At SIHH 2017, Speake-Marin unveiled the Crazy Skulls watch, which combined a minute repeater and tourbillon into a single watch. A year later, they have unveiled a new, even more evolved model.
Speake-Marin's "Cabinet des Mystères" is part of the Complications series. The "Crazy Skull" is equipped with a minute repeater mechanism that chimes the time audibly, and features an automaton mechanism that moves the skull at 6 o'clock and the index at 12 o'clock when the repeater is activated. When the minute repeater is activated, the two skulls that form a heart shape separate, revealing a flying tourbillon underneath.
A change from the 2017 model is that the skull, which was previously painted flat, has been hand-carved into a three-dimensional design. The inner bezel is also engraved with text, and the entire bezel is covered with sapphire crystal. The movement incorporates a new, patented safety module, developed to prevent the repeater from malfunctioning when adjusting the time, marking an evolution from the previous model.
Production will begin to be made to order from May 2018 onwards, but I'd love to get my hands on an actual machine and check out its movement and sound.
Contact info: Osawa Shokai Tel. 03-3527-2682
