Another beautiful and unique horological machine has been released

Consistent on their promise to deliver precision and excellence, MB&F have just released their latest piece of art: Octopod. The ultimate octopus-shaped horological machine collection, another beautiful and unique object which simply cannot go by unnoticed.

This time, the forward-thinking team was inspired by cephalopods, marine chronometers and ‘The Abyss’; blending futuristic design with kinetic sculpture.

As usual, while they focused on creativity and the vision of these pieces, workmanship was entrusted to Switzerland’s premier clockmaker, L’Epée 1839, with whom they have previously cooperated for former creations.

The transparent bubble, filled with precision horology, is sustained by eight articulated legs, each one adjustable to different lengths; allowing the mechanical mollusc to maintain its balance and remain in place even on the most irregular surfaces, exactly like in the real underwater world.

We must look further however, in order to see where the real magic lies: in the top bowl itself is the spherical head, which is totally transparent so that you can observe the miracles of its mechanics and the precision of its movements.

First and foremost, you will notice that the sphere is gimballed in a similar way to that of traditional ship chronometers, but only on one axis instead of two, as is traditional. In that way, chronometers remain flat despite the continuous movement of the boat.

In Octopod’s case, the gimbal ensures that the time display is always perfectly readable by means of an easy rotation of the bubble, regardless of the angle or height it sits at.

The other feature, which is more difficult to notice is that Octopod’s pulsating escapement, regulating the clock’s precision, is located on its minute hand rather than in the more usual (and mechanically simpler) position, attached to stationary movement plates.

Lastly, if you look closely, Octopod’s clockwork looks as if it is floating in space, suspended inside its crystalline sphere.

Is this magic?

Perhaps that’s what we might like to hear, but there is actually a trick: the baseplate of the movement is a transparent glass plate that has been treated with a film of anti-reflective coating on both sides, making it virtually invisible.

All MB&F art has been conceived to mimic and interpret the surrounding world as seen through the innocent eyes of a child, and this is exactly what happened with these mechanical sea creatures.

“Like an octopus concealing parts of itself with camouflage, Octopod conceals parts of itself with visual tricks of its own”

L’Epée 1839 went beyond their own capability and created a brand-new movement for this particular creation, with both the glass baseplate and counterbalanced regulator posing particular challenges.

Octopod is available in 3 limited editions of 50 pieces each, in black PVD, blue PVD, and palladium (silver)

It is also worth mentioning that, besides the connection with the marine world, Octopod was inspired by the then futuristic glass bathysphere of James Cameron’s 1989 film, ‘The Abyss’. It is here where the intention comes from for you to imagine sinking below the waves, expecting some monstrous creatures to appear from the depths.

That said, you can rest assured that despite the fantasy it evokes, Octopod is perfectly at home on your elegant, stable furniture.