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MB&F's oddball Orb clock is inspired by eyes and beetle wings

MB&F's oddball Orb clock is inspired by eyes and beetle wings
The Orb in closed and open modes
The Orb in closed and open modes
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The Orb in black
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The Orb in black
The Orb with four elytra opened
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The Orb with four elytra opened
The Orb clock sitting above the panels
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The Orb clock sitting above the panels
The Orb clock
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The Orb clock
The Orb panels were inspired by the wing cases of a beetle
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The Orb panels were inspired by the wing cases of a beetle
The Orb panels are made of aluminum
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The Orb panels are made of aluminum
The Orb has a chiming caliber
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The Orb has a chiming caliber
The Orb displayed sitting on its side
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The Orb displayed sitting on its side
The Orb sitting on its panels
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The Orb sitting on its panels
The Orb in closed and open modes
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The Orb in closed and open modes
View gallery - 10 images

Known for their sense of whimsy, MB&F and L’Epée 1839 have released another playful clock that looks like it's half timepiece and half puzzle. At first glance, the Orb looks like a huge enameled eye, but opening the four beetle-like wings provides some versatile display options.

Taking inspiration from both the optical and the Coleoptera, the Orb is dominated by four curved metal panels machined from a single block of aluminum to resemble the elytra or wing cases of a beetle. When closed they make the clock resemble an eye sitting on an anti-roll saucer, with the clock display playing the part of the iris and pupil.

The Orb in black
The Orb in black

The panels are held closed by magnets and are coated in kiln-fired enamel. When open, the panels can serve as a stand to display the clock in a variety of poses. Closed, it measures 17 x 17 cm (7 x 7 in) and opened 24 x 30 cm (10 x 12 in). It weighs in at 1.9 kg (4.2 lb).

Inside the clockwork is a L’Epée 1839 hour-striking movement with a manual, eight-day power reserve made out of palladium-plated brass and stainless steel. The 300-component, 17-jewel, 18,000-bph (2.5-Hz) caliber runs on twin barrels and incorporates the Incabloc shock protection system. The chimes strike the hour and pressing the button on the side of the clock repeats the sound.

The Orb is available in a limited run of 50 units in a choice of black or white lacquer finish. One will set you back a cool CHF28,500 (US$31,000).

Source: MB&F

View gallery - 10 images
3 comments
3 comments
Nelson Hyde Chick
Just another do-dad for a wealthy narcist.
The deerhunter
Exactly what I was thinking. Who g.a.f?
Baker Steve
Those still making precision mechanical timepieces would do better to concentrate on precision and accuracy rather than novelty.