From content partner JustLuxe iW Magazine
The latest desk clocks emerge from the collaboration of designers and technicians at MB&F and L’Epée 1839 looks like a polished eyeball. But when opened, the watch, an innovative 6.7-inch round table clock named globeshaped like a blossoming flower or a beetle spreading its wings.
The new MB&F x L’Epee Orb, an eight-day table clock.
Wing, or elytra, is the technical term for the flaps that protect the beetle’s wings, which can be closed or opened. However, they are properly positioned, the bezel and the support of the new, striking hour display based on the same mechanism L’Epée 1839 also match its carriage watches.
An eight-day clock, which will ring every hour, can transform at will when it lies on the owner’s desk. Placed on a stand, or ‘disc’ (so that it doesn’t roll), the Globe can be displayed closed or with any number of its four ‘wings’ open.
However, those wings do not simply unfold. They can also rotate to show the Orb in one of the other positions. Opening all four petals means that the gears and dial of the Globe can rise high above the petals as if rising from the center of a black or white flower.
Aluminum ball
MB&F explains that the Globe starts its manufacturing process as a solid block of aluminum, which is then hollowed out to create a sphere. “Once cut, the elytra is then coated with several layers of kiln-hardened lacquer to create a brilliant finish,” according to MB&F. Then, the artisans welded hinges to the wings and attached small magnets to the inside of each wing tip to hold the shape of a perfect sphere.
You can see the beautiful L’Epe´e 1839 hourglass movement underneath the Orb’s curved aluminum dial, which is covered by a domed mineral glass.
You can see the beautiful L’Epée 1839 hourglass movement underneath the Orb’s curved aluminum dial, which is covered by a domed mineral glass. This movement is powered by two barrels, one for measuring the time and the other for recording the hours.
The hour mechanism shows the actual time, mimicking a church clock. This function can also be repeated on demand via a button on the side of the watch or toggled as desired.
The idea for the Globe came from German designer Maximilian Maertens, who started his artistic career at MB&F as an intern before starting a design studio in Berlin. Maertens has also worked with MB&F and L’Epée on T-Rex clock.
MB&F is working for Globe Available in limited editions of 50 pieces each in white or black. Price: 28,000 CHF.
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Specifications: MB&F x L’Epee Orb
(A limited edition of 50 pieces each in white or black.)
Display: Hours and minutes, prominent hours, repeated on demand via a button next to the watch, or on and off as needed.
Contents: Closed: Height: approx. 17cm x 17cm. When opened: 24cm x 30cm, weight 1.9kg. Materials: Brass hands and palladium-plated stainless steel. Elytra in aluminum and hand-painted lacquer.
Movement: L’Epée 1839 in-house designed and manufactured movement, frequency of 18,000bph (2.5Hz), two barrels, 8-day power reserve. Incabloc shock-absorbing system, hand-wound: dual deep square socket keys set the time and wind movement. Movement finishing: polished, sandblasted, circular and vertical satin finishes, and decorated with starlight.
