I RAN WITH RJ-ROMAIN JEROME: Pac-Man and Space Invaders

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Manuel Emch, CEO of RJ-Romain Jerome, playing Pac-Man on a multi-game video arcade machine. [With special thanks to Mellissa Chen.] Photo: © TANG Portfolio. 2014.

Manuel Emch, CEO of RJ-Romain Jerome, playing Pac-Man on a multi-game video arcade machine. [With special thanks to Mellissa Chen.] Photo: © TANG Portfolio. 2014.

While on a stopover in Singapore, we ran several video arcade games by RJ-Romain Jerome’s chief executive officer Manuel Emch and among those chosen were iconic ones like Space Invaders and Pac-Man.

The choices were not surprising as these two video arcade games of yesteryear are now closely-linked with RJ-Romain Jerome.

RJ-Romain Jerome 46mm Pac-Man watch in black PVD-coated steel. Introduced in 2012 and limited to 20 pieces. Photo: © RJ-Romain Jerome

RJ-Romain Jerome 46mm Pac-Man watch in black PVD-coated steel. Introduced in 2012 and limited to 20 pieces. Photo: © RJ-Romain Jerome

Why? In 2011, the brand created Space Invaders watch in collaboration with TAITO Corporation and what followed a year later in 2012 was the Pac-Man watch made in association with Namco Bandai Games Inc.

In fact, Emch was sporting his RJ-Romain Jerome Space Invaders watch while he was at the L’Atelier by The Hour Glass, a multi-brand watch brand boutique located at the ION Orchard shopping mall in Singapore.

On the wrist of Manuel Emch: his 46mm RJ-Romain Jerome Space Invaders watch in black PVD-coated steel. Limited to 78 pieces. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. 2014

On the wrist of Manuel Emch: his 46mm RJ-Romain Jerome Space Invaders watch in black PVD-coated steel. Limited to 78 pieces. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. 2014

Machines evoke the emotions in us and the same goes for video games and contemporary art, surmises Emch. “Video games tell stories and each watch is a personal extension of one’s character,” says the chief executive of RJ-Romain Jerome.

Indeed, as Emch reveals, members of the English electronic music group The Prodigy had purchased RJ-Romain Jerome’s Space Invaders watch because the timepiece had “spoken” to them through the link with their commercially successful fifth studio album titled “Invaders Must Die”.

“With such creations, we have now seen more clients from the image and entertainment industries,” says Emch.

Apart from having fun cooking up new and whacky timepiece creations, Emch is also enjoying the fruits of his labour as he discloses that the brand will possibly experience a 25% growth over 2013.

Manuel Emch, CEO, RJ-Romain Jerome with the multi-game video arcade machine at L'Atelier by The Hour Glass in ION Orchard, Singapore. [With special thanks to Mellissa Chen.] Photo: © TANG Portfolio. 2014.

Manuel Emch, CEO, RJ-Romain Jerome with the multi-game video arcade machine at L’Atelier by The Hour Glass in ION Orchard, Singapore. [With special thanks to Mellissa Chen.] Take note of the Space Invaders watch on his wrist and the Pac-Man face on the video arcade machine. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. 2014.

Surprisingly, Emch’s next stop is Iran. “I like to put myself out of the comfort zone. Life is short and it is good to live your life by trying different things and having fun. Be true to yourself,” says Emch.

We agree. Unlike video arcade games where each player typically has three “lives” to play with, mortal humans like us only have one.