The first time Swiss clockmaker L’Epée made an appearance was 1839 through its various collaborations with MB&F. However, looking back in time the solo work released by L’Epée 1839 is equally stunning. Taking inspiration from vintage race cars, the Time Fast D8 mechanical clock isn’t just shaped like a 1950s race car, the automotive elements are blended in with the clock’s functionality.
Take the display of time as an example – the hours and minutes are shown in numbers inside a circle on the side of the car. It resembles the car number that is displayed on an actual race car. You can adjust the time by turning the three-spoke steering wheel counterclockwise. Turning the steering wheel clockwise helps set it back to your desired position without changing the time. The glass dome showing the thrumming escapement is in the same location as a driver’s helmet. And if you would need to wind the in-house calibre with 289 components and a 192-hour power reserve beating at 18,000 vibrations per hour, just reverse the race car like a pull-back toy car (sadly it doesn’t go forward when you release it).
Measuring at 38.5 cm long x 16 cm wide x 12 cm high, the mechanical clock is available in grey, red, blue, green, blue with white stripes, and white with blue stripes, with each version limited to 100 pieces.
