Swiss clock maker, L’Epée has teamed up with horological concept laboratory MB&F to create a timekeeping robot that demonstrates the engineering expertise, design inspiration and quirky personality of the two organisations.
Balthazar is a high-precision robot clock displaying jumping hours, retrograde seconds and a 35-day power reserve.
Weighing in at over 8kg and standing nearly 40cm tall, Balthazar is composed of 618 micro-engineered components.
Balthazar’s clockwork displays “slow” jumping hours and trailing minutes via two discs on the chest, while the power reserve indicator is located on his belly.
The eyes of the piece are also 20-second retrograde displays. Within the polished glass dome on the Balthazar is the regulator mechanism. This side also boasts a 35-day power reserve.
The robot can also be rotated by 180 degrees to reveal the side of the piece with the moonphase functions, accurate for 122 years as well as ruby encrusted eye sockets and stainless steel teeth.
More than 5,000 teeth had to be created, inspected and finished by hand before being mounted.
The limbs and fingers of the robot move independently. The hands can even grip objects.
The 40cm robot is predominantly made of nickel-plated bronze with brushed and sandblasted finishes. The clockwork is made of palladium-plated brass and stainless steel. The movement is a “Cal. 2010 HMDM”.
Balthazar is available in limited editions of only 50 pieces per colour in black, silver, blue or green armour. No price estimation has been disclosed.
