MB&F and L’Epée 1839 have once again joined forces to great effect. The pair have become the go-to destination for mechanical table clocks that venture into sculpture territory. Their latest collaboration is the seventh such creation, and it continues to blur the lines separating art and machine. It’s called the Octopod, and it’s a stunning example of engineering and design inspired by nature. Before we dig into the what, let’s take a look at the why with a broad overview of MB&F.
MB&F is the extension of a mission that began at Harry Winston. It was there that Max Busser put into motion the power of collaboration with a series of watches dubbed the Opus collection. Busser, who was the head of Harry Winston Rare Timepieces at the time, selected independent watchmakers with which to create new limited edition watches each year. The first such example, the Opus 1, was a collaboration with François-Paul Journe (yes, that F.P Journe). The last Opus to release under Max Busser’s purview was the Opus 5, a collaboration with Felix Bumgartner (of Urwerk). The Opus series has continued since Busser’s departure in 2005 to begin MB&F, you can see all of them right here.
The Harry Winston Opus V
The collaborative spirit continues to defines MB&F (the “F” stands for “Friends” after all), however, unlike the Opus watches under Harry Winston, creativity is not bound to a pre-existing design language. That much was clear at the onset with the first watch to bear the MB&F name, the HM1 (Horological Machine 1). HM1 was developed in partnership with the likes of Eric Giroud, Laurent Besse, and Peter Speake-Marin. Its design was not derivative of anything to come before it, and each creation since has continued to push the envelope.
In addition to their collaborators, MB&F embraces somewhat unorthodox creative inspirations upon which they base their designs. Rather than seeing their inspiration take the form of a colorway or bespoke hour markers, MB&F use their inspiration, which could be anything from rocketship designs from the 50’s to sports cars of the 70’s, to define the shape and functions of their creations. Take the HM5, for example, a watch that drew inspiration from cars like the Lamborghini Miura and Lancia Stratos. The watch is low slung, wide, curvaceous, and features jumping hour disks visible through a sapphire dashboard like display. Further still, it’s got louvres on its back that actually open and close, and “exhaust” posts at the rear to let water out of the case. Consider the HM5 to be on the normal end of the spectrum when it comes to watches from MB&F, If you don’t believe that, check out the HM3.
The Horological Machine #5
In 2013, MB&F ventured into new territory by partnering with Reuge to release a mechanical music “box” called the Music Machine. It looks like a spaceship, and plays melodies from Star Trek and Pink Floyd. You read that correctly. It was the first time an MB&F left the wrist and entered the realm of the table top. It’s an area they’ve continued to reach into with over 10 additional machines in the subsequent years that play on inventive themes and either tell the time, or play music.
The Octopod
This brings us to the latest table creation from MB&F and L’Epée 1839, the Octopod. It is a table clock, although you’d be forgiven for not arriving at that conclusion at a glance. Inspiration is derived from cephalopods, marine chronometers, and James Cameron’s The Abyss. The result is visually dramatic (as you’d expect), and spatially inviting as a three dimensional object. It’s got a head, legs, and it keeps time to boot. After a quick study of the Octopod, you may just find that’s one of the more practical machines to come out of MB&F ever.
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The first thing you’ll notice about the Octopod are its 8 legs. They emanate from the body and secure the head in the position of your choosing. The legs themselves articulate in 2 positions, giving you the option to spread them out wide, or tuck them in tight. Each can be manipulated independently to create a combination of standing and extended. Individual legs are comprised of 31 pieces, and feature a shrouding at their midpoint, which can be had in silver, black, or blue. Each changing the personality of the whole rather dramatically.
The head of the Octopod houses the mechanics of the clock itself, as well as the display for getting a read on the time. The “engine” as they call it, was developed and built in-house by L’Epée 1839, and features an 8-day power reserve as well as a balance and escapement on full display along the single “hand” that reads the time. The entire head can be tilted for greater legibility depending on viewing angle, and once you’ve oriented yourself to what you’re looking at, getting a read on the time is a pretty quick affair. Thanks to the marine chronometer bit of inspiration for the larger display.
The Octopod may not be the most practical execution of a table clock, but if you’re looking for practical, MB&F shouldn’t be on your radar. What it does have is a more intangible sense of imagination and playfulness. You can get the time on your computer screen, but you’ll have a lot more fun getting it from something that looks like it may get up and walk off your desk at any time.
Each of the three colorways available will be built in limited editions of 50, and will cost 35,000 CHF (that’s about $36,060 at the time of publishing). While none have hit the second-hand market you can browse the MB&F wristwear on StockX right here. Learn more about the Octopod from MB&F right here.
