Six years after the launch of the Starfleet Machine , the first watch to emerge from the collaboration between MB&F and L'Epée 1839 , a new “expedition” begins. In 2020, the space station makes its grand return, in a more compact form, adorned with bright colors and accompanied by a fleet of three small spaceships exploring the universe, and aptly named Starfleet Explorer.
The Starfeet Explorer , designed by MB&F , is an intergalactic table clock made by L'Epée 1839 , the only remaining Swiss watchmaker specializing in luxury table clocks. This piece not only displays the hours and minutes, but also features an animation of three spaceships orbiting the station in five minutes. The meticulously finished, open-face in-house movement is distinguished by its impressive eight-day power reserve. The movement can be manually wound with a double key, which also serves to set the time.
Hours and minutes are indicated on two discs, equipped with a window and a brightly colored hand. In particular, the minutes, indicated on a rotating parabolic antenna, are visible every time they appear inside a fixed, satin, hand-brushed and anodized metal window, which follows the curvilinear contours of the dome. The hour disc, positioned just below, is fixed. The hour hand, also satin, brushed and anodized, marks the time by rotating on itself and completing a complete rotation around the disc in 12 hours.
The Starfleet Explorer also features another distinctive element, presented in the form of three small spaceships, aligned on the same axis at regular intervals and placed inside the Starfleet movement, the heart of the entire mechanism, around which they complete a full rotation every five minutes: a space exploration guided by the mothership.
The Starfleet Explorer 's movement is horizontal, while the escapement mechanism is vertical. The palladium-coated or steel-finished brass components (with the exception of the 11 jewels) are designed and crafted in L'Epée 1839 's Swiss workshop . The gear train and mainspring barrel are fully exposed thanks to the skeletonized mainplate and the concentric C-shaped outer structure. The Starfleet Explorer rests on both ends of its vertical landing gear; a definite advantage when turning the watch upside down to wind the mainspring and set the time. It can also be tilted on its side to offer a different perspective of the intergalactic horological station.
The Starfleet Explorer is available in three limited editions of 99 pieces in different colors: blue, green, and red. It is a table clock, equipped with essentially the same mechanisms as a wristwatch, but much larger: a wheel train, mainspring barrel, balance wheel, escape wheel, and stop lever. The L'Epée 1839 regulator also features an Incabloc shock protection system, usually exclusive to wristwatches, which minimizes the risk of damage during transport.
Some might think that the size of the components simplifies the work. In reality, with larger components, the task of making a carefully finished movement becomes much more complex than with a wristwatch, due to the size of the surfaces.
Arnaud Nicolas , CEO of L'Epée 1839 , explains: “It’s not about doubling the size of the components, but doubling the time needed to finish them. The complexity increases exponentially. For polishing, you have to apply the same pressure as finishing a wristwatch movement but over a larger surface, and that is definitely more demanding. It is only thanks to the experience and craftsmanship of our watchmakers that the Starfleet Explorer can boast such masterfully executed finishes.”
The precision of the details of the polished movement can be easily contemplated with the naked eye, especially thanks to the open concentric C-shaped outer structure of the Starfleet Explorer , to which the main plate is attached.
The external C-shaped structure consists of three vertical arches on which the clock rests. These elegant supports play a fundamental role from a design point of view, but at the same time have an equally important practical function: they allow the Starfleet Explorer to be turned upside down, to facilitate setting the time and winding the watch. with the appropriate key.
