The hours and minutes are read on a high dome representing the spider's body, with rotating curved hands indicating hours and minutes on a polished, central dome featuring MB&F’s signature numerals.
The movement’s regulating organ features an Incabloc shock protection system, which minimises the risk of damage when the clock is being transported. This type of shock protection is generally only seen in wristwatches. The index mechanism for fine-tuning the timing, along with the other components of this all-important high-precision subassembly, are clearly visible on the head.
Attached to the abdomen are eight legs articulated where they join the body by ball-and-socket joints. The legs can be rotated so that Arachnophobia can stand tall or splayed flat. The front legs can also be made to go flat while the six others maintain the standing position.
Arachnophobia was inspired by Maman (mother in French), a giant spider sculpture created by Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010) in bronze, stainless steel, and marble. Measuring 9.27 m x 8.91 m x 10.24 m (more than 30 x 33 feet), the monumental sculpture has been installed in a variety of locations around the world.
MB&F developed the highly unusual concept with L’Épée 1839, selecting a high-end L’Épée clock movement and re-imagining it as the mechanical head and torso of a spider.
The body is outfitted with a black dome with white numerals depicting the hours and minutes.
The araneae’s self-sufficiency is to be admired: the finely-finished, highly-visible movement boasts a power reserve of eight days.
Dedicated to making high-end clocks, L'Epée has been a prominent Swiss Manufacture for over 180 years. Founded in 1839 by Auguste L’Epée in France’s Besançon region, the company originally focused on producing music boxes and watch components. The brand was synonymous at the time with entirely hand-made pieces .
From 1850 onwards, the Manufacture became a leading light in the production of ‘platform’ escapements, creating regulators especially for alarm and table clocks, as well as musical watches. It became a well-known specialist owning a large number of patents on exceptional escapements and the chief supplier of escapements to several celebrated watchmakers of the day. L'Epée has won a number of gold awards at international exhibitions.
L'Epée 1839 is now based in Delémont in the Swiss Jura Mountains. Under the impetus of its CEO Arnaud Nicolas, it has developed an exceptional table clock collection, encompassing a full range of sophisticated clocks. All models are designed and manufactured in-house. Their technical prowess, combination of form and function, very long power reserves and remarkable finishes have become signature features of the brand.
Dedicated to making high-end clocks, L'Epée has been a prominent Swiss Manufacture for over 180 years. Founded in 1839 by Auguste L’Epée in France’s Besançon region, the company originally focused on producing music boxes and watch components. The brand was synonymous at the time with entirely hand-made pieces .
From 1850 onwards, the Manufacture became a leading light in the production of ‘platform’ escapements, creating regulators especially for alarm and table clocks, as well as musical watches. It became a well-known specialist owning a large number of patents on exceptional escapements and the chief supplier of escapements to several celebrated watchmakers of the day. L'Epée has won a number of gold awards at international exhibitions.
L'Epée 1839 is now based in Delémont in the Swiss Jura Mountains. Under the impetus of its CEO Arnaud Nicolas, it has developed an exceptional table clock collection, encompassing a full range of sophisticated clocks. All models are designed and manufactured in-house. Their technical prowess, combination of form and function, very long power reserves and remarkable finishes have become signature features of the brand.
Hours and minutes: curved hands rotate to indicate hours and minutes on a polished, central dome featuring MB&F’s signature numerals
Mechanism in palladium-plated brass or gold-plated brass
L’Épée designed and manufactured movement
Balance frequency: 2.5Hz / 18,000bph
218 components / 11 jewels
Manual-winding
Power reserve: 8 days
Size: H (legs extended): 203 mm / Ø clock (legs flat): 405 mm / movement dimensions: 75.3 mm x 134.9 mm x 63.8 mm
Weight: gold-plated version 1.96 kg / black version 0.98 kg
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