TIME FAST CHROME

INTRO


L’Epée 1839 continues its Time Fast legacy with the creation of two new limited editions in Chrome!  They include the Silver Chrome Time Fast and the Gold Chrome Time Fast. The Time Fast is a vintage-inspired 1950’s F1 race car that is a kinetic sculpture and modern clock all in one.  The Time Fast was designed in collaboration with Georg Foster, ECAL (Ecole cantonale d’art de Lausanne) and L’Epée 1839.

The Time Fast features a number of eye-catching details from the 1950’s F1 era. They include the long protruding engine hood, the iconic radiator grill, the large spoked wheels, the rear driving seat positioning and the sloping tail section. Its overall sporty feel is reinforced by its elegant design, flawless finishes, fluid lines and these two newly created Body Chrome Color’s. 
 

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THE STORY


For all generations, classic 50s cars are firmly ingrained in the collective subconscious and imagination. Single-seaters boasting a sleek design, fluid lines and assertive aerodynamics fuel many a dream. 

The shaping and production of the Time Fast was entirely entrusted to the manufacture’s passionate teams, predominantly comprised of automotive enthusiasts. 

The name of the Time Fast clearly conveys its technical aspirations, incorporating a motor that has an 8 day power reserve—or rather an in-house caliber with a 192-hour power reserve beating at 18,000 vibrations per hour.

In motor racing, it's well known that although the driver is the only one to be first over the finish line, his entire team helps to make this victory possible. What applies to the track also applies to life as a whole. The teams of designers, engineers and watchmakers therefore embraced the challenge of producing an exceptional and unique clock incorporating all the elements of a race car. Every detail has been carefully considered to intimately interlink form and function to spark a renewed fascination for kinetic sculptures. 
 

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INSIGHTS


The engine consists of a tiered movement with an 8-day power reserve that was entirely developed to hug the curves of the bodywork.  

The hours and minutes are displayed on the side through an aperture resembling a typical competition number, via two engraved stainless steel disks. A figure sits in the cockpit, where a glass dome, or rather a driver’s helmet, highlights the thrumming escapement. In front of him is the steering wheel, which adopts the three-spoke design typically seen in race cars, serving to set the time.

On the other side of the chassis is the advertising spot, the characteristic circle on iconic race cars, which can be optionally customized to create a personalized car, by means of an engraving, for example (the L’Epée 1839 logo comes as standard). 

In the cockpit, the car’s steering wheel, which has been specially designed to incorporate the time-setting wheel, can be used to adjust the time if the engine ever breaks down. Located in the driver’s seat, a counterclockwise adjustment adjusts the time, while clockwise adjustment can be used to reposition the steering wheel once the correct time is set. 

Time Fast D8 needs to be filled up (with mechanical energy) once every week. The mechanical movement's barrel is wound by moving the wheels in reverse to provide the car with the power it requires to remain fully functional. Meanwhile drive mode is simply designed to provide unimpeded delight. 

Just like a normal-sized car, Time Fast D8 is formed of solid aluminum body parts, as well as components as small as an escapement wheel (measuring just a few millimeters across). But here, each part is individually and impeccably finished , whether decorated, polished, satin finished or sand-blasted by hand.   

L’Epée 1839 presents an interpretation of the car where the human being, symbolized by the escapement, is placed at the heart of the car. Safely installed and protected by a glass dome (the helmet), it sets the pace, just like a driver regulating the power of the engine.

The movement’s plates form the chassis. Each has been designed with great attention to detail, symbolizing for instance the engine block of old race cars. As if to cool the motor constantly running at 18,000 vibrations per hour, the radiator grill is openworked to reveal the manufacturer’s emblem. A dual exhaust provides one final nod to the automotive world. 

Particular attention has been paid to the four wheels, whose spoked rims are wrapped in soft rubber for greater grip, providing excellent transmission of power during winding.

Engine details

Front grill

Time display

The cockpit

SPECIFICATIONS

EXCLUSIVE LIMITED EDITION

99 pieces per color, Silver Chrome Time Fast and the Gold Chrome Time Fast

DESIGN & DISPLAY

Hour and minute display
Time set via counterclockwise rotation of the steering wheel
A clockwise rotation serves to reposition the steering wheel as desired.
The clock is wound using the rear wheels- just as the pullback car of our childhood
Reverse the car to fill it up i.e. wind the barrel, supplying the clock mechanism with energy
The car can move freely forwards

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT

Weight: 4.7 kg
Dimensions: 38.5 cm long x 16 cm wide x 12 cm high
Number of components: total of 289 parts

MOUVEMENT

Tiered mechanical movement, L’Epée 1839 1855 MHD in-house caliber
Escapement: 18,000 vib/hour
26 jewels
Power reserve: 8 days
Materials: Palladium-plated brass, polished stainless steel, Chrome deposition
Incabloc protection system 

MATERIALS & FINISHING

Bodywork and wheels
Blown glass dome, machined and polished to simulate the driver’s helmet
Front and rear bodywork in aluminum 
Spoked rims in stainless steel 
Tires in hard-wearing rubber

Finishes 
Polished and sand-blasted movement (plates and wheels) / Satin-finished struts (stringers) / Polished and satin-finished rims / Painted bodywork 

FEATURES

Construction and materials inspired from the Automotive
Time set via counterclockwise rotation of the steering wheel
The clock is wound using the rear wheels, carefully wind the
movement like a pull-back toy car.

THE COLLECTION


Reference

74.6004/111

Silver Chrome 

Limited edition of 99 pieces per color

AVAILABLE Add to cart
30'345.- CHF excl. VAT / Lead Time 4 Weeks

Reference

74.6004/151

Gold Chrome 

Limited edition of 99 pieces per color

AVAILABLE Add to cart
30'345.- CHF excl. VAT / In Stock