PRIM Antonín Mánes

The limited edition of PRIM Antonín Mánes watches is designed for those who appreciate not only aesthetic value but also functionality and deeper meaning. These watches not only complement your style with elegance but also pay tribute to a significant historical figure and their legacy.

If you’re looking for a watch that combines elegance with a passion for art and history, the PRIM Antonín Mánes is the perfect choice. Dedicated to a figure who left an indelible mark on Czech culture, this timepiece offers more than just style—it tells a story. Let’s take a closer look at what makes this watch so captivating and the legacy it represents.

Antonín Mánes (1784–1843) was a prominent Czech painter, considered one of the founders of Czech landscape painting. Born in Prague, he discovered his passion for painting at an early age. His work is associated with Romanticism, emphasizing the power and beauty of nature, as well as a sense of melancholy and mysticism. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, where he was exposed to various artistic influences of the time. After completing his studies, he worked as a teacher and in 1836 became a professor of landscape painting at the Prague Academy.

His work is characterized by a romantic view of the landscape, capturing a serene, almost idyllic atmosphere. His paintings often evoke a dreamy mood and convey a mystical connection to nature. Antonín Mánes came from an artistic family—his sons Josef Mánes and Quido Mánes also became renowned Czech painters, as did his daughter Amálie Mánesová. Their work is still recognized today as a fundamental part of Czech cultural heritage.

Mánes was influenced by the romantic ideals of the 19th century, which celebrated the beauty of nature and its spiritual dimension. In his paintings, he often depicted the Czech landscape, particularly the surroundings of Prague, including well-known places such as Karlštejn and Hradčany. Although his life was relatively short, Mánes left a significant legacy and inspired future generations of Czech landscape painters. His works can be seen today, for example, in the collections of the National Gallery in Prague.

Due to health problems and financial difficulties, he lived a rather modest life. Nevertheless, his passion for landscape painting never faded, and his legacy lives on through both his descendants and his own work. Mánes’s paintings are valued for their attention to detail and deep connection to nature. Each piece feels thoughtful and heartfelt, which gives his work a timeless quality.

To mark the 240th anniversary of Antonín Mánes’s birth, our team of designers created a watch that celebrates the aesthetics of his era. The entire collection emphasizes a simple, classic, and timeless look, using natural tones in the dial’s finish—color shades found directly in Mánes’s work. The design evokes the charm of bygone times—from the brushed dial and gilded accents to the elegant leaf-shaped hands polished to a high gloss, and the rounded, flawlessly polished bezel.

Other standout features include a sculpted dial edge with vertical linear brushing and applied indices in a polished gold finish. Also noteworthy is the finely crafted second hand, which follows the curvature of the dial at its tip. The case has been specially modified for this model and is made of 316L stainless steel with a water resistance of 5 ATM, combining both polished and brushed elements. The watch is fitted with a slightly domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.

The watch is powered by the Japanese Miyota 9039 movement. This is an automatic caliber with manual winding capability, operating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and offering a power reserve of up to 42 hours. The movement contains a total of 21 jewels that reduce friction and wear—standard for automatic movements in this category. The Miyota 9039 is designed without a date function, meaning the dial does not feature a date window, which complements the minimalist design of the watch. Its accuracy typically ranges from -20 to +40 seconds per day. Renowned for its durability and reliability, the Miyota 9039 is an ideal choice for everyday wear, and thanks to its wide availability and serviceability, maintenance is relatively straightforward.

Special attention is also deserved by the case back of the watch, which has been designed in an unconventional way for this model by featuring an application of one of Antonín Mánes’ landscape paintings, titled Landscape in a Storm.

This painting is considered one of his key works, capturing the power and drama of nature in the spirit of Romanticism. It portrays a landscape just before or during a storm, evoking a strong atmosphere supported by dark, stormy clouds, fierce winds, and an unsettling mood. The scene carries a melancholic tone, typical of Romanticism, where nature is depicted as a dominant and powerful force—eliciting both awe and fear.
The use of dark, saturated colors creates a striking contrast between light and shadow, intensifying the tension of the approaching storm. The figure of a farmer appears small in comparison to the overwhelming might of nature surrounding him. This element in Mánes’ work serves as a scale to express the grandeur of natural forces while adding a narrative layer that highlights the human response to nature’s power—fear, reverence, or insignificance in the face of the storm.

Caseback production technology – artwork beneath a crystal, printed on a brass plate to ensure rich and precise colors.