Conceived by MB&F and built by Swiss clock maker, L’Epée 1839, Octopod stands or crouches thanks to its articulated legs. Each one can be individually adjusted to varying heights, enabling Octopod to rest securely on the most uneven of surfaces, just like a real octopus.
Octopod’s transparent sphere is gimballed in a similar way to that of traditional ship chronometers – although on one axis rather than two – enabling them to remain flat despite rough seas. In Octopod’s case, the gimbal ensures that no matter at what angle or height it sits, the bubble rotates easily so that the time display inside can be read clearly.
There’s also the mystery of how Octopod’s clockwork is suspended inside its crystalline sphere, so that it appears to be floating in space (or water). The secret is that the movement’s baseplate is a transparent glass plate that has been treated with a film of anti-reflective coating on both sides, making it virtually invisible.
Along with its connections to the sea, Octopod also brings to mind the then futuristic glass bathysphere of James Cameron’s 1989 film, The Abyss. While the viewer may be outside looking in at the transparent bubble, it’s easy to imagine sinking below the waves and looking out at the astonishing iridescent creatures of the deep oceans.
Octopod is available in three limited editions of 50 pieces each in black PVD, blue PVD or palladium (silver).
£29,000 / €33,150 / $40,900
Mbandf.com
