Label Noir x Lepe's sports car-shaped clock "Timefast D8"

Geneva customization workshop Label Noir has collaborated with Lepe's sports car-shaped table clock, Timefast, to release the all-black model, Timefast D8, a limited edition of only five units worldwide.

A table clock inspired by a 1950s sports car, only five of which have been produced worldwide

　Swiss watch manufacturer La Belle Noir is well-known among watch enthusiasts who want to customize and create their own unique timepieces, particularly for its "black watches." For years, the company has worked with watch houses like Maurice Lacroix and Anonimo to create special editions.

　This time, La Belle Noir has collaborated with L'Epée, a Swiss brand specializing in table clocks. Founded in 1839 by Auguste L'Epée, L'Epée has a track record of producing a variety of clocks, including a desk clock for Pope John Paul II, a commemorative clock for the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, and the in-flight clock for the Concorde passenger aircraft. In recent years, the brand has been attracting attention for its artistic collections featuring up-and-coming designers.

　The result of this collaboration between the two companies is the Timefast D8, an all-black model of the Timefast series that Le Pée released in 2019. The Timefast is a table clock inspired by the single-seater sports cars that were popular on racetracks in the 1950s.

　The body is finished in a matte black finish, similar to that used in the automotive industry, with the main plate, gears, and escapement treated with ADLC. Pale yellow accents are used on the logo, wheels, and hour and minute displays, enhancing the sporty impression.

　The watch was designed by Georg Foster, who was studying for a Master's in Luxury Design and Craftsmanship at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Lausanne at the time, and he took inspiration from the world of vintage racing cars, condensing it into the world of the track where cars of the past disappear.

　The result is a remarkable clock form with streamlined lines and a powerful engine: pistons, casings, cylinder heads, as well as various gears, all coming together to breathe life into the manually wound 1855 MHD calibre.

　The movement is made in-house by Le Pe and follows the curves of the 38cm long body, which has been designed and manufactured by hand.

　This movement has a power reserve of approximately 8 days (approximately 192 hours) and only needs to be wound once a week, by rewinding the rear wheels in reverse, just like the toy cars we all grew up playing with.

　The hours and minutes are displayed on one side of the watch using two anti-oxidation treated stainless steel discs, with apertures reminiscent of the numbering typically used in racing.

　In the cockpit, the handle acts as a time-setting wheel: rotate it counterclockwise to set the time. Each piece is also individually numbered as a limited edition.