A Little Bit Of Dial Drama - the Speake-Marin Triad.
Just released are details of the Speake-Marin Triad which will be officially unveiled to the public at BaselWorld 2013.
Not since the release of the Renaissance Tourbillon Minute Repeater watch have we seen such a fancy Speake-Marin face. Everything that Peter Speake-Marin has created in recent times has featured pure and classical styling - the flawless Resilience, the Classic HMS, even the slightly utilitarian Spirit Mark 2 with its military-inspired plainness.
In the meantime there have been other pieces too - I refer to other projects completed, the collaborations with fellow Master Watchmakers, because Mr. Speake-Marin, as perhaps you are already aware, is highly prolific - so much so that I believe that if he sleeps at all, then he must devise and design his watches while he slumbers.
Now there is something new for his acclaimed portfolio, the Speake-Marin Mechanical Art collection, and its first piece, the Triad brings with it a little bit of dial drama and marks a departure for its creator.
I refer to the trio of hour and minute indicators, 'tis a little extravagant surely? But - so tastefully done... from anyone else's bench, three separate sets of hour and minute hands could have turned into an on-the-dial hodgepodge, but beneath this particular watchmakers loupe, all has been arranged with neatness, and this is a highly well behaved and harmonious perspective on time.
Each time-telling duo take the shapely form of the "Foundation" hands, blued to perfection and as playfully seductive as ever. Their blithesomeness is in total contrast to the sharp-toothed wheels which lie beneath. This formation has, as its background the rhodium plated silver movement plate, which has been circular-grained. This is a subtle detail, but one which adds to the rotundness of the dial, every component complies and everything moves concentrically from the outermost dial edge to the central red gold wheel which rotates in 60 seconds.
On the solid dial edge, the applied Roman numerals are standout white and along with the branding, the dial ring features the adage "3 Notes 1 Meaning" offered as an explanation for the name "Triad" which is defined musically as a three-note chord.
The Triad is housed in the Piccadilly case, a robust yet refined design, instantly recognisable by its oversize lugs which protrude and extend proudly and the sculpted and fluted crown.
This 42mm case is made from steel, but the addition of a red-gold bezel adds a perception of depth to the exterior in accordance with the layer upon layer panorama of the open-dial.
Inside is the Automatic Eros 2 Calibre with 120 hours of power reserve fed by two barrels. The distinctive Speake-Marin rotor is viewable through case-back sapphire.
I love the manner in which the imprint of Peter Speake-Marin's life and work experiences and the learning curve of his career are represented throughout his portfolio. In a previous article I stated with regard to Mr. Speake-Marin, there is a certain level of satisfaction to be gained through documenting the development of a man, and not just a "brand". I stand by this statement - the new Speake-Marin Triad, the starting point for a new "Mechanical Art" collection opens up a new and exciting chapter in this watchmakers lifework, and it's a stunner.
More from the official Speake-Marin website.
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