StarfleetMachine, created by MB&F and manufactured by L’Epée 1839, is an intergalactic spaceship-cum-table clock featuring hours and minutes, double retrograde seconds and power reserve indicator.
The central hour and minutes dome bears MB&F’s signature numerals, while the bars on the power reserve indicator are framed by the dome’s supporting hand-finished arc. As the massive 40 days of power runs down, the dome slowly rotates 270°, and rotates back the other way when the clock is wound up. The accompanying radar dish rotates at the same speed as the power reserve indicator.
more pictures in press sectionThe highly visible, superlatively finished in-house movement boasts an exceptional power reserve of 40 days, thanks to the five mainspring barrels (in series for optimal performance).
The movement features superlative fine finishing of the type generally found on the finest wristwatches, including Côtes de Genève, anglage, polishing, sand-blasting, and circular and vertical satin finishing.
Below 12 o’clock on the central hour-minute dome are the double retrograde seconds in the form of turret-mounted laser cannons. The cannons start in parallel and cross over one another before rapidly flying out again, marking off 20-second intervals.
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Next to even contemporary table clocks, StarfleetMachine stands out like a Vulcan at a terrestrial dinner party... Suffice to say this is the first creation bearing the distinguished L’Epée name to feature cosmically sleek, domed indicators and laser-cannon retrograde seconds.
One of the biggest challenges for L’Epée 1839 was respecting the movement configuration required by MB&F’s spacecraft design. L’Epée’s calibre, featuring five main spring barrels, usually equips vertically standing clocks, but here it is laid flat. The escapement platform also had to be set horizontally to be protected by the turret-mounted laser cannons.
Dedicated to making high-end clocks, L'Epée has been a prominent Swiss Manufacture for over 180 years. Founded in 1839 by Auguste L’Epée in France’s Besançon region, the company originally focused on producing music boxes and watch components. The brand was synonymous at the time with entirely hand-made pieces.
From 1850 onwards, the Manufacture became a leading light in the production of ‘platform’ escapements, creating regulators especially for alarm and table clocks, as well as musical watches. It became a well-known specialist owning a large number of patents on exceptional escapements and the chief supplier of escapements to several celebrated watchmakers of the day. L'Epée has won a number of gold medal awards at international exhibitions.
L'Epée 1839 is now based in Delémont in the Swiss Jura Mountains. Under the impetus of its CEO Arnaud Nicolas, it has developed an exceptional table clock collection, encompassing a full range of sophisticated clocks.
www.lepee1839.chStarfleetMachine is limited to 175 pieces, marking L’Epée’s 175th anniversary in 2014. Starfleet Machine is limited to 175 pieces, marking L’Epée’s 175th anniversary in 2014. Discover the new version of Starfleet Machine, Starfleet Explorer.
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