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About This Work
Memento Mori. Translated as "Remember that you are going to die", the timeless artistic theme reminds Man of the humility he must show in the face of mortality. L’Epée 1839 and Kostas Metaxas confronted and celebrated this genre with the sober, contemporary and visually delicate Requiem. Kostas Metaxas (magazine editor, film producer, art and technology enthusiast), chose to place the horological mechanism deep in the center of a skull--merging life and time. The eyes are spectators of time passing in the skull’s sockets. The reading of the hours and minutes is achieved by two transparent discs placed respectively in the right eye and the left eye. To know the time, you must face your fears and look Requiem in the eyes.
THE MOVEMENT
The movement is composed of 160 pieces entirely designed, finished and assembled in the workshops of L’Epée 1839. The hour and minutes are displayed inside the eyes by a system of discs with stamped time indications. L’Epée 1839 adds a new complication to its 8-day movement in this work: the disc mechanism displays a «slow» jumping hour and sweeping minutes respectively.With a conventional jumping hour indication, it is difficult to know whether the jump has already taken place or not—making it possible to misread the time. To avoid this, L’Epée 1839 developed a «slow» jumping hour. As a result of this complication, the hour disk remains stationary during the first 55 minutes of an hour. When it reaches five minutes before the new hour, instead of jumping instantly, it starts to slowly turn. This gradual jump makes it easier to notice the movement and tell the time.
With an 8-day power reserve, Requiem must be rewound each week. This act is made uniquely intimate with the key’s placement at the base of the skull. From the nape of the neck, or more precisely the cervical plexus, all information wills and decisions are sent to the body. In Requiem, it is the source of energy necessary for the proper functioning of the table clock. The unique key is also used to set the time.
THE SKULL
Far from the traditional clock, the 4.5lbs of skull can disturb even in all its sobriety. The L’Epée 1839 emblematic two crossed swords placed on the temples of the cast aluminum skull allow reflections of light and thought for the movement. The realistically designed jaw is composed of 24 teeth. Each story, each life, each skeleton is unique, bearing the stigmata of time. L’Epée 1839 has deliberately left small defects, specifically, individually and harmoniously located on each skull, as a sign of life, leaving you to imagine a story and making each timepiece unique.The skull rests on two pillars, evocative of the two trapezius muscles, in the middle of which the key is positioned. The aluminum base ensures the stability of the clock.
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Requiem is available in 3 editions of 50 works in each: Raw Aluminum Skull with Palladium movement (Silver Edition), Black Lacquer with Golden movement (Black Edition), Rainbow Lacquer with Gold plated movement and teeth (Rainbow Edition)
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Technical Specs
- EDITION SIZE
- 50 Aluminum (76.6003/100)
- 50 Black (76.6003/200)
- 50 Rainbow (76.6003/300)
- FUNCTIONS
- A <<slow>> jumping hour and sweeping minutes are displayed in the eyes of the skull with two stamped discs.
- The unique key for Requiem’s time setting and manual rewinding interlocks directly between the columns at the nape of the neck.
- MEASUREMENTS
- Dimensions: 7.5h x 4.7w x 6.3d in (19 x 12 x 16 cm)
- Weight: 4.5 lbs (2 kg)
- MOVEMENT
- L’Epée 1839 in-house designed and manufactured
- 1853 HMD caliber
- Single barrel
- Power reserve: 8 days
- Components: 194
- Incabloc Anti-Shock System
- Skull: machined cast aluminum (raw, black lacquer or rainbow lacquer and protective varnish)
- Movement: brass (stainless steel, palladium or gold plated)
- Manual winding: actuated by a specially designed key that also sets the time
- The hour and minutes are displayed in the eyes of the skull with two stamped discs.
- SKULL
- Materials: machined cast aluminum
- Finishings: black lacquer, rainbow lacquer or raw aluminum, and colorless protective varnish
- Jaws: 12 molars and 12 incisors
- BASE
- An aluminum column system connects the skull to the base on which the movement is fixed.
- The unique key for Requiem’s time setting and manual rewinding interlocks directly between the columns.
- FINISHINGS
- Polished, bead-blasted with satin finish
- Polished Aluminum with Stainless Steel movement (Silver Edition)
- Black Lacquer with Gold or Palladium plated movement (Black Edition)
- Rainbow Lacquer with Gold plated movement and teeth (Rainbow Edition)
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Quick Help & Manual
- Download manufacturer manual
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Important handling care
Improper handling can damage your timepiece.
- Never touch the movement or eyes. Contacting certain pieces can cause a delay in timekeeping which will require service to fix.
- The movement should never be in contact with any liquids (inlcuding vaporized form). If this occurs, the clock should be serviced immediately.
- Do not manipulate or move the clock by the jaw.
- Fingerprints can damage the coating.
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Winding the movement
To wind the movement, use the doubledepth square key placed at the back of the clock.
- Use the key provided with Requiem only.
- Wind anti-clockwise only.
- Wind up the spring completely. At the end of the winding procedure, you will feel the necessary force increase significantly; do not wind further as this is the sign that the movement is fully wound.
- The movement should be fully wound every 8 days.
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Setting the time
To wind the movement, use the doubledepth square key placed at the back of the clock.
- Use the key provided with Requiem only.
- Turn anti-clockwise only to set the time.
- Setting the time in the wrong way can damage the mechanism and require service.
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Hours and minutes display
The hours and minutes are indicated in the eyes of Requiem by two arrows.
The hours is a slow jumping hour; the hour disk remains stationary during the first 55 minutes of an hour. Rather than jumping instantly, it starts to slowly turn five minutes before the new hour. This gradual jump is more easily noticed and makes reading of the time the time simpler.
10:25
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Where not to display
- Do not display near any source of heat or vibrations.
- Do not display in a direct air conditioning flow.
- Do not permanently expose the clock to direct sunlight.
- Do not display in a humid environment and/or where dew point is reached.
- Do not display in a location prone to dust.
- Do not place the clock where it could incur unintentional knocks.
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Cleaning
Use only a soft and dry cloth to clean the clock. Dust and particles contained in the cloth could scratch parts. Do not use any kind of cleaning products to wipe the clock or the skull. Never try to clean the movement or its parts; they should be cleaned by an authorized repair technician only.
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Servicing
As for all Horological pieces of art, it is recommended to periodically service your clock. A mechanical masterpiece requires fine oils for the lubrication of the movement. These oils deteriorate over the years. We advise having the movement serviced every 3 to 5 years. Be aware that the optimal period between servicing times can vary depending on the clock's surrounding environmental conditions.
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Warranty & repairs
L’Épée 1839's clocks are guaranteed against any manufacturing or operational defects for two years from the date of purchase according to the following conditions: Broken springs and damage caused by incorrect usage are excluded from the international warranty, as is any possible oxidation caused by the local climate. The warranty certificate duly filled in and signed by the retailer must be sent with the clock for any repairs carried out under warranty.
L’Épée 1839's clocks are developed to ensure optimal accuracy and reliability. It is well accepted for a fine mechanical clock to have a few seconds’ variation per day and their clocks are set so as not to delay. However if you should notice a bigger variation, please contact an authorized dealer who will advise you, or a L’Épée 1839 technical support center which will proceed with the necessary adjustment.
Never attempt to repair or dismantle Requiem yourself or by an unauthorized repair shop. Contact us to find an authorized repair technician.
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Pre-Sale Questions
Email or call the gallery with any question 1-800-724-1215