Geneva Watch Days: Speake Marin Unveils the Cutting-Edge Ripples Skeleton

When Speake Marin decided to craft its first luxury sports watch, the design team faced a challenge: how to stay true to the brand’s iconic British identity while stepping into new, modern territory. Dominated by the signature Piccadilly case, Speake Marin’s design language demanded something far from ordinary.

The result? The Ripples collection’s distinctive rounded-square-shaped, stainless-steel La City case.

Introduced with the first Ripples model in 2022, this 40.3mm case is a subtle nod to the City of London, the famed financial district occupying one square mile at the very heart of the British capital, and thus, the brand’s roots.
 

The La City case, which became the foundation of the Ripples collection, effortlessly merges sportiness with a refined edge thanks to the outstanding work of Stéphane Lacroix.

This year, the brand invites us to explore the Ripples collection from a fresh perspective with the release of the new Ripples Skeleton, featuring the brand’s first ultra-thin, high-frequency, skeletonized calibre.

A striking addition to the Ripples, the Ripples Skeleton is powered by Speake Marin’s new ultra-slim automatic winding SMA07 calibre, which measures just 3.25mm thick.
 

The 12th movement developed by Speake Marin, the SMA07 is more than impressively slim. It is also a high-frequency calibre, operating at a noteworthy frequency of 5 Hz – an uncommon feature in the world of horology, where 4 Hz is the standard.

This achievement is the result of a focused effort by Le Cercle des Horlogers (a movement manufacturer owned by Christelle Rosnoblet, who has also owned Speake Marin since 2012) to push the boundaries of what’s possible in an ultra-thin skeletonized movement. Indeed, this new calibre is nothing less than a small revolution for a brand like Speake Marin, which crafts fewer than 700 timepieces annually.
 

Moreover, the choice of a 36,000 vibrations per hour (5 Hz) movement, which will ensure that the collection’s signature off-center small seconds hand moves smoothly and adds to the watch’s modern character, reflects Speake Marin’s commitment to enhancing accuracy and fluidity in timekeeping.

Another important feature of the SMA07 movement to note is its tungsten-crafted integrated micro-rotor, which improves the watch’s winding efficiency.

This bidirectional micro-rotor is functional and visually appealing, with its rhodium plating, micro-beading, and laser engraving adding to the watch’s overall aesthetic.
 

Moreover, building it using tungsten makes sense because of the material’s remarkable density, which allows the micro-rotor to be compact while still providing efficient winding capabilities.

The Ripples Skeleton’s design is as captivating as its mechanics. Encased in the same 40.3mm La City frame, the Ripples Skeleton offers a comfortable fit on the wrist with its slim 6.3mm profile, a 30% reduction in the piece’s overall thickness thanks to the new movement.
 

Naturally, the skeletonized dial design (a first for the Ripple collection) offers a clear view of the SMA07 calibre, showcasing the meticulous work of both Speake-Marin and Le Cercle des Horlogers. Of particular note is the vertical satin-brushing on the rhodium-plated mainplate and bridges, which contribute significantly to the watch’s sleek, modern look.
 

Meanwhile, the black PVD-treated small-seconds counter at 1:30 features the “ripples” wave motif to maintain the collection’s distinctive style.

Last, but not least, Speake Marin has chosen 904L steel for both the case and the bracelet for the first time. A material known for its exceptional resistance and high-polish finish, 904L steel represents an upgrade from the more common 316L steel used for previous models.
 

When considered alongside the bracelet’s innovative adjustment feature that provides a 4mm extension via a discreet 2mm button, this material choice is just another way Speake Marin is underscoring its commitment to marrying style with practicality.