After very successful Vertical Double Tourbillon that was launched last year, the Anglo-Swiss watchmaking brand unveils the Black Magister Vertical Double Tourbillon Watch that boasts two 60-second tourbillons set on an “all black” gilded main-plate to increase the contrast and beauty of the mechanism.
Those of you who are familiar with the work of the English manufacturer that creates its timepieces in its Swiss workshop, know that the tourbillon has played an important role in the story of Speake-Marin. The very first Speake-Marin watch was the Foundation Watch – a manually made pocket watch that Peter Speake-Marin tooled with a tourbillon.
Speake-Marin Black Magister Vertical Double Tourbillon has a dial that comprises an oven-fired enamel subsidiary dial with the hours and minutes displayed by the brand’s signature Foundation hands in heat blued steel.
Above this sub-dial, there is a power reserve display which indicates remaining power by means of a cam-shaped disc that opens when fully wound to reveal the gears and mechanisms beneath, and progressively closes and shows empty when a red section of the disc reaches the central marker. Below the sub-dial, there is a day and night display which is well balanced with the power reserve indicator.
The left side of a stunning dial is reserved for twin tourbillons which are vertically aligned. A single massive bridge, immaculately finished by hand with mirror polished internal bevels, supports the escapements. Each tourbillon has its own independent gear train which is equipped by its own mainspring barrel. Both barrels are wound simultaneously via the crown.
The new Black Magister Vertical Double Tourbillon is housed in an iconic Piccadilly case crafted from 18-karat white gold. Its elegant case measures 46mm in diameter and 14.30mm in thickness. It is constructed to resist water pressure up to 30 meters (about 100 feet).
The beating heart of the watch is the in-house manufactured caliber SM6 manual-winding mechanical movement that provides 72 hours of power reserve. The mechanism operates at the semi-rapid frequency of 21,600 variations per hour (3 Hz). The movement’s finishes include German silver bridges, perlage and ruthenium plating. The 3/4 plate movement is covered with Geneva stripes which differ from the usual since the waves do not run in one direction but in two, away from the center of the plate.
From the rear, the display case back is also black gilded with contrasting engraving. The back of the two tourbillons is open to view and a small wheel between the openings of the tourbillon cages takes the pace of the two independent regulators and transmits the average one of their two rates to the time display. This small wheel is marked with “Equilibreur de Marche” which means rate equalizer.
Speake-Marin Black Magister Vertical Double Tourbillon is a unique piece which comes attached to a sophisticated alligator leather strap. The one-of-a-kind piece comes with the retail price of 265,000 Swiss francs (approximately $270,270).
