Exclusive Video: L’Epée’s Singular Vision of Time as Art
Our recent visit to the L’Epée atelier not only gave us an artful, behind-the-scenes look at how its artisans create its compelling time-telling objects, but our lively, enlightening discussion with the brand’s global brand manager revealed how the renowned clockmaker continues to push boundaries and remain relevant in the Smart Phone Era.
By Ash Longet
PR & Business Development
Since 1839, the L’Epée workshops in Delamont, Switzerland, have been producing time-telling pieces that live at the intersection of horology, engineering, kinetic sculpture, and, yes, a bit of whimsy. In fact, it is the only remaining manufacture in Switzerland that is completely dedicated to this art form.
Simply put, L’Epée creates mechanical sculptures that not only tell time but bring it to life.
Art For Time’s Sake
Design, engineering, manufacturing, assembly, and finishing are all tackled in-house at L’Epée. Even on a collaborative piece, like the 1,500-component Albatross collaboration with watchmaker MB&F, what you see is a culmination of the talents of artisans that redefine the term “hand-built.”
While the people the company works with are certainly among the most skillful in their craft, oftentimes they represent multiple generations of a family that has specialized in that skill (like the Kakabadze family of enamellers). The Albatross represents a compelling object that was produced 95% in-house, including hand-finishing some components that you will never see when you examine the clock.
Poetry in Motion
There is always a profound sense of storytelling in L’Epée’s creations. However, the workshops go beyond the “form” of the piece and incorporate some of the specific aspects of that form into the time-keeping process, elevating storytelling into a kind of poetry.
For example, the F1-inspired Time Fast collection draws clear design cues from race cars. Yet the balance wheel is capped and presented as the “driver,” the steering wheel becomes the “crown,” and the winding mechanism is activated by the pull-back action on the tires you might remember from the model cars of your childhood.
A Look Ahead
L’Epée’s Global Brand Manager, Christophe Gazarian, confesses to renewed interest from younger collectors lately. Raised on digital content, these enthusiasts often have a level of curiosity about how a physical object is made, how it works, and what you can do with it that is more intense than someone more familiar with timepiece creation.
That curiosity, along with a desire for more meaningful cultural and personal touchpoints, leads to L’Epée’s bespoke and customized work, which accounts for about 30% of what they do. The custom Hot Air Balloon Enamel unique piece, for example, proves that a heritage reference, like a vintage passenger balloon, can resonate for multiple generations with some outstanding enamel and cloisonné craftsmanship along for the ride.
So, enjoy the video and use it as an opportunity to “take some time back” from your busy day.
For more information about these amazing clocks, check out the L’Epée website.