The Albatross: L’EPÉE 1839 and MB&F Collaborate on a Striking Chiming Timepiece
L’EPÉE 1839 and MB&F have partnered to create the Albatross, a mechanical timepiece that merges architectural design with auditory function. This collaboration brings together two recognized names in independent watchmaking—one specializing in horological complications, the other in avant-garde mechanical design—to produce a watch that operates as both a visual and sonic instrument.
Key Features of the Albatross
Striking Hour Mechanism
The Albatross chimes the full hour count on the hour and delivers a single strike at the half-hour mark. This function combines pneumatic action with traditional striking work, allowing the mechanism to generate audible time announcements throughout the day. The chiming system sits visible through the caseback, enabling owners to observe the hammers and bells in operation.
Design and Construction
The case presents a sculptural form that accommodates the striking complications within. The architecture balances the vertical development required for the chiming mechanism with horizontal proportions suited to wrist wear. Material choices and surface finishing—polishing, brushing, and anglage—create visual contrast that highlights the functional components beneath the sapphire crystal.
L’EPÉE 1839: Specialists in Striking Mechanisms
L’EPÉE 1839 has built its reputation on developing and manufacturing sophisticated striking complications since 1839. Their workshops in the Vallée de Joux focus on tabletop clocks and high-end watches featuring chiming, repeating, and alarm functions. For the Albatross, they engineered a compact striking train capable of operating reliably in a wrist-worn format. To review the full range of L’EPÉE 1839 creations, explore L’EPÉE 1839 collections.
The Albatross as Technical Achievement
The collaboration between L’EPÉE 1839 and MB&F produced a watch that functions simultaneously as a display of mechanical engineering and independent watchmaking vision. The Albatross serves collectors seeking complications beyond standard timekeeping—specifically, those drawn to watches that announce the passage of time audibly. Each striking cycle reveals the precision required to manufacture micro-sized striking work, positioning the piece within a category occupied by relatively few contemporary watches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the striking hour functionality of the Albatross timepiece?
The Albatross features a striking mechanism that chimes the full hour count on the hour and delivers a single strike at the half-hour mark, combining pneumatic action with traditional striking work to generate audible time announcements.
Which two brands collaborated to create the Albatross watch?
L’EPÉE 1839 and MB&F partnered to create the Albatross, combining L’EPÉE 1839’s expertise in striking complications with MB&F’s approach to avant-garde mechanical design.
What makes L’EPÉE 1839 suited to develop striking complications?
L’EPÉE 1839 has specialized in manufacturing striking mechanisms since 1839, working from workshops in the Vallée de Joux to produce chiming, repeating, and alarm functions for both tabletop clocks and wrist-worn watches.
