L’Epée 1839 may be best known today for its futuristic sculptural clocks created in collaboration with independent watchmaker MB&F, but the manufacture’s history runs far deeper. Nearly two centuries old, it has long been recognised by insiders for its carriage clocks, also known as officer clocks, some of which incorporate a remarkable range of complications, including minute repeaters and tourbillons.

Yet L’Epée is not only rooted in traditional clockmaking. It has also shown a consistent ability to move in step with society and, at times, push beyond it. This approach is most clearly expressed in its Creative Art collection, where timekeeping is integrated into sculptural forms that tell the time in imaginative and unconventional ways. This year, the brand adds a new chapter with the La Regatta, unveiled in three different variants, each a one off distinguished by its own unique enamelling work.

La Regatta

As its name suggests, the La Regatta draws inspiration from sailboats, specifically racing sailboats. This is reflected in the clock’s main structure, formed by two sharp, triangular plates that evoke a racing skiff slicing through the water. The overall design is deliberately minimalist, with little in the way of conventional casing. Instead, it adopts an open construction that leaves much of the mechanism exposed, allowing the enamelled hull to take centre stage while giving the clock a distinctly futuristic, clean presence.

Three versions of the clock have been created, each one a unique piece. This is due to the hulls being entirely hand enamelled by artisans from David Kakabadze Enamel, a renowned workshop based in Georgia. The techniques on display highlight the breadth of the atelier’s expertise, spanning cloisonné, flinqué, paillonné and even plique-à-jour enamelling.

The first version is named Umi, meaning sea in Japanese. It takes inspiration from the iconic waves found in Hokusai’s prints. Thin gold wires form the outlines of the waves before being filled with enamel, a classic cloisonné technique. Silver flakes are then introduced into the enamel to add depth and texture to the colour, using the less commonly seen paillonné method.

L’Epée 1839 La Regatta Umi

Next up is the Blue Horizon, which appears simple at first glance but reveals far more on closer inspection. From a distance, it reads as a broad expanse of blue, much like an open sea. Up close, subtle patterns begin to emerge. The surface is first guillochéd to create a gentle wave motif, then finished with multiple layers of translucent enamel, giving the colour its depth and warm, lustrous blue tone.

L’Epée 1839 La Regatta Blue Horizon

Finally, there is the Prism, which takes on a distinctly geometric expression. Its surface is composed of numerous small polygons, ranging from triangles to pentagons. While it may resemble cloisonné at first glance, it is in fact not. The piece is executed in plique-à-jour enamel, a technique that is considerably more demanding than the others described above. There is no metal base beneath the enamel. Instead, the enamel is fired into the open cells of a metal framework, creating an effect similar to a stained-glass window, luminous and translucent when light passes through.

Powering the clock is an in-house, hand-wound movement, with each full wind providing an eight-day power reserve. It runs at an unhurried pace of 18,000 vibrations per hour, or 2.5 Hz, typical for clocks of this nature. The balance is also fitted with an Incabloc system for shock protection.

Tech Specs: La Regatta

MovementLa Regatta; Manual winding; 8-day power reserve; 2.5 Hz or 18,000 vph
Functions Hours and minutes
Case 518 mm x 120 mm; Steel and palladium-plated brass
Limited Edition Unique piece, customizable on demand