Our Last-Minute Holiday Gift Guide for Watch Lovers
With the holiday season already underway, many of us are chasing down the last of our gifts for friends and family (or even for ourselves). As part of our annual tradition, we’ve compiled a list of watch-related gifts, mostly “horologically leaning” accessories from desk clocks to art to watch holders, for those with a passion for the finest in timekeeping.
L’Epée 1839 Grenade
For more than 180 years, L’Epée 1839 has been a prominent clockmaking house in the Jura Mountains of Switzerland. To this day, it remains the only high-end clockmaking house left. We’ve handled many of the brand’s clocks from the Time Fast D8 to the Time Flies, all pushing the boundaries of horology with their ultra-functional designs. For this year’s holiday season, our pick from this illustrious brand is the Grenade.
The hours and minutes are displayed on two black aluminum disks rotating directly over the beating heart of Grenade. With 255 components, the movement ticks away at a traditional 18,000 vibrations per hour, showcasing the balance front and center. Without an indication for the power reserve, the audible ticking of time is a reminder to seize the day.
Part of L’Epée’s DNA is merging form with function. There’s no frivolousness in the clockmaking house’s designs. With the Grenade, the pin is the timepiece’s key, allowing for the setting of the time and the winding of the 8-day movement. Modeled off the historical MKII grenade that uses a pin to activate the explosive, L’Epée’s Grenade almost tricks the mind to concentrate a little more than usual on time-setting and winding after pulling the pin. The Grenade is available in Deep Blue
MB&F x L’Epée Sherman
Two of our favorite watchmaking brands collaborating, it simply doesn’t get much better than this. MB&F and L’Epée co-create Sherman, a clock inspired by one of Max Büsser’s childhood toys. Sherman, a little robot companion, feels alive, with his eyes carefully looking at you, and his arms ready to embrace you. This robot-clock is a playful object, it can roll on your desk and you can also play with its arms.
Generally, it’s only good vibes when MB&F and L’Epée collaborate. This is another testament to that. It’s fun, but not without serious technical watchmaking as we expect from both brands. Masters of functional timekeeping, the treads on Sherman are used to wind the 8-day power reserve movement. Sherman’s eyes are bolt heads supporting the regulator while the movement plates and bridges of the clock also make up the skeleton and body of the robot. Through the transparent dome on Sherman’s head, the brain of the robot is the clock’s regulator, controlling the precision of the timekeeping. Whether Sherman lives on a desk or fireplace mantel, it’s sure to create a smile and intrigue from those that stroll by.
Berd Vayé Grenade
We like to think that we cast light on an important element of the watchmaking ecosystem – kinetic artists. Creators that are deeply inspired by horology, but do not create timepieces in the sense of wristwatches, pocket watches or clocks. Berd Vayè is one of these artists, crafting art pieces that are deeply inspired by antique timekeeping devices. The founders scour the globe for broken vintage timepieces that they disassemble, restore the integrity of the parts, and reconstruct into art.
The newest creation from Berd Vayé is the Grenade. Encased in transparent Lucide crystal, this enigmatic creation takes the form of a grenade, yet exudes an elegance far beyond its typical purpose. The translucent Lucide gleams with multifaceted brilliance, reflecting light like a hidden gem from a forgotten time. Suspended within are delicate, golden gears—intricately arranged, as if time itself is locked in a perpetual, silent dance. These mechanisms, frozen in motion, whisper secrets of forgotten craftsmanship, adding a sense of mystery to the object’s allure. This is a great gift for a watch enthusiast's office or workspace!
L’Epée 1839 TIME FLIES
Another creation from the ultra-innovative L’Epée to make this year’s list – the TIME FLIES.
TIME FLIES pays tribute to the conquest of the skies and one of the most brilliant inventions ever made: the airplane. Aviation made its mark in the last century, motivating adventurers to go ever higher and ever further, and it changed traveling forever. The plane captured the collective imagination, and there have been many stories of heroic aircraft journeys. Who never had a childhood dream of adventure as a pilot.
Some things fire up imagination and fantasy more than others. Some adventures only the elite can enjoy, but the boundless expanse of the imaginary world is accessible to everyone. TIME FLIES is an 8-day clock in the form of a stylized 1930s plane, offering just enough structure to provide form, and just enough empty space to inspire our imaginations.
R-Werk TYP-01
One of our newest offerings, the beautifully designed TYP-01 watch stand by R-Werk. This is far from your typical watch stand – far from subdued or discrete. This is a watch stand that calls the collector to recognize its standalone beauty in design, even before eyes move to the watch on display. From the first time that we saw the TYP-01, we saw it as one of the most exciting automotive-inspired creations, generally, to ever find its way into the watch world.
The TYP-01 isn’t a replica of machine parts but a vivid interpretation by German automotive designer Mohammad Morassafar. Morassafar, or Mo, reimagines the equal-length racing exhaust header of the flat-six engine, the ducktail spoiler of the Porsche Carrera RS 2.7, and the spartan interiors of racing cars with a new vibrancy. The TYP-01 showcases a fine balance in many of the domains that designers fixate on – warm vs. cool or abstract vs. literal. There are some fine details that make this feel exceptionally “intentional,” that real care was placed on making this something cohesive and great. One is the TYP-01’s hidden screws and mirror polish make it feel as if it’s made from a single piece of metal, while the dancing pipes make this clearly hefty object appear weightless and light.
Curious about delivery before the holidays? Reach out to us and explore more holiday gifts from L’Epée, Bard Vayè, and R-Werk on our website! We wish everyone happy holidays and a good start to the New Year!