At SIHH 2016, Swiss MB&F present Sherman, their newest robot-inspired clock produced in collaboration with clock-maker L’Epée
Sherman tells the time. And Sherman makes people smile, which is probably the world’s most useful and (emotionally) valuable complication. That’s a superpower!
The cute robot Sherman is the brain child of MB&F that was engineered and crafted by L’Epée 1839. The later is the only specialised manufacture in Switzerland devoted to crafting high-end clocks. L’Epée was founded in 1839, by Auguste L’Epée, who set up the business near Besançon, France to make music box and watch components.
Simplicity is the key and MB&F’s Sherman is the living proof. You won’t find any intricate complications and time is displayed in a traditional two-hand clock-style dial in robot’s chest area. Two blued-steel hands along with a ring of cutout hour markers make reading the time relatively simple. Sherman’s “brain” area is covered with a mineral glass dome, underneath which, there’s a balance wheel and regulation system for this mechanical timekeeping desk clock device. The robot-inspired clock features the articulating metal tube arms and the working tank treads that serve as base.
Conceived and developed by MB&F, Sherman is the result of “Maximilian Büsser’s on-going quest to revisit his childhood, during which he hankered for a robot friend.” Robot’s mechanics are based on a L’Epée 1839 in-line eight-day movement, which ensures that the friendly tank-treaded table clock can display the correct time on his chest for more than a week before requiring rewinding. Thus, the movement has a long power reserve of eight days and is produced from 148 parts. There’s a mainspring barrel above the tank treads, and the movement operates at a steady frequency of 2.5Hz (18,000 bph). Sherman’s eyes serve for insurting the winding key to either wind the movement (one side) or adjust the time (the other side).
There are two versions of MB&F’s clock available. The silver-colored Sherman is plated in palladium and nickel, and there is a gold-plated version as well. There will be 200 clocks plated in palladium, 200 versions plated in yellow gold, and another 50 pieces set with diamonds. Price for the MB&F Sherman, either palladium or gold-plated, is around $13,700, while diamond-set clock is available for $33,000.
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