You’re sitting at a bar, or maybe a coffee shop, and someone asks you for the time. You glance down at your wrist. Instead of a digital readout or a pair of boring silver hands, you see a giant, pixelated playing card staring back at you. Specifically, a King of Diamonds. The hour is hidden in his crown; the minutes are tucked away in the symbols around him. It takes a second to register. You tell them it’s 4:15. They look confused, then intrigued, and suddenly you’re stuck in a ten-minute conversation about British watchmaking. That is basically the entire experience of owning a Mr Jones King watch.
It’s weird. It’s impractical for some. It’s also one of the most successful designs to ever come out of the London-based studio.
Crispin Jones, the mastermind behind the brand, didn't set out to compete with Rolex or Seiko. He wanted to make "conversation pieces." Honestly, he succeeded. The King isn't just a watch; it’s a statement that you don't take the concept of time—or yourself—all that seriously. While most watch nerds are busy arguing over "power reserves" and "bezel play," fans of this piece are just enjoying the fact that their wrist looks like a piece of pop art.
The King's Court: Why This Design Stuck
The Mr Jones King watch first hit the scene as a limited edition. It sold out fast. Like, really fast. The demand was so high that they eventually brought it back as part of their permanent collection, which is a rarity for a brand that loves to retire designs.
The aesthetic is heavily inspired by the classic artwork of a deck of cards. You’ve got the bold reds, the stark whites, and that specific "pixel art" vibe that feels like a 1990s video game met a Victorian parlor room. It was designed by Fanny Shorter, a talented illustrator known for her intricate patterns. Her collaboration with Mr Jones Watches (MJW) is arguably the brand's most recognizable partnership.
What most people get wrong about these watches is the assumption that they are "cheap" because they look playful. They aren't. They’re built in London. The printing of the glass—which is how the design is layered—is a meticulous process. If the alignment is off by a fraction of a millimeter, the whole thing is ruined.
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Breaking Down the Jump Hour Movement
Technically, the Mr Jones King watch uses a "jump hour" mechanism. This is where things get interesting for the gearheads. Instead of a hand that sweeps slowly around the dial, the hour digit stays put and then "jumps" to the next number exactly when the hour changes.
- The hour is displayed in the center of the King's crown.
- The minutes are tracked by the repeating card suits (hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs) that rotate around the outer edge of the dial.
- You read the minute that aligns with the very top of the watch.
It’s a Seagull automatic movement inside. Specifically, the ST1721. Now, some people scoff at Chinese movements, but the ST17 is a workhorse. It’s reliable, easy to service, and it keeps the price point in that "attainable luxury" sweet spot. Plus, it’s an automatic, meaning it winds itself as you move your arm. No batteries. No charging cables. Just physics and a tiny bit of gravity.
Wearability vs. Art
Let's be real: this watch is chunky. It sits high on the wrist because of the layered glass required to create that 3D depth. If you’re used to an Apple Watch or a slim dress watch, the Mr Jones King watch feels like a brick at first. A beautiful, artistic brick.
The case diameter is 37mm, which sounds small on paper. Don't be fooled. Because the lugs (the bits that hold the strap) are shaped the way they are, it wears much larger. It’s got presence. I’ve seen people with 8-inch wrists pull it off, and I’ve seen it look great on much smaller frames. It’s gender-neutral in the best way possible.
The strap is another talking point. Usually, it comes with a stainless steel mesh band. It’s fine. It’s breathable. But honestly? Throw a thick leather strap on this thing or a red rubber band, and it completely changes the vibe. The 18mm lug width makes it incredibly easy to swap out straps if you have a basic spring bar tool and five minutes of patience.
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The "Is It Hard to Read?" Question
Yes. Sorta. At least for the first forty-eight hours.
Your brain is programmed to look for hands. When you look at the Mr Jones King watch, your brain looks for hands, finds a royal face instead, and panics for a split second. But after a couple of days, your eyes learn to go straight to the crown. You stop "reading" the watch and start "recognizing" the time.
It’s a different cognitive process. It forces you to actually look at your watch rather than just glancing at it. In an age where we are constantly bombarded by notifications, there is something oddly meditative about having to focus for one extra second just to see if you’re late for lunch.
Why Collectors Actually Care
If you go to a high-end watch meetup—the kind where people are wearing $50,000 Patek Philippes—you will almost always see someone with a Mr Jones tucked in their collection. Why? Because watch collecting can get stuffy. Really stuffy.
The Mr Jones King watch is the ultimate "palate cleanser." It’s the watch you wear when you want to remember that watches are supposed to be fun. It’s also a masterclass in "depth of dial." Because the artwork is printed on the underside of the sapphire crystal and on the discs below it, there’s a sense of physical space inside the watch case that you just don't get with a flat-painted dial.
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Common Misconceptions and Realities
- "It’s a toy." It’s a mechanical instrument with a 5ATM water resistance rating. You can wear it in the rain. Just don't go scuba diving in it.
- "The movement is loud." Some people find the rotor (the spinning weight that winds the watch) a bit "zippy" sounding. Personally, I think it adds character. It reminds you that there’s a tiny machine living on your wrist.
- "It’s too loud for the office." Maybe if you work at a funeral home. Otherwise, it’s a great icebreaker in meetings.
The Cultural Impact of MJW
Mr Jones Watches has built a cult following by staying small. They don't do massive Super Bowl ads. They don't have celebrity ambassadors (unless you count the thousands of creative professionals who wear them religiously).
The King, alongside its counterpart the Queen, represents a shift in how we view timepieces in the 2020s. We don't need watches to tell time anymore; our phones do that with atomic accuracy. We wear watches to tell a story about who we are. If you wear a Mr Jones King watch, the story you’re telling is that you value creativity, you appreciate British eccentricity, and you probably have a decent sense of humor.
Taking Care of Your King
Owning an automatic watch requires a tiny bit of maintenance. If you don't wear it for a couple of days, it will stop. You'll have to reset it. To do this, you just pull the crown out and rotate. Since it's a jump hour, you'll feel a satisfying little "click" or see the number snap into place as you cycle through the hours.
Don't drop it on a tile floor. The sapphire crystal is scratch-resistant, but the mechanical movement inside is still a delicate dance of springs and gears. If you treat it with a modicum of respect, it’ll last decades.
Actionable Next Steps for Future Owners
If you're seriously considering adding the Mr Jones King watch to your wrist, don't just hit "buy" on the first listing you see. Here is how to do it right:
- Check the Version: Ensure you are buying the 37mm "All Around" version if you want the classic fit. Some older limited editions might have different case shapes.
- The Strap Swap: Budget an extra $30 for a high-quality leather or silicone strap. While the mesh is nice, this watch truly pops when paired with a textured strap that matches the King's "suit."
- Verify the Movement: Most modern versions use the Seagull automatic. If you find one with a battery (quartz), it’s likely a much older or different model. The automatic "sweep" of the minute disc is part of the magic.
- Check MJW’s "Last Chance" Section: They often rotate stock. If the King is out of stock on their main page, check their London workshop’s direct listings or verified retailers like WatchGecko.
- Embrace the Learning Curve: Give yourself three days of "retraining" your brain. After that, reading the time on a King of Diamonds will feel more natural than reading a digital clock.