
Meet the two sides of Balthazar
Light side:
Boasting a month-busting 35 days of power reserve, Balthazar's clockwork displays "slow" jumping hours and trailing minutes via two discs on the chest, while the power reserve indicator is located on his belly. This side of Balthazar may be serene, but he is still always on guard: his red eyes, which continually scan the surroundings, are actually 20-second retrograde displays. Moving higher still to Balthazar's "brain" under the polished glass dome, we find the precision regulator of the clockwork. Balthazar rotates around the hips like the high-precision machine that he is; you can feel the miniscule bumps of each micro-roller as he turns, and each distinct notch when he rotates the full 180°. Then everything changes: smiling Balthazar becomes very dark, or vice versa.
Dark side:
The absolute nature of Balthazar's darkness is revealed by the cold hard skull with menacing teeth and deep-set ruby-red eyes. But it's not all threat here as Balthazar's chest also contains a moon phase display accurate for 122 years. You can adjust the moon phase manually, providing one of many of Balthazar's tactile pleasures. Balthazar does more than display horological events: as well as rotating around the hips, his arms articulate at both the shoulders and the elbows, and his hands can clasp and hold objects.
Finally, Balthazar's shield conceals and protects the secret of his awesome power: an integrated clock-winding and time-setting key.
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.
"Slow" jumping hours and sweeping minutes
20-second retrograde second display in eyes
35-day power reserve indicator
Double hemisphere moon phase indicator
Movement main plate in palladium-plated polished brass
L’Épée designed and manufactured movement
Balance frequency: 2.5Hz / 18,000bph
405 components / 62 jewels
Size: H: 39.4 cm x W: 23.8 cm (depending on position of the arms) x 12.4 cm (boot size)
Weight: 8.2 kg
Rotate on precision ball bearings with spring click to indicate and hold at resting positions Balthazar's centre of gravity is low to minimise any risk of being knocked over.
Pivot at arms/shoulders, rotation at the elbows, pivot lower arms with spring locking system. On each hand, two fingers cross into the other three so that the hands can clasp.
The double-depth square-socket winding/time-setting key is integrated neatly into the shield, which naturally slips in and out of its concealed niche with horological precision.
Manual-winding
Power reserve: 35 days
Enter your contact details below...