Introducing: L’Epée 1839 T35 Clock. Celebrating the Clockmaker's 185th Anniversary.
To mark its 185th anniversary of continuous existence, L’Epée 1839 presents the T35, a testament to its strong in-house horological knowledge, innovative engineering, and creative designs. Drawing inspiration from iconic 1920s and 1930s race cars, the T35 pays homage to a legendary racing machine that is perhaps considered the greatest race car of all time and one of the most famous and influential racers in automotive history.
T35 launches in a limited edition of 100 pieces in each of these 4 colors: French Racing Blue, British Racing Green, Obsidian Black, and ‘Red’ Rosso Corsa. The T35 is the ultimate gentleman's accessory. With a simple activation of the handbrake, its V8 engine is released, revealing a beautifully hidden gas cigar torch within. In today's fast-paced world, L’Epée 1839 invites you to take a moment for yourself and appreciate the great moments and small luxuries in life.
The mechanics of the T35 consist of an in-house movement with an 8-day power reserve, which melds seamlessly to the curves of the aluminum bodywork. In a subtle nod to vintage toy cars of our childhood, winding the mechanical motor is done by turning the rear wheels, just like a pullback car. The steering wheel features an original three-spoke design, typical of the racing cars from this era. To set the time, the steering wheel is turned counterclockwise.
Drawing inspiration from iconic 1920s and 1930s race cars, the T35 pays homage to a legendary racing machine that is perhaps considered the greatest race car of all time. With an unrivaled track record of success and thousands of motorsports victories to its name, this champion car is one of the most famous and influential racers in automotive history. It was renowned for its advanced engineering with a perfect harmony of lightness and power, achieving the fastest speeds of its era.
The 1920s and 1930s were pivotal years in racing history when one particular race car model held the greatest track record in vintage motorsports history. The T35 combines design, technology, power, and precision in an ode to these memorable champion cars.
Race cars from that era were powered by inline 8-cylinder engines, which were celebrated for durability and reliability; properties which also resonate with L'Epée 1839's timeless mechanical creations. They also featured a lightweight chassis that was beautiful, powerful, and fast, perfectly combining aesthetics with strength and agility. The L’Epée 1839 T35 makes a nostalgic play on this high performance by incorporating similar aesthetic details into a high-performance horological timepiece with attitude.
The name T35 is short for Time Fast 35 and comes from the line of racing cars created by L’Epée 1839. The T35 is the 35th automotive project on which L'Epée 1839 has worked, with only 3 revealed to the public—further proof of L'Epée 1839’s rigorous product and design selection for launches.
The L’Epée 1839 T35 Clock discreetly showcases hours and minutes on the side of its chassis. The driver sits in the cockpit beneath a glass dome, which highlights the escapement and showcases the artistic, whimsical timepiece within. The steering wheel features an original three-spoke design, typical of the racing cars from this era, and is assembled like the original steering wheels, with a center rim and two outer rims held together by 12 rivets. To set the time, the steering wheel is turned counterclockwise. Turning the steering wheel clockwise recenters the wheel.
The mechanics of the T35 consist of an in-house movement with an 8-day power reserve, which melds seamlessly to the curves of the aluminum bodywork. In a subtle nod to vintage toy cars of our childhood, winding the mechanical motor is done by turning the rear wheels, just like a pullback car.
The T35 is the ideal, unconventional gentleman’s accessory and an entertaining, interactive discussion piece for an office or home setting. A favorite feature is the functional hand-break located on the side of the chassis, which is pulled to release the engine and reveal the hidden lighter. The T35 boasts numerous eye-catching details and engineering specifications, in an ode to vintage race cars. These include a long protruding engine hood, the iconic 1930s race car radiator grill, large spoked wheels, a rear-positioned driving seat, and a sloping back section. Its race car aesthetic is further enhanced by sleek lines and state-of-the-art finishes.
Just like a normal-sized car, the T35 is formed of solid aluminum body parts, with the engine components and chassis made of stainless steel and palladium-plated brass. Each component is individually finished by hand, with polished, satin-finished, or sand-blasted parts.
The T35 clock measured 439.7 mm in length, 180.5 mm in width, and 119 mm in height and has a total weight of 4.52 kilograms —approximately 10 pounds. The clock is powered by the L’Epée 1839 1855 MHD in-house calibre tiered mechanical movement with a power reserve of 8 days.
Sticker Price CHF 35,000 Swiss Francs —approximately USD 41,000. For more info on L’Epée here.