When MB&F releases a new collaboration with L’Epée 1839, you can always guess that it is usually something extraordinary. That was exactly the case when the pair launched the Octopod desk clock in 2017. Inspired by MB&F’s desire to explore aquatic themes, the aesthetics resembles cephalopods with eight articulated legs, a transparent crystalline spherical “head” with its beating organs encapsulated inside. Constructed of a palladium-plated brass, stainless steel and nickel-plated brass body, the result is absolutely stunning with a mirror-polished appeal complimented further by its mechanically inspired articulated legs. However, the real fascination lays inside the spherical “head” featuring the clock’s movement powered by cal. 175, beautifully suspended in the center of the sphere achieving a “floating” appeal. Furthermore, what is interesting is that this manually-wound caliber features its pulsating escapement on its minute hand rather than it being attached on a conventional movement plate. Extremely well-executed, MB&F released three variants of the Octopod, with an example fitted with silver legs such as the present example as well as editions with blue or black articulated legs, each limited to only 50 pieces.

The present example features the cleanest variation of all with silver articulated legs from circa 2017. Accompanied by the full set of accessories and offered in well-preserved overall condition, the Octopod is a true conversational piece, perfectly aligned with the firm’s DNA.