I’ve always had a soft spot for watches that don’t take themselves too seriously. Give me something with a bit of personality, a bit of quirkiness and a story behind it, and chances are I’ll be interested. That’s probably why I’ve been a fan of Mr Jones Watches for quite some time.

Until now, though, my experience with the brand had mostly been from a distance. I’d been following them on Instagram, seeing their watches pop up in other people’s posts and enjoying all the different and sometimes downright unique designs they create. I always thought it would be fun to eventually get one on my wrist and see what they are actually like in person.

What I love about the brand is that they look at a watch as more than just a way of displaying the time. They work with different artists and designers to turn that little space on the wrist into something that can tell a story, make you smile or simply give you something interesting to look at. In many ways, it feels more like wearing a little piece of art than just wearing a watch.

So when Mr Jones reached out and asked if I would be interested in reviewing one of their watches, there was really only one possible answer.

Of course I said yes, and I chose the Ricochet, designed by Ryan Claytor.

I’m genuinely grateful for the opportunity. This is not a paid review, though, and as always, these are my honest thoughts after spending some time with the watch.

The Artist Behind Ricochet

The Ricochet was designed by Ryan Claytor, an American comics creator and professor at Michigan State University, where he teaches Comics Studio and is involved with the university’s Comic Art and Graphic Novel programmes.

Ryan has a real passion for pinball and has created non-fiction comics exploring the history of electro-mechanical coin-operated amusement machines, including pinball and arcade games from before the move to solid-state technology in 1978.

His idea was to explore the connection between pinball and the passing of time. When you get really into a good game, you can become so focused on what’s happening in front of you that everything else just disappears for a while. The Ricochet takes that idea and turns it into something you can wear, quite literally turning a pinball machine into a watch.

Let’s see our Hero

The Ricochet arrived in a rather nice presentation box. It suits this model perfectly.

I also love the small booklet included. It features a little background on the artist, Ryan Claytor, along with a description of this model and the idea behind it.

It is a simple addition, but one I really appreciate. It gives you a bit more of the story before you even put the watch on your wrist

And once you’ve read through the little booklet, it is only natural to turn your attention to the dial because this is where all that inspiration really comes to life.

Three little robots are gathered around the pinball machine, completely caught up in the game. One is at the controls, while I like to imagine his two mates are cheering him on from the sidelines. One of them is even pointing towards the time, almost as if he is reminding his friend that, despite all the pinball action, we are still looking at a watch.

The robots and the pinball table are slightly raised from the dial, giving the whole thing a surprisingly nice 3D effect. Combined with the artwork, it really feels like a tiny arcade cabinet sitting on your wrist. I often catch myself just staring at these three little guys playing their game. There is something oddly satisfying about it.

The metallic details make it even more interesting. Each robot has been individually hand-gilded with a different metal foil: palladium, 20ct citron gold and 22ct rose gold. They catch the light differently depending on where you are, so the dial can look quite different indoors compared to outside.

Then there is the way the Ricochet actually tells the time. There are no traditional hands here. The hour is shown on the scoreboard, while the minutes are displayed in five-minute increments.

The whole thing is nicely worked into the pinball-machine design. You’ll find the Mr Jones name at the top of the table, and just below the time there is a little “Player 1” text. It’s such a small detail, but it fits the theme so well. I think it was a really thoughtful touch.

I was never particularly good at pinball, but that never stopped me from playing it whenever I got the chance. So seeing this little scene on my wrist brings back some good old memories. And being a bit of a geek myself, I have to admit I absolutely love it.

The case

The dial is protected by a sapphire crystal and framed by a highly polished stainless steel case, which gives the watch a premium feel. This is also the new upgraded version with shorter lugs, so the bracelet now sits much closer to the body of the watch without that noticeable gap found on some of the previous ones. It makes the whole watch look more integrated on the wrist. (more on this later)

There is also an interesting little detail on the opposite side of the case, just across from the crown: a small button engraved with “MJW”. It is a subtle touch, but I like how it adds a bit more character to the whole experience.

Water resistance is rated at 50 metres, which is pretty much what I would expect from a watch like this. I wouldn’t take it swimming, but getting caught in the rain or washing your hands with the Ricochet on your wrist shouldn’t be a problem.

Other than that, there is just one small detail I think could be refined, and that brings me to the crown. It is a little on the small side, especially for someone like me with larger fingers.

It is quite compact and, with my larger fingers, can be a little fiddly to operate. A slightly bigger crown would make, especially the winding noticeably easier without changing the overall look.

But that is really just a minor detail. There is so much going on with the Ricochet that the crown is hardly what catches my attention. My eyes are immediately drawn back to the dial. There is a lot happening here, but somehow it never feels messy or overcrowded. I notice the whole scene first, and then I start discovering all the little details.

It feels less like a traditional watch dial and more like a tiny piece of pop art that just happens to tell the time.

The time display is definitely on the smaller side compared to a traditional watch, where the dial is largely dedicated to telling the time. But honestly, I don’t mind that at all. With the Ricochet, the dial is telling a story, and the time is just one part of it.

For me, it is much more about making me smile, making me stop for a second and enjoy what is on my wrist. And every time I look down and catch those three little robots in the middle of their game, it does exactly that.

Sometimes a watch doesn’t have to be the most practical thing on your wrist. Sometimes it just needs to make you happy.

The movement

Inside the Ricochet is a TY2709 mechanical jump-hour movement. It is a relatively simple, entry-level Chinese calibre and to be honest, more of a dependable workhorse than anything particularly fancy. It has 20 jewels, beats at 21,600 vph and offers around 42 hours of power reserve. It can also be hand-wound, although there is no hacking function.

But of course, the movement isn’t here just to move the hands around, well there aren’t hands at all but rotating discs under the hood. The fun part is the jump-hour complication.

Instead of a traditional hour hand, the hour suddenly jumps to the next number on the little scoreboard while the minutes continue running. It’s so much fun to see!

I still find myself checking my wrist around the top of the hour just to catch it happening. There is something oddly satisfying about seeing the number flip over, and it fits the whole old-school pinball and arcade theme perfectly.

On the wrist, dimensions and wearing experience

The Ricochet comes on a stainless steel Milanese strap, and I have to say, it suits the watch really well. It is lightweight, comfortable and has just the right amount of flexibility. As you can see in the photos, the shorter lugs keep the strap sitting really close to the case, with almost no gap between the two, which gives the watch a much cleaner look on the wrist.

The clasp also has a very handy sliding adjustment system. There is no need to reach for any spring-bar tools; simply pop the clasp open, slide it to the position that feels right, and snap it back into place. Easy peasy.

The updated case measures around 37mm, with a 41mm lug-to-lug(previous was 46.5mm) and roughly 10mm thickness, so it sits very much on the smaller side. On my 17cm wrist, though, it wears really comfortably. It doesn’t feel too small and still has enough presence to make itself noticed, which is probably important with a watch as playful as this one.

By the way one more thing worth mentioning, the bracelet doesn’t pull on the hair on my wrist, the watch sits nicely in place, and overall it is one of those models I could easily forget I was wearing, until I looked down and saw those three little robots having their pinball game.

Final thoughts

There is a lot to love about the Ricochet.

The artwork is probably the biggest reason why this watch grabbed me. It is incredibly well made, full of little details, and somehow manages to stay fun even after spending the whole day on your wrist. I genuinely find myself looking down at it just to watch the three little robots and take in the details again. It has that rare quality where it can put a smile on your face simply by being there.

The case also works really well for me. The compact dimensions make it very comfortable on my wrist without making the watch feel small or disappear. The Milanese strap is another pleasant surprise. I’m not usually the biggest mesh bracelet guy, but this is the better kind. It is light, comfortable and easy to adjust, and it suits the playful character of this model perfectly.

And then there is the jump hour. I absolutely love it. It is such a simple little mechanical trick, but seeing that hour suddenly jump on the scoreboard never gets old. It adds another layer of fun to an already unusual watch.

But beyond the specifications and the individual details, I think what really makes the Ricochet special is how it makes you feel. This isn’t a watch I would put on when I want something serious or traditional. I put it on because I want something different. Something that makes me smile. Something that reminds me that watches can be about more than just telling the time.

I genuinely love this model, and for me, the Ricochet is staying. It will have a place in my core collection, which says quite a lot because there are not many watches that make that cut.

I also think this is the kind of watch that works especially well when you already have a few more conventional pieces in your collection and want to add something completely different. It brings some fun into the box and gives you a reason to reach for something that isn’t trying to be serious.

And if you’re looking for a conversation starter, well I can’t imagine the Ricochet having much trouble doing that.

Picture walking into a meeting, sitting down, and before the work even begins, someone notices your wrist and asks, “What is that?” You’d probably have a hard time explaining it in one sentence and that’s part of the charm.

It is quirky, beautifully made, genuinely original and, most importantly, fun.

Sometimes, well more often than not, that’s exactly what I want from a watch.

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Specifications:

• Case: 37mm stainless steel case, lug to lug 41mm with 10mm thickness
• Crystal: Sapphire
• Movement: TY2709 automatic mechanical, jump hour movement
• Water resistance: 5 ATM
• Strap: 18mm stainless steel Milanese mesh
• Design: Ryan Claytor
• Price: 475 USD

Link to the watch:

Ricochet