MB&F Arachnophobia. Inspired by a giant spider sculpture called Maman created by Louise Bourgeois (1911 - 2010) that MB&F founder Maximilian Büsser had seen in both Geneva and Doha, Arachnophobia is the result of the collaboration of MB&F with L’Epée 1839 – Switzerland's only specialised high-end clock manufacture – who engineered and crafted the unconventional timepiece. Arachnophobia is available in black or 18k yellow gold-plated editions with prices of Swiss Francs 15'300 and Swiss Francs 17,500 respectively.
Inspired by a giant spider sculpture called Maman created by Louise Bourgeois (1911 - 2010) that MB&F founder Maximilian Büsser had seen in both Geneva and Doha, Arachnophobia is the result of the collaboration of MB&F with L’Epée 1839 – Switzerland's only specialised high-end clock manufacture – who engineered and crafted the unconventional timepiece.
Büsser developed the concept with L’Epée, selecting a high-end L’Epée clock movement and re-imagining it as the mechanical head and torso of a spider.
The body is outfitted with a black dome with white numerals depicting the hours and minutes.
The head of the spider houses the regulator with its oscillating balance wheel beating at 18,000 vibrations per hour while the other end contains the mainspring barrel, which powers the movement. To achieve the right look, L’Epée had to transform its eight-day movement redesigning the palladium-plated main plates as well as the layout of the gear train. The escapement was rotated 90° to better represent the head.
Attached to the abdomen by ball-and-socket joints are eight, visually enticing legs articulated where they join the body by ball-and-socket joints. The legs can be rotated so that Arachnophobia can stand tall on a desk or splayed flat for wall mounting.
Finishing techniques used on the clock’s body and legs include anglage, mirror polishing, satin finishing, circular satin finishing, sand-blasting, and polishing.
For a more aggressive posture, the front legs can be moved forward while the six others maintain the standing position.
At 405 mm in diameter with the legs fully extended, Arachnophobia has a strong presence either on a table hanging on a wall.
Arachnophobia is available in black or 18k yellow gold-plated editions with prices of Swiss Francs 15'300 and Swiss Francs 17,500 respectively. mbandf.com
Büsser developed the concept with L’Epée, selecting a high-end L’Epée clock movement and re-imagining it as the mechanical head and torso of a spider.
The body is outfitted with a black dome with white numerals depicting the hours and minutes.
The head of the spider houses the regulator with its oscillating balance wheel beating at 18,000 vibrations per hour while the other end contains the mainspring barrel, which powers the movement. To achieve the right look, L’Epée had to transform its eight-day movement redesigning the palladium-plated main plates as well as the layout of the gear train. The escapement was rotated 90° to better represent the head.
Finishing techniques used on the clock’s body and legs include anglage, mirror polishing, satin finishing, circular satin finishing, sand-blasting, and polishing.
For a more aggressive posture, the front legs can be moved forward while the six others maintain the standing position.
At 405 mm in diameter with the legs fully extended, Arachnophobia has a strong presence either on a table hanging on a wall.
Arachnophobia is available in black or 18k yellow gold-plated editions with prices of Swiss Francs 15'300 and Swiss Francs 17,500 respectively. mbandf.com
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