Insider: MB&F Starfleet Machine Black Badger. Hands-on with the Newest Coolest Mechanical Table Clock that Now Also Glows in the Dark.
As part of their recent collaboration with James Thompson a.k.a 'Black Badger', MB&F has just released at Baselworld 2016, a new iteration of their Starfleet Machine launched during Baselworld 2014 and that we reviewed here. This new clock named MB&F Starfleet Machine Black Badger is just like the first Starfleet Machine clock by L'Epée 1839 and MB&F —from an horological and functioning standpoint— but more visually striking thanks to the long lasting luminescent material added for this release.
This new collaboration between L'Epée 1839 —the oldest and most reputable mechanical clock maker from Switzerland—, MB&F and James Thompson a.k.a 'Black Badger', is a perfect release for lovers of lume and all things MB&F.
For the new MB&F Starfleet Machine Black Badger, Thompson added his exclusive lume under the external ring running around the Starfleet Machine movement, to the inside of the spaceship’s landing legs, and the indication domes and hands. The Black Badger touch ensures that Starfleet Machine looks just as good by night as it does by day.
Hours and minutes are indicated on the central black dome. Behind that, a smaller rotating dome, accompanied by a revolving radar dish, provides an intuitive view of remaining energy: five bars indicates the movement is fully wound —40 days of power; one bar means Starfleet Machine Black Badger is running low on propellant and there are only eight days of remaining power. Once the Starfleet Machine Black Badger runs out of power reserve, the bars are completely gone and only five white dots remain on the rotating dome indicating that is time to wind the clock once again.
While it may look like a model spaceship, Starfleet Machine Black Badger is actually a high precision clock with a 40-day power reserve that was created by L’Epée 1839 from a design by MB&F. The new Starfleet Machine Black Badger is available in a limited edition of 18-pieces each in palladium-plated brass, with lume in Radar Green, Phantom Blue or Purple Reign just like the new MB&F HMX Black Badger we reviewed here. Now, just imagine how good this clock would look on top of that mid-century modern credenza in your office and next to your beautiful Mies van der Rohe Barcelona chairs.
Sticker Price CHF 33,000 Swiss Francs —approximately $35,000 USD. For more info on MB&F click here.