When daylight gives way to twilight shades, there is a fleeting moment when the sky takes on a purple hue, oscillating between mystery and poetry. It is precisely this magical interstice that Speake Marin chose to capture in his latest creation: the Openworked Tourbillon Purple HourA watch that transcends the simple exercise of style to become a true work of mechanical art.
The poetry of a weightless whirlwind
Beneath its anti-reflective sapphire crystal, the gaze is captivated by a hypnotic spectacle: at 1:30, the flying tourbillon comes to life, appearing to float in the void. This display, both technical and aesthetic, comes to life on a three-dimensional dial adorned with a deep and luminous PVD purple. Each reflection plays with the light like twilight diffracting through the clouds, multiplying the facets of an emotion.
At the heart of this piece, the caliber SMA05 developed in-house affirms the mechanical mastery of the house. Its integrated micro-rotor and 72-hour power reserve combine ease of use and high performance, demonstrating that watchmaking poetry does not come at the expense of precision.
The strength and lightness of an icon
The box Piccadilly, Speake Marin's unmistakable signature, is presented here in grade 5 titanium, a material that is both robust and ultra-light. Available in two diameters, 38 mm for contained elegance, 42 mm for contemporary assertion, it adapts to aesthetics without sacrificing its identity. The whole is completed by an embossed calfskin strap, tinted the same vibrant purple, giving the whole a bold and refined visual coherence.
Speake Marin: the art of independence and watchmaking architecture
Since its founding in 2002 by the British watchmaker Peter Speake-Marin, the house was built around a clear vision: to combine the rigor of Swiss watchmaking tradition with an assumed creative freedom. Based in Geneva, the brand is distinguished by its desire to develop exclusive movements in partnership with Le Cercle des Horlogers, an independent fine watchmaking workshop. It is from this collaboration that the collection of calibers was born SMA, designed to offer original, open architectures, thought of as mechanical sculptures in their own right.
Speake Marin makes a point of offering creations where each component is designed to interact with the others. Thus, the openworked bridges, integrated micro-rotors and iconic complications, such as flying tourbillons, jumping hours and minute repeaters, are not only technical feats, but also elements of aesthetic language.
The brand also stands out for its artistic approach to finishes : alternating polished and satin-finished surfaces, hand-chamfered, colored PVD treatment... Each watch is an opportunity to explore textures and plays of light, reinforcing its unique visual identity.
Finally, Speake Marin has built a reputation among collectors for its creative independenceFar from industrial dictates, the house produces limited series, even unique pieces, intended for a clientele of enthusiasts in search of rarity and exclusivity.
Speake Marin's iconic models
Over the years, Speake Marin has built a collection that stands out with creations that have become emblematic for lovers of independent fine watchmaking. Among them, the Ripples, launched in 2022, marks the house's entry into the world of sporty-chic watches with integrated straps, while preserving its unique aesthetic. The One&Two Openworked embodies the architectural DNA of Speake Marin, with its openwork dials revealing spectacular three-dimensional calibers.
The rooms to Jumping Hours or the Spirit Collection, more contemporary and assertive, demonstrate the brand's taste for original displays and bold cases. Finally, the flying whirlwinds, available in several configurations, remain one of the technical signatures of the house, symbolizing its expertise in the queen complication. These models, rare and often produced in limited series, contribute to forging a strong identity and growing recognition among collectors.
With the Openworked Tourbillon Purple HourSpeake Marin not only represents a technical feat; it captures a universal sensation, that of a moment suspended between day and night, between certainty and mystery. The watch thus becomes an extension of an emotion, translated into titanium, sapphire and light.
In a world where watchmaking sometimes tends to repeat itself, this creation reminds us that a timepiece can be much more than an instrument: a mechanical poem, vibrating every second.
Patrick Koune
