Timepieces Become Works Of Art With These 3 Whimsical Clock Designs
The form of the clock has been pushed in bold new directions by three master horological artisans. It's time to reconsider your timepiece.
It has long been the tradition of the world's most prestigious watch companies, including Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Patek Philippe, to craft clocks for the world's finest residences. There is a difference between the throwback vibes of those big-name counterparts and the creations crafted by Clockwright, Miki Eleta and L'Épée, which are objects with personality, like monsters, space-age apparatuses and massive wooden structures that look like sculptures.
Clockwright
In addition to its conceptual wooden wall clocks with swinging pendulums, Clockwright is well known for its conceptual wooden wall clocks created by Rick Hale, a forklift driver turned self-taught clockmaker, based in Kalamazoo, Mich. Initially, they may appear to be an exciting new take on Germany’s famous cuckoo clocks; however, Hale’s handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces are influenced by the Enlightenment-era watch and clockmakers such as John Harrison, Thomas Tompion, and Abraham-Louis Breguet.
Hand-carved from cherry, lignum vitae, and quilted maple wood with a Harrison-inspired escapement, Wind & Water took 1,600 hours to construct.
A solid hardwood re-creation of Harrison's unfinished final design, Clock B, is currently being worked on by Hale, along with several custom pieces.
Miki Eleta
An innovative self-taught individual, Miki Eleta specialized in kinetic clockwork after working as a musician and soccer coach. In addition to the outward appeal and complicated movements of old-world clocks, the Swiss-based maker's handmade pieces feature whimsical science fiction touches: tiny Martians and minute monsters. A spaceship base is incorporated into his BY 21Dez12ME piece, from which tiny glass-blown aliens emerge to explore their surroundings.
MB&F x L’Épée 1839
Since the mid-1970s, L'Épée has produced and designed its own clocks and has produced parts for clocks for 183 years. They were given away at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana in 1981. In the show-and-tell age of Instagram, the Swiss company has gained new visibility through its collaborations with Geneva watchmaker MB&F, which began nearly a decade ago.
A tank, a jellyfish, a spider, a spaceship and a jellyfish have been turned into table clocks by the two brands together. A multilayered dial reminiscent of an eyeball surrounded by four curved blades that open and swivel for a variety of display options, the Orb, is shaped like an eyeball. Available in black and white, limited to 50 pieces each, $32,000 each.
