The Real Time Show: Crispin "Mr" Jones Airs A Philosophical Perspective On Watchmaking
Podcast: The Real Time Show
Hosts: Rob Nudds & Alon Ben Joseph
Guest: Crispin Jones (Mr. Jones Watches)
Date: November 30, 2025
Episode Overview
In this richly engaging and deeply philosophical episode, Rob and Alon welcome Crispin Jones—the creative and philosophical mind behind Mr. Jones Watches—for an exploration of watchmaking through the lens of art, design, and human experience. Crispin shares the fascinating, unconventional journey that led him from fine art to horology, his unique approach to conceptual watch design, and the evolution of Mr. Jones Watches from a small digital operation to an influential British brand. The discussion covers technology, societal change, purpose-driven design, the brand's business model, and the enduring allure of horological craftsmanship.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Crispin's Unusual Journey into Watchmaking
- Not a Traditional Watchmaker:
Crispin reveals he did not grow up obsessed with clocks or mechanical things, but came from a background in fine art (sculpture) and creative technology (Interaction Design)
"My background is actually not in watchmaking. I was not the kid who took apart alarm clocks..." [00:50] - Philosophical and Artistic Approach:
Early work involved one-off conceptual art pieces, including mobile phones designed to critique social behaviors (e.g., shocking users for yelling). - Fascination with Wearable Tech:
Watches intrigued Crispin as a form of enduring wearable technology and a medium for personal expression, especially for men—a theme he unpacks thoughtfully. "I was interested in wristwatches as wearable technology that had really persisted..." [04:03]
From Art Exhibitions to Watch Brand
- First Production & Business Model:
Made 500 watches (five designs, 100 of each)—the idea was to democratize art and provoke thought without imitating luxury. "What if I combined some more creative, provocative design with inexpensive manufacture..." [08:40] - Unexpected Success:
The now-iconic "Remember You Will Die" watch sold out quickly, prompting re-editions and the creation of a permanent collection. - Edition-to-Permanent Pipeline:
Innovative business model: release limited, numbered editions first, only moving successful ones into permanent production. "That's still our business model now..." [12:16]
The Role of Watches in Expression & Society
- Watches as Canvases:
The watch is a "perennial canvas" for ideas and artistic experimentation [13:06]. - Gender, Technology, and Expression:
Discussion on how social norms around adornment are shifting, but watches remain a unique male accessory. "The wristwatch occupies this really niche space for kind of male personal expression." [14:07] - On Smartwatches and Future Tech:
Skepticism about the mainstream adoption of embedded tech (like retinal screens); Apple Watches may have ironically helped traditional watches persist [16:52].
Philosophy and the Brand's Identity
- Critical Design & Black Mirror:
Crispin distances himself from simply critiquing society via objects, preferring to make "real watches that people really wear" [18:16]. - Active Participation over Observation:
“I'm much more interested in being an active participant ... we make the real watches that people really wear.” [18:54]
Vintage Watches & Personal Horological Growth
- Vintage Watch Sales:
Crispin personally buys, services, and sells vintage watches (especially British military and Smiths), deepening his mechanical expertise [20:31]. “As part of that course we had to ...practice. And so what I was doing was buying quite a lot of vintage watches...” [22:11] - Learning from Hands-On Experience:
Evening classes in horology led to new skills and appreciation for mechanical watchmaking. - Distinct Yet Connected:
Vintage offerings are functionally precise and historically rich—contrasting, yet narratively linked, to the artistic Mr. Jones line [26:25].
Movement Choices: Quartz vs Mechanical
- Customer Priorities:
Most Mr. Jones buyers care little about quartz vs mechanical—they are attracted to design and story [37:58]. - Offering Both Options:
For popular designs, mechanical versions are produced, but the focus remains on accessible, artful watches.
Favorite Watches: A Friendly Game
- Hosts and Guest Pick Favorites:
- Rob: A Perfectly Useless Morning—“I just feel at peace when I look at it...” [41:01]
- Crispin: M1 by Margaret Calvert, a tribute to British graphic design and road signage [41:04]. Continues with anecdotes about its challenging hand design and the importance of collaboration with iconic designers.
- Alon: Color Venn—an intuitive choice inspired by Bauhaus and pop art.
What's Next? Innovation & Consolidation
- Future Technology:
Plans to develop unique mechanical modules to modify time display, inspired in part by recent collaboration with Christopher Ward [45:30]. - Team & Facilities:
Mr. Jones Watches is consolidating production under one roof in a new facility, with all assembly and printing done in-house [47:30]. - Tourbillons? Not Happening:
Despite pressure (especially from Asian movement suppliers), Crispin remains focused on accessibility and design, not haute complications [48:02].
Company Philosophy & Accessibility
- Value for Money:
Crispin is determined to keep watches affordable to peers, not just the wealthy [48:49]. "I didn't want to make watches that only sold to people who were really wealthy..." - Company Culture:
MJW employees receive a free watch after six months, and another annually—a point of pride and loyalty [33:22]. - Plurality of the Watch World:
Celebrates diversity in watch design and non-conformity within a conservative industry [50:31].
Collaborations: Stretching Boundaries
- Maze of Collaboration:
Not a frequent collaborative brand, but found value and challenge working with Christopher Ward on the Celestial Moonphase; learned a lot from matching another brand's QC standards and technical constraints [52:50]. "There was a big investment from our side ... and it was a very straightforward collaboration..." [54:34]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On artistic philosophy in design:
"Critical design is about observation and separating yourself and then inserting these provocative things to make people think about their relationship to technology... I'm much more interested in being an active participant..." — Crispin Jones [18:41] -
On the meaning of mechanical expertise:
"Debugging an electronic circuit...you do exactly the same on a mechanical watch. It's just a bit more visual..." — Crispin Jones [31:13] -
On affordability and brand ethos:
"I always wanted to make watches that would sell to my peers. And I didn't have peers who would spend several thousand pounds on a watch..." — Crispin Jones [48:49] -
On company culture:
"The vast majority of people here wear the Mr. Jones watches... after six months, they get to pick any watch from the collection and then annually..." — Crispin Jones [33:22] -
On watch world conservatism:
"It's actually quite easy to do what we do because the watch world is so conservative..." — Crispin Jones [50:35] -
On crafting collaborations:
"Being forced to work to someone else's quality control standards was a real eye-opening thing for us..." — Crispin Jones [55:59] -
Humorous refusal of haute horlogerie:
"I did once visit Seagull...who were desperately trying to sell me a tourbillon movement... I was like, I don't think you really get it, but bless them." — Crispin Jones [48:05]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Origin Story & Early Experiments: 00:50 – 13:06
- Watches as Personal Expression / Societal Change: 13:06 – 16:52
- Critical / Participatory Design Discussion: 17:54 – 18:54
- Company Timeline & Vintage Watches: 20:31 – 26:25
- Mechanical Skills & Vintage Watch Servicing: 28:13 – 33:22
- Movement Choices & Customer Priorities: 37:39 – 39:38
- Hosts & Guest Choose Favorite Watches: 39:55 – 44:31
- Upcoming Projects & Team Growth: 45:30 – 48:49
- Philosophy on Pricing & Company Culture: 48:49 – 50:31
- Perspective on Watch World Diversity: 50:31 – 51:56
- Brand Collaborations and Technical Learning: 52:50 – 57:56
Conclusion
This episode is a must-listen for those curious about the intersection of art, technology, design, and horology. Crispin Jones offers a candid, deeply insightful, and refreshing perspective on what it means to create meaningful objects in a conservative industry, why storytelling matters, and how value-driven practice shapes both company culture and customer experience. The conversation delivers both practical wisdom and philosophical depth—an example of the best kind of “real talk” the Real Time Show aims to offer.