Speake Marin Ripples Skeleton

An absolute first at Speake Marin: the new innovative automatic skeleton calibre SMA07, ultra-thin at just 3.25 mm. Equipped with an integrated micro-rotor and a balance-wheel beating at 36,000 vph - 5 hz, this cutting-edge movement powers the brand’s latest creation: The Ripples Skeleton.

In 2024, Speake Marin reaches a new milestone, writing a remarkable further chapter in its history, which began in 2002. A history marked by the will to push boundaries, by cutting-edge mechanical innovations, by stylistic exercises that give its collections a unique and distinctive identity. All this thanks to the brand’s independence, a forward-thinking mentality, a keen eye on the future and an unstoppable determination to explore new horizons.

Following the success and consolidation of the Openworked, Academic, Haute Horlogerie and Art Series collections, the Geneva-based Maison launches the RIPPLES collection in 2022. This marks the introduction of Speake Marin’s first sport-chic timepiece, now available in different versions, entirely crafted in stainless steel and powered by high-performance in-house automatic calibres, with a fully integrated micro-rotor and superb finishes.

This year, Speake Marin takes another step forward with the new RIPPLES SKELETON. The first watch in the series to boast an aesthetics and an automatic calibre, both skeletonised. The latter is equipped with a high-frequency regulating organ (36,000 vibrations per hour) and is only 3.25 mm thick.

New Ripple Skeleton: Inspiration

Continuing its journey towards unexplored horizons, Speake Marin introduces a highly innovative watch: RIPPLES SKELETON, a new tactile and sensory experience that enters the fourth dimension. We are all in motion in space-time. Space, which has three physical dimensions: length, width and depth, and time. Time, which the brand interprets in a surprising way. Inspired by the future, the geometric shapes of this high-end creation harmoniously intersect, leaving generous space to the light and its reflections, creating an essential aesthetic purity and lightness that makes it almost ethereal in its distinctive appearance.

The case: slimmer and, for the first time, made of 904L stainless steel.

The new RIPPLES SKELETON is housed in the iconic case, designed by Stéphane Lacroix, which is a modern synthesis of the two most popular shapes used in watchmaking: the circle and the square. Beautifully combined, they form the “La City” case. At first glance, it looks like any other model in the Ripples collection. But this latest timepiece brings with it some interesting new characteristics.

For the first time, Speake Marin is using 904L steel. More precious than conventional 316L steel, it contains a higher percentage of nickel and chromium in addition to copper, which increases its resistance to corrosion and acids. Furthermore, the higher chromium content makes it shinier when polished.

The diameter remains unchanged at 40.30 mm, a size that fits even the smallest wrists thanks to its perfect ergonomics. Thickness, however, has been reduced from 9.20 mm to 6.30 mm. This is a significant reduction of 30% compared to the current collection, made possible by the new generation SMA07 calibre, which is only 3.25 mm thick.

Made up of 40 components, it is water-resistant to 5 atmospheres and has a square-shaped bezel with rounded corners, polished bevelled edges and a satin-finished surface. The screw-down crown is customised with the Maison’s engraved logo.

A sapphire crystal glass protects both the dial and the case-back. Its anti-reflective treatment ensures maximum visibility of all the elements of the RIPPLES SKELETON.

“La City” is a precious case of such harmony and balance that the integrated triple-row polished and satin-finished steel bracelet with folding clasp seems a natural extension. Comfortable and soft on the wrist, it can be adjusted up to 4 mm with a tiny 2 mm button.

The Skeleton Dial: a first for the RIPPLES collection

The RIPPLES SKELETON introduces, as its name suggests, the first skeleton dial in this contemporary and sporty-chic line. The art of skeletonization is not new to Speake Marin, which already offers it on more classic models like the Openworked Tourbillon and Dual Time.

The new SMA07 calibre, the undisputed star of the RIPPLES SKELETON, performs a double task. It is not only the vital organ that powers this model, but also the defining element of its look, perfectly blending the movement and the dial into a single entity.

The “with a view” dial invites you to take a fascinating plunge into the world of micromechanics. You can see not only the running hands, but also the mechanism that drives their functions. Furthermore, its essential construction allows light to penetrate, enhancing its meticulous craftsmanship and transforming its appearance with a play of reflections.

The rhodium-plated skeletonised mainplate has a vertical satin finish, bevelled microbeaded profiles and polished angles. The well-balanced combination of horizontal lines, reminiscent of the now-familiar ripples pattern, and curves that embrace components such as the barrel and the small second at 1:30, creates a harmonious architecture.

The Ripples collection would not be the same without its characteristic wave motif. The small-seconds counter at 1:30, with black PVD treatment, bears witness to this consistency. It features the same hand-satin finish, but with relief “ripples” that are slimmer due to its thinner plate, only 0,30 mm thick. The applied indices are also very thin and small: only 0.14 mm wide for those positioned at the four cardinal points, and just 0.12 mm for the others. All of them are diamond-polished and have opaline flanks. Not an easy task with such small dimensions! However, thanks to the expertise of the skilled craftsmen of the in-house workshop “Le Cercle des Horlogers”, the end result meets the highest standards of quality and finish.

Symmetrical with the small seconds counter, the glossy black Speake Marin logo stands out on the opaline, heat-treated rhodium-plated plate.

The dial is completed by the circling-finished minute-flange with shiny black dots and, for the first time in the Ripples collection, the hour and minute hands are flame-blued by hand. As a tribute to the brand’s British origins, the heart-shaped tip of the hour hand recalls London’s monumental Big Ben.

Mastering the new generation calibre SMA07

RIPPLES SKELETON houses the first manufacture innovative, ultra-thin, self-winding skeleton movement operating at high frequency and providing hours, minutes and small seconds. The SMA07 calibre comes with a regulating organ that beats at a high frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour at 5 Hz, thus ensuring improved chronometric performance with a time accuracy of -/+ 5 seconds per day.

Furthermore, its high frequency speed allows the seconds hand to move more smoothly. Conceived by the master watchmakers of Le Cercle des Horlogers, Speake Marin’s in-house manufacture, with a vision to the future, this cutting-edge movement is composed of the highest quality components. The ingenious arrangement of its elements, which gives the RIPPLES SKELETON a harmonious, contemporary and minimalist style, also allows it to be extremely thin, at just 3.25 mm.

Such high-frequency calibres first appeared around the 1960s. Up to the first half of the 20th century, movements with 18,000 vibrations per hour were used, later followed by those with 21,600 and 28,800 vph. It’s known that the higher the frequency of the balance wheel, the more accurate the movement. This is because the negative effects of the unbalance of the regulating organ on the adjustment of the rate of the watch, whatever its position, are reduced.

Due to the complexity of its construction, which involves designing the most suitable escapement wheel and lubricating with oils capable of counteracting the considerable centrifugal forces generated by the high number of oscillations, very few 36,000 vph calibres have been made up to date.

Comprising 182 components, the SMA07 has a fully integrated micro-rotor and offers 52-hour power reserve.

To optimize the performance of the bi-directional winding system, this calibre is equipped with reversers. As the rotor is bidirectional, it swings in two opposite directions. The use of reversers therefore allows, whatever the direction of its swing, to reverse one of the motions to act in the direction required for winding the spring that supplies the energy.

For the first time, this device has a skeletonised shape to match the components of the movement and is produced in-house at Le Cercle des Horlogers, our internal workshop. This process ensures higher reliability and more production independence.

An array of finishes is further distinguishing feature of Speake Marin’s masterpieces of time. From the rhodium-plated, microbeaded and laser-engraved surface of the micro-rotor, with a pattern exclusive to the Maison, to the circling-finished wheels, to the vertical satin-brushed bridges with chamfered profiles and polished angles, to name but a few.

The constant quest for absolute time precision, combined with a fascinating futuristic design, gives RIPPLES SKELETON a unique, original and appealing personality. A creation that embodies a highly successful technical and stylistic exercise, thanks to the expertise of Maison’s technical team, capable of mastering the art of watchmaking and its many crafts to bring to life Speake Marin’s interpretation of time in the 21st century.

RIPPLES SKELETON is a limited production, available as of 29 August 2024. Suggested retail price: CHF 29.900 excluding taxes

Technical specifications

Speake Marin Ripples Skeleton

Reference: 604020150

Case

• Material: 904L stainless steel
• Diameter: 40.30 mm
• Thickness: 6.30 mm
• Square bezel with rounded shapes, polished profile, satin-finished surface
• Screw-down crown with engraved logo
• Screw-down case back
• Sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating on dial and case back
• Water-resistant to 5 ATM

Dial and hands

• Skeleton dial
• Small seconds counter at 1:30, engraving three-dimensional horizontal ripples, satin-finished by hand, black PVD treatment
• Small seconds plate 0.30 mm thick
• Indices of the small seconds counter: rhodium-plated, diamond-polished, opaline flanks, 0.14 mm wide for the ones at 12-3-6-9 and 0.12mm for the rest
• Small seconds hand: in rhodium-plated, polished steel
• Hand-flame blued hour/minute hands, heart-shaped hour hand tip
• Silver minute-flange with circling finish and shiny black dots
• Rhodium-plated opaline cartouche, Speake Marin Genève in glossy black decal

Movement

• In-house manufacture skeleton self-winding calibre SMA07 with fully integrated micro-rotor
• Total components: 182
• Casing diameter: 35.75 mm
• Thickness: 3.25 mm (without hands)
• Frequency: 5 Hz / 36.000 vibrations per hour
• Number of jewels: 27
• Balance wheel with inertia blocks
• Swiss lever escapement
• Power reserve: 52-hour (when fully wound)
• Mainplate: Rhodium-plated, vertical satin-finished, bevelled microbeaded profiles and angles visible on dial side, sandblasted finish visible from the case back
• Bridges: vertical satin-finished, rhodium plated and bevelled microbeaded profiles Tungsten micro-rotor with exclusive embossed motif

Functions/Indications

• Hours, minutes, small seconds at 1:30

Strap and buckle

• Three-row integrated polished/brushed steel bracelet with personalised folding buckle with the Maison’s logo
• Micro-adjustment up to 4 mm with a 2 mm button

For more information, please visit speake-marin.com