L’Epée 1839 Requiem by Kostas Metaxas

Swiss mechanical clock manufacture L’Epée 1839 unveils Requiem: a table clock with an 8-day movement designed in partnership with Kostas Metaxas. This limited edition takes its inspiration from the shape of a human skull and displays the time in the sockets of the eye.

Requiem is a table clock designed and manufactured by L’Epée 1839, Swiss specialist of high-end kinetic clocks. It measures nearly 19 centimeters (7.4 inches) high and weighs about 2 kilograms (6 pounds). It is made of cast aluminum which is then perfectly finished off in the Swiss workshops of L’Epée 1839. Two skull finishings are available: a black skull associated with a movement in gold-plated brass, or a silver color version: aluminum skull and palladium-plated movement. The new movement is an internally designed 1853 HMD caliber with an 8-day power reserve. This new movement features two discs that display a “slow” jumping hour and sweeping minutes.

Opting for a timeless artistic genre: Memento Mori, L’Epée 1839 and the designer take on a graphic and technical challenge. Memento Mori, literally translated as “Remember that you are going to die”, reminds Man of the humility he must show in the face of eternity.

Kostas Metaxas has chosen to place a horological mechanism deep in the center of the skull, representative of a brain which is master of its destiny but encapsulated. Symbols of intimate ties uniting life and time. The eyes, on the other hand, are spectators of time passing and quite naturally the hour invites itself in the eye sockets. The reading of the hours and minutes is achieved by two transparent discs placed respectively in the right eye and the left eye.

The protective housing formed by the skull around the movement allows only a few reflections of light to filter through openings: two crossed swords, symbol of the brand, placed on the temples, such as openings on another temporal space, suggest the rhythmic oscillations of the escapement.

The first piece in the new Skull artistic collection, L’Épée 1839 deliberately wanted this emblematic table clock to remain sober, modern and visually delicate.

Requiem is a limited edition of 50 pieces per configuration: black skull and golden movement, or aluminum skull and palladium movement (silver color).

The Movement
Composed of 160 pieces entirely designed, finished and assembled in the workshops of L’Epée 1839 (except the 24 rubies), the movement is available in two finishings: gold or palladium.

The hour and minutes are displayed inside the eyes, thanks to a system of discs on which the time indications are stamped. L’Epée 1839 adds a whole new complication to its 8-day movement: the disc mechanism displays a “slow” jumping hour and sweeping minutes respectively.

In the presence of a conventional jumping hour indication, it is difficult to know whether the jump has already taken place or not. It is therefore possible to misread the time. In order to avoid this, L’Epée 1839 developed a “slow” jumping hour.As a result of this complication, the hour disk remains stationary during the first 55 minutes of an hour; Then, rather than jumping instantly, it starts to slowly turn five minutes before the new hour. This gradual jump is more easily noticed and the reading of the time is made easier.

With an8-day power reserve, Requiem has to be rewound each week, so offering an intimate moment with its symbolic, thanks to a key specifically placed at the base of the skull, as to represent an essential axis in the human being. From the nape of the neck or more precisely from the cervical plexus in Humans, all information, wills and decisions will be sent to the organs and members. Here, it is the energy necessary for the proper functioning of the table clock which is transmitted through this gesture. The unique key also allows you to set the time.

The Skull
Far from the traditional clock, these 2 kilograms of skull can disturb even in all of its sobriety. Two swords were engraved on the sides of the aluminum skull to let in the light and give reflections to the movement. The jaw designed to be very realistic is composed of 24 independent teeth.

Each story, each life, each skeleton is unique, bearing the stigmata of time. To make the timepiece even more realistic, L’Epée 1839 has deliberately left small defects, specifically, individually and harmoniously located on each skull, as a sign of life, leaving you to imagine a story and making each timepiece totally unique.

The skull rests on two pillars, recalling the two trapezius muscles, in the middle of which the key is positioned. The aluminum base ensures the stability of the clock.

Technical details

Requiem is available in two versions:
– Black version: black skull and golden movement
– Silver version: aluminum skull and palladium movement
Limited edition: 2 x 50 pieces
Dimensions: 19 cm high x 12 cm wide x 16 cm deep
Weight: 1.9 kg
Total components: 194 pieces

The Skull
Weight: 1.1 kg
Materials: machined cast aluminum
Finishings: black lacquer, or raw aluminum, and colorless protective varnish
Jaws: 12 molars and 12 incisors

The Movement
The hour and minutes are displayed in the eyes of the skull with two stamped discs.
L’Epée 1839 movement developed and manufactured in house
1853 HMD caliber
Single barrel
Power Reserve: 8 days
Number of components: 160 pieces
Rubis: 24
Incabloc Anti-Shock System
Movement dimensions:
Materials: brass and stainless steel
Finishings: gold plated or palladium plated
Manual winding of movement actuated by a specially designed key

The Support
An aluminum column system connects the skull to the base on which the movement is fixed.
The unique key for Requiem’s time setting and manual rewinding interlocks directly between the columns.