tell the time. Very “Day of the Dead meets design school.”
These weren’t your standard silver-and-black numbers — they were wearable reminders to embrace absurdity, creativity, and the occasional memento mori.
Made in London — Literally
While most watch brands outsource their production, Mr Jones Watches does things differently. All their watches are printed, assembled, and tested by hand in their London studio. That’s right — in a world of mass production, they’ve gone full artisan.
Each design is released in limited numbers, which means you’re unlikely to spot another on the same Tube carriage. Unless you hang out in Shoreditch, in which case… maybe.
Credit - Mr Jones Watches
Credit - Mr Jones Watches
Credit - Mr Jones Watches
The Latest Models: Still Ticking Outside the Box
Fast forward to today, and Mr Jones Watches is still on its own deliciously weird path. A few standout recent releases:
A perfectly useless afternoon – Designed by illustrator Kristof Devos, this model features a man floating lazily in an inner tube, drifting along the hour hand. The message? Time spent doing nothing is not wasted time.
Mispoes – Yes, it’s a cat-themed watch, and yes, it’s tail tells the minutes. Purr-fectly charming (sorry, couldn’t resist).
Ascendant – Designed by artist Fanny Shorter, this one's a psychedelic kaleidoscope of celestial shapes, bursting with colour and symbolism. It tells time, but it also reads like a visual horoscope.
Each release still carries that unique blend of creativity, humour, and meaning that Mr Jones Watches has always championed. It’s design with a wink and a nudge — and often, a deeper message lurking beneath the surface.
Why You’ll Want One
Let’s be honest: most people don’t wear watches for function anymore. That’s what smartphones are for. But a Mr Jones Watch? That’s for vibes. It's a wrist-bound reminder that time is precious, life is weird, and your accessories should make you smile — or at least start a conversation in the pub.
So whether you’re a collector of curiosities, a lover of limited editions, or just want something a bit more “you” than the latest smartwatch, Mr Jones might just be your new favourite timekeeper.
And remember: the time is always right to be a bit more interesting.
Want more?
You can check out the latest models or book a visit to their London workshop at mrjoneswatches.com. Just don’t blame us if you leave with five more than you planned.
