Six years after the launch of the Starfleet Machine, the first clock co-created by MB&F and L'Epée 1839, the horological space station returns in 2020. Designed by MB&F, the Starfleet Explorer is an intergalactic spaceship-cum-table clock crafted by l’Epée.
This new version returns in a more compact size and enhanced with bright colours, accompanied by a fleet of three small spacecraft exploring the universe; it rightfully bears the name of Starfleet Explorer. The three tiny spacecraft lined up along the same axis are placed inside the actual Starfleet movement, the heart of the mechanism, around which they revolve at a rate of one full turn every five minutes: a space exploration guided by the mothership.
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The minutes, on a revolving radar dish, appear through the centre of a fixed metal aperture. The hour hand indicates the hour by spinning in its place and performing a complete rotation in 12 hours.
Starfleet Explorer features an animation in which three brightly coloured spacecraft perform a five-minute orbit of the station.
The Starfleet Explorer’s movement is placed horizontally, but to offer an optimal view into its mechanical heartbeat, the escapement is positioned vertically.
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The original Starfleet Machine, launched in 2014, was the first clock ever co-created by MB&F and L'Epée 1839; it marked the 175th anniversary of L’Epée and the beginning of a long series of collaborations with MB&F. Inspired by an intergalactic space station, it stood out like a Vulcan at a terrestrial dinner party - even compared to other contemporary table clocks!
Six years after the launch of that first Starfleet Machine, the horological space station returns in 2020 in a more compact size and enhanced with bright colours, accompanied by a fleet of three small spacecraft exploring the universe; it rightfully bears the name of Starfleet Explorer.
One of the biggest challenges for L’Epée 1839 was respecting the movement configuration required by MB&F’s space station design. L’Epée’s calibre usually equips vertically standing clocks, but here it is laid flat – except the escapement, which has been placed vertically.
Maximilian Büsser and Arnaud Nicolas CEO of L’Épée 1839L’Epée 1839 has been a prominent clockmaking manufacture for 185 years. Today, it is the only manufacture in Switzerland to specialize in the production of high-end clocks. Founded in 1839 by Auguste L’Epée in Sainte-Suzanne, France, the company originally focused on producing music boxes and watch components. Even at this early stage, the brand was synonymous with entirely handmade pieces.
Starting in 1850, the manufacture became a leader in producing escapements and began to develop special regulators for alarm clocks, table clocks, and musical watches. It gained wide recognition and filed numerous patents for special escapements, particularly for use in its anti-knocking, auto-starting, and constant force systems. L’Epée 1839 became the principal supplier of several famous clockmakers and went on to win many gold medals at World Fairs.
Today, L’Epée 1839 is based in the Swiss Jura Mountains (Delémont), under the direction of CEO Arnaud Nicolas. The manufacture still upholds this incredible know-how in the passionate creation of unique horological sculptures manufactured entirely in-house.
In 2023, L’Epée 1839 wins the “Mechanical clock” award at the Grand Prix de L’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) with Time Fast II in chrome, a creative and technical challenge.
www.lepee1839.chStarfleet Explorer is available in 3 limited editions of 99 pieces each in red, green and blue. Discover the original Starfleet Machine.
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