L’EPEE 1839 – Number one Swiss manufactory of table clocks
19 August 2019 17:43
For more than 175 years, L'Epée has held its position at the cutting edge of the clock industry. Today, it is the only manufactory in Switzerland specializing in table clocks of high-end class. The company L'Epée was established in 1839 by Auguste L'Epée, who started his business near the French city Besancon. In the beginning, he was engaged in the manufacturing of music boxes and components of clocks. The trademark L’Epée was a guarantee that all components were hand-made items.
Since 1850, the manufactory has been a leader in the field of manufacturing «escapement platforms» and is specialized on fabrication of stroke adjusters for alarm-clocks, table clocks, and musical clocks. In 1877, the company was releasing 24,000 escapement mechanisms annually. By that time, the company was recognized as a manufacturer of patented escapement units of special structure – shock-proof, self-triggering, with constant force, and also became a key supplier of escapement modules for popular clocks of the House. The products of the company L'Epée were awarded with golden medals at the international exhibitions more than once.
In the XX century, L'Epée gained popularity for its wonderful table clocks, which became an attribute of influential representatives of world elite. Clocks of this brand were presented by the French government to its top-ranking guests more than once. In 1976, when the supersonic airplane «Cоncоrd» was put into commercial operation, its cabin was equipped with a wall clock made by L'Epée. In 1994, the company L'Epée demonstrated its interest to the latest technologies by releasing the biggest clock in the world with a compensated pendulum – the Giant Regulator. Its height was 2,2 m and weight 1,2 tons. The weight of the mechanism was 120 kg. Manufacturing of this model required 2,800 man-hours.
Today, the manufactory L'Epée is located in Delemone, Swiss and is part of the mountain group Jura. Experts of L’Epée developed a unique collection of table clocks under the control of Arno NiIcole, Executive Director of the company. The collection includes a wide assortment of sophisticated clocks in a classic style and modern design (Le Duel) and vanguard clocks in a minimalist style (La Tour). Clocks of the L’Epée brand have the following complicated functions: retrograde second hand, power reserve indicator, perpetual calendar, tourbillions, and minute repeaters. All these functions were developed and fabricated on the walls of the manufactory. Enormous power reserve and wonderful finish have become qualities of the brand L’Epée.
Since 1850, the manufactory has been a leader in the field of manufacturing «escapement platforms» and is specialized on fabrication of stroke adjusters for alarm-clocks, table clocks, and musical clocks. In 1877, the company was releasing 24,000 escapement mechanisms annually. By that time, the company was recognized as a manufacturer of patented escapement units of special structure – shock-proof, self-triggering, with constant force, and also became a key supplier of escapement modules for popular clocks of the House. The products of the company L'Epée were awarded with golden medals at the international exhibitions more than once.
In the XX century, L'Epée gained popularity for its wonderful table clocks, which became an attribute of influential representatives of world elite. Clocks of this brand were presented by the French government to its top-ranking guests more than once. In 1976, when the supersonic airplane «Cоncоrd» was put into commercial operation, its cabin was equipped with a wall clock made by L'Epée. In 1994, the company L'Epée demonstrated its interest to the latest technologies by releasing the biggest clock in the world with a compensated pendulum – the Giant Regulator. Its height was 2,2 m and weight 1,2 tons. The weight of the mechanism was 120 kg. Manufacturing of this model required 2,800 man-hours.
Today, the manufactory L'Epée is located in Delemone, Swiss and is part of the mountain group Jura. Experts of L’Epée developed a unique collection of table clocks under the control of Arno NiIcole, Executive Director of the company. The collection includes a wide assortment of sophisticated clocks in a classic style and modern design (Le Duel) and vanguard clocks in a minimalist style (La Tour). Clocks of the L’Epée brand have the following complicated functions: retrograde second hand, power reserve indicator, perpetual calendar, tourbillions, and minute repeaters. All these functions were developed and fabricated on the walls of the manufactory. Enormous power reserve and wonderful finish have become qualities of the brand L’Epée.
