Introducing the MB&F & L’Epée 1839 Trinity

The long-running creative collaboration between watchmaking’s de facto mad hatters MB&F and the premier Swiss clockmaker L’Epée 1839 continues in fine form with the Trinity. In past years the fruits of this union have resembled all manner of outlandish objects — rockets, starships and robots for example. But more recently that futurism has been tempered with something bigger, and more reptilian. It follows the bi-pedal T-Rex and is the second chapter in a trilogy of works that sees designer Maximilian Maertens along for the ride. MB&F founder Maximilian Büsser calls them Robocreatures, and they seem to be a part of a larger imagined world that Büsser is gradually revealing, saying, “In the same way that H.R. Giger created his Alien universe, we’re creating our own world of creatures.

And, as with Giger’s imaginings, there’s a sense that Trinity isn’t entirely benevolent in its intentions. The low-slung body held up by three arachnid-like limbs invokes a predatory quality, albeit one filtered through the lens of high craftsmanship, a desk-bound, timekeeper with Louise Bourgeois tendencies. Designer Maertens cites 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park as a key inspiration for this piece and notes that Trinity is the insectoid that outlived the dinosaurs.

MB&F & L'Epée 1839 Trinity

At the heart of the evolutionary design of Trinity lies an eight-day L’Epée movement, beating at 2.5 Hz, made from 182 components and protected by a fluorescent acrylic shield in blue, red or green. The time is displayed at the top of the central body, through two concentric dials, one for hours and one for minutes. The time can be conveniently read through one of three eyestalk-like mineral crystal orbs.

MB&F & L'Epée 1839 Trinity

Despite the airy appearance of Trinity, the clock comes with some heft to it. The full weight is some 2.8kg, with a diameter of 30cm and a height of 26cm. Each colour of Trinity is limited to 50 pieces and has a price of 22,500 CHF (plus VAT.)

Technical Specifications

Movement

L’Epée 1839 movement, 8 days power reserve, 182 components, 21 jewels, beating at 2.5Hz, manually-wound with key

Case

Plated brass, optical mineral glass, fluorescent acrylics shields, 95 components. Diameter approximately 30cm, height approximately 26cm, weight approximately 2.8kg

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