Maîtres du Temps Chapter Two Classique

Maîtres du Temps Chapter Two Classique


by Johnny McElherron

Watchmaking can be a solitary activity and many lonely hours can be spent at the bench in the pursuit of perfection. But, bring watchmakers together, give them a brief and set them to work on a project and they will thrive. Steven Holtzman the CEO and founder of Maîtres du Temps understands this more than most company bosses, and right from the beginning, collaboration has been a fundamental part of his business.

Daniel Roth and Peter Speake-Marin combined their talents to create the Maîtres du Temps Chapter Two and on the occasion of its fifth anniversary, it has been updated with some superb new aesthetics inspired by Art Deco styling.

Maîtres du Temps – Synchronised Horology

The Chapter Two was, and still is, a momentous timepiece. It features a triple date with roller indications which allows for full reading of the day of the week and the month and, it is quite simply the most legible triple date timepiece available. Even though Messrs. Roth and Speake-Marin are both extraordinarily talented individuals, the creation of such a mechanism was not without its challenges.

Maîtres du Temps Chapter Two Classique - White Gold

Maîtres du Temps Chapter Two Classique – White Gold

The triple date calendar, comprising of big date, and month and day indications, which are each on high-precision rollers has been devised so that all three change instantaneously, providing the wearer with quite a spectacle. Although the change is over in a trice, this is a power draining feature, which required a movement specifically designed to ensure that the huge discharge of energy necessary would be stored up throughout the day in preparation for midnight.

The Chapter Two model has already seen a few variations in its lifetime, including a noble round case edition and also diamond-set models, for its fifth birthday however Maîtres du Temps have changed the character of the piece dramatically by offering a new understated elegance.

Maîtres du Temps Chapter Two Classique - Caseback

Maîtres du Temps Chapter Two Classique – Caseback

The Maîtres du Temps Chapter Two Classique – Elegant Serenity

The dial of the new Maîtres du Temps Classique model is bereft of numerals, in their place are slender, elongated applied hour markers which offer a cleaner arrangement. At the dial edge a railtrack neatens the layout even more, adding to the Art Deco aesthetics. Even the generous date window appears to be less dominant than before, and the small seconds subdial appears to be more subtle. The original Chapter Two was an imposing timepiece which demanded attention, with this anniversary edition Maîtres du Temps have softened its previously grandiose character and in doing so have diluted the signature features which it had inherited from its two creators. Gone is the guilloché of M. Roth, and the stately Roman numerals which have been associated with Mr. Speake-Marin’s eponymous timepieces are no more. Compared to previous models, this dial is – dare I say it, serene.

However, enough of the original spirit remains so that even across a room, this is still a highly recognisable model and the Maîtres du Temps DNA is still undeniable. For this edition, the lack of dial adornments ensure that the precision roller indications are the dominant feature, and rightly so because they are superb. Extraordinary attention to detail has been lavished upon them with several weeks of engraving and handmade colouring employed in their makeup.

Elsewhere the complex 58mm x 42mm x 16mm case has high polished and brushed finishing, and it is denoted by six sapphire crystals which offer front and back views of all the indications and of course the beautifully decorated automatic calibre SHC01. The impressive 50 hours of power reserve of this unique model is enabled by its distinctive goblet-shaped rotor, a symbol of the collective spirit at Maîtres du Temps.

The Maîtres du Temps Chapter Two Classique will be available in 18 carat white gold or red gold editions. Price : $88,200 for 18Kt red gold, $90,300 for 18Kt white gold.

    Author Bio

    Articles by Johnny McElherron

    CONTRIBUTOR

    Johnny McElherron was busy minding his own business as a successful company director, when one day he fell in love with watches. So deeply that soon after his eureka! moment he established The Watch Press as a vehicle where he could indulge his passion with gusto. What his eye beheld he would write about, in his own unique style, and in time his work penetrated through to numerous national and international mainstream and online publications. Today Johnny creates engaging content for watch industry clients, and in 2014 joined forces with the highly respected watch industry specialists Delos Communications, with whom he works to provide Delos clients with high quality content to ensure no part of their company message gets lost in translation.