Beginning life in 1860, Juvenia can trace their origins to Saint-Imier in Switzerland after its founding by Jacques Didisheim-Goldschmidt. One of the few watchmakers to enjoy uninterrupted production since its founding, Juvenia have created a slew of timepieces best known for avant-garde designs, unorthodox constructions and unusual displays, of which the Sextant ref. 9648 that we have here features. Boasting a 33mm 18kt pink gold case, this Sextant ref. 9648’s design is certainly rather typical of the 1960s from which the original Juvenia Sextant, or Architect as it is also known, was launched. Boasting a thin polished bezel and thin straight lugs that feature a small angle as they wrap around the wrist, the Sextant is remarkably understated in its physical presence. However, like so many other Juvenia pieces it features a rather unique display with a sextant, or protractor-shaped, hour hand. Additionally, it features an arrow-shaped minute hand that seems to have been pulled out of a compass and a rather long dauphine seconds hand atop its silver pie-pan dial. As mentioned, the Sextant hails from the 1960s, but this variant was launched in 1995 as a limited edition run of 135 pieces to celebrate Juvenia’s 135th anniversary, as hinted at by the text on its dial at 6 o’clock and the 1860-1995 inscription at 12 o’clock. A fun timepiece from a time where watchmaking was probably a little too serious, the Sextant has always been a quirky piece, and so it is no surprise that Johnny Depp decided to wear one on the cover of Esquire magazine in 2008.

Full of unusual personality and a long way off the beaten track, the Juvenia Sextant is a watch that few, if anyone, would recognize - the perfect watch for a personality like Johnny Depp to wear on the cover of a magazine.