Swiss clock maker L’Epée 1839’s latest desk-bound timekeeper is the Imperial Hot Air Balloon, a unique piece that is uncharacteristically classical compared to the brand’s recent launches that have tended towards modernity. It’s essentially a highly decorated, elaborately styled variant of the no-frills Hot Air Balloon clock of 2018.

L’Epée 1839 was absorbed into LVMH last year, and this shift towards more traditional clocks chimes with the luxury group’s focus on higher-end and artisanal watchmaking. Notably, Louis Vuitton tapped L’Epée 1839 for its own hot air ballon-shaped desk clock.

Initial thoughts

While most of L’Epée’s creations are undoubtedly interesting, blending sculptural mechanics with proprietary clock movements, the clockmaker was historically a maker of classically traditional mantlepiece clocks. Most of its creations from earlier decades were styled after carriage clock.

While entirely sculptural in form, the Hot Air Balloon manages to look as it belongs to a bygone era of watchmaking. A métiers d’art creation, the unique piece is restrained and ornate, while being modern only in the way it displays the time. Otherwise, the miniature flying object would sit comfortably in a historical residence.

Not to say that other L’Epée are not well executed, but their modern and structural constructions don’t usually allow for classic artisanal crafts to be put to good use. The Hot Air Ballon’s centrepiece is the blue enamelled surface of the “balloon” that features historical European royal symbols. 

The royal balloon

L’Epée chose the hot air balloon theme as a tribute to both the Age of Enlightenment and the first means of human air travel. More specifically, L’Epée cites the Montgolfier brothers’ pioneering hot air balloon flight from the Versailles Palace’s garden in 1783 as a source of inspiration.

The piece is heavy on royal symbolisms, with the heraldic fleurs-de-lis (tied to the Bourbon dynasty) and the imperial golden eagle. Golden zodiac signs also appear on the domed balloon, enriching the deep blue canvas.

The balloon piece is entirely covered in a combination of cloisonné and grand feu enamel, all applied over the curved metallic base. Such painstaking work usually takes between 12 and 15 separate firings at over 800°C, intertwined with the application of different oxide bases and enamel layers.

The result is a deep blue surface which serves as backdrop to the golden symbols and figures. The colour palette is itself suggestive of imperial lavishness, with the blue and gold nuances bringing to mind a royal theme of establishment.

The brass basket

Interestingly, instead of being placed on a desk, the Hot Air Balloon clock can be suspended by a thin wire from its top, which is surely an iconoclastic (but not entirely unexpected of L’Epée) way of displaying such a clock at home.

This probably explains the downward-angled time display that takes the form of cutout in the balloon that reveals two revolving cylinders. This is one element particular to L’Epée’s styling, as most of its creations rely on disks or cylinders rather than traditional dials or hands to tell the time.

The cylindrical base, meant to emulate a passenger basket, supports the “balloon” via three pillars. Inside the knurled base resides the large mainspring barrel of the movement — which holds eight days’ worth of power reserve. The winding of the mainspring is done by turning this base, which relays power to the visible gear train above, probably transmitted through the pillars in a purposely concealed manner. 

Seated between the basket and balloon, the visible part of the movement is reminiscent of classic L’Epée calibers. There is no direct connection between the visible portion of the movement and the base.

A gilded finish is applied to nearly all of the movement components, which evokes classic clockmaking and fits well with the colour palette used.

The cal. 1855 LR is proprietary to L’Epée and runs at 2.5 Hz. Even though it is mechanically basic, the movement is well-integrated into the design and function.

The basket only requires six turns to reach the eight-day power reserve, which suggests there might be some hidden planetary gearing involved. The time-setting is done through a crown that mimics a real hot air balloon’s burner blast valve. 

Key facts and price

L’Epée 1839 Imperial Hot Air Balloon

Dimensions: 310 mm tall; balloon diameter 172 mm
Weight: Approximately 3.9 kg
Material: Brass, copper, enamel

Movement: 1855 LR
Functions: Hours and minutes
Frequency: 18,000 beats per hour (2.5 Hz)
Winding: Hand wound
Power reserve: 8 days

Limited edition: Unique piece as shown
Availability: Customisable and manufactured on demand
Price: CHF145,000 before taxes

For more, visit Lepee1839.ch.