Mr Jones Watches unveils one of its best watches yet – and it's a familiar face

The quirky London-based watch brand have brought one of my favourite pieces to their permanent collection

The Mr Jones Watches Indefatigable Sphinx on a brown background
(Image credit: Mr Jones Watches)
Quick Summary

Legends of the unusual watch world, Mr Jones Watches, have unveiled the latest addition to their permanent collection.

It's a familiar face, too, and represents the most complex watch ever released by the brand.

When you think of the best watches on the market, you probably have a fairly safe pool of options. Classic models from established brands with relatively plain appearances will fill the list for many.

Recently, the brand showcased a limited edition model at the British Watchmaker's Day. That was called the Indefatigable Sphinx – and it's now returning as part of the core range.

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That's a massive statement from the brand. Crispin Jones – the founder of the brand – has called this the most technically challenging watch they've ever made.

It's not hard to see why. The watch uses a Sellita SW200 movement, with a jumping hour module designed for Christopher Ward. The hours can be read through a window on the right hand side of the dial. Each hour jump also changes the head of the Sphinx on the left, for a constantly evolving appearance.

Not only is the internal mechanism complex, it's also one of the most intricate dials. It features the most layers of colour that the brand has ever printed. It's one of those pieces that images will never do justice – seeing this in person is where the magic happens.

All of that is shown off in the price. At £2,500, this is far and away the most expensive watch the brand has produced. However, it's certainly justified. Users are getting a Swiss movement inside, as well as a module from the same family as watches like the Christopher Ward C1 Moonphase.

Ultimately, this looks like the first attempt the brand has made at taking their quirky design working into a more luxury price point. And given the ever-growing trend for oddities in the watch world, that seems like a very good move.

Sam Cross
Senior Staff Writer

Sam Cross is an award-winning journalist, with nine years of experience in the media industry. His work can be found in publications as diverse as Oracle Time, Metro and Last Word on Sports.

Here at T3, Sam is best known as the brand’s go-to guy for all things luxurious – from exquisite watches to fine fragrances; the latest performance vehicles to intricate audio equipment, and more.

He’s often found travelling around the world to test new launches, complete with high-end backpacks and suitcases in tow. And when he’s not adding to his air miles, Sam can be found in front of a video camera, bringing his distinctive brand of storytelling to T3’s social media channels.

Sam also loves all things analogue including listening to music on vinyl or cassette, and photography on vintage film cameras.