Starfleet Machine
L'Epée 1839 x MB&F
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.
Overview
It’s nothing new to see one of L’Epée 1839’s high-end, Swiss-made timepieces flying over the Atlantic at twice the speed of sound: L’Epée’s beautifully-crafted wall clocks were chosen to furnish Concorde cabins when the supersonic aircraft entered commercial service in 1976. Unfortunately Concorde is no more.
However, thanks to the aero-horological design team at MB&F, there is now another supersonically-themed L’Epée clock, which will not only traverse the stratosphere, but explore deep space and beyond: Starfleet Machine!
About Starfleet Machine
Starfleet Machine is engineered and crafted by L’Epée 1839, Switzerland's only remaining specialised high-end clock manufacture, founded in 1839. Starfleet Machine is an intergalactic spaceship-cum-table clock, featuring hours and minutes, double retrograde seconds and power reserve indicator. The highly visible, superlatively finished in-house movement boasts an exceptional power reserve of 40 days (you need a large fuel tank for long space voyages). Starfleet Machine has been designed by MB&F, the award-winning artistic and micro-engineering laboratory.
Hours and minutes are indicated on the central black dome by hand-polished hands that follow the dome’s curved contours. Behind that, a smaller rotating dome, accompanied by a revolving radar dish, provides an intuitive view of remaining energy: five bars indicates the movement is fully wound (40 days of power); one bar means Starfleet Machine is running low on propellant (eight days of remaining power) – it’s all relative – most table clocks have a maximum power reserve of only eight days.
An intergalactic spaceship-cum-table clock
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, an action marking off 20-second intervals. The red-tipped cannons provide eye-catching visual animation, and perhaps just as importantly, fend off enemy attacks against the core of the craft just underneath: the regulator, which has deliberately been placed in full view for all to admire.
One of the biggest challenges for L’Epée was respecting the movement configuration required by MB&F’s spacecraft design. L’Epée’s calibre – featuring five mainspring barrels (in series for optimal performance) – 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. Naturally, the movement beats with a precision that Starfleet would be proud of, for an impressive accuracy of -2 to +2 minutes over 40 days!
L'Epée x MB&F
Light or dark
Starfleet Machine is limited to 175 pieces and is available in ‘light’ or ‘dark’ editions, the latter with ruthenium-finished components.
- Hours and minutes on a central dome featuring MB&F’s signature numerals.
- 20-second intervals indicated by double retrograde fly-out cannons emanating from central dome.
- A dome indicator, framed by a hand finished arc, provides an intuitive view of remaining energy as it turns 270° - complemented by a ‘radar dish’ that also revolves 270°.
- L’Epée 1839 movement, designed and manufactured in-house.
- Balance frequency: 2.5Hz / 18,000bph
- Power reserve: 40 days
- 48 jewels
- Material: stainless steel
- Dimensions: diameter approx. 29 cm, height approx. 21 cm
Discover the models available
Inspiration
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.
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