Founded in 2002 by a British master watchmaker, Swiss independent brand Speake-Marin is driven by a commitment to a singular ethos, one that is rooted solely in creating “belle horlogerie” — beautiful timepieces. Early in its history, Speake-Marin focused on creating unique and bespoke timepieces for individual collectors only. And while production has broadened substantially since those days as a nascent watchmaking house, the brand still maintains an element of exclusivity, as all of its collections are created in small quantities as limited editions or unique pieces. Such is the case with the latest release from Speake-Marin, “Ripples,” the brand’s first-ever “sport-chic” stainless steel bracelet watch, available in a limited annual production of 100 pieces. 

Ripples draws inspiration from modern architecture — more specifically, the architecture of London’s financial district, where business and heritage converge much in the same way as contemporary aesthetics and horological tradition unite themselves in this watch. The new 40.3mm-wide rounded-square case design is aptly nicknamed “La City” as a nod to its London influence, and the rhodium-plated and polished heart-shaped “Big Ben” hands are a further tribute to Speake-Marin’s British roots. The brushed Ripples dial sports a motif of cool-gray horizontal ridges meant to evoke the materials used in modern industrial design, and the texture adds an element of visual interest, especially as light reflects off the watch from different angles. An anti-reflective sapphire crystal tops the dial, and the screw-down crown is engraved with the Speake-Marin logo.

All Speake-Marin watches are fitted with in-house calibers, and Ripples is no different. The SMA03-T movement found inside is a new chapter in the brand’s watchmaking development, created in the research and development department of Le Cercle Des Horlogers, a high-end watch atelier owned by Speake-Marin President and CEO Christelle Rosnoblet located in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The SMA03-T is an automatic self-winding movement that operates at 4Hz with a power reserve of 52 hours, and the “T” designation stands for “Tradition,” owing to the more traditional high-end finishings added to this caliber, such as the 2mm circular graining on the main plate, the hand-finished, rhodium-plated bridges with Geneva stripes, and hand-polished inner angle. The integrated micro-rotor is decorated with a sun-brushed finish, and a sapphire crystal case back allows the wearer to get a glimpse of the complexity and exceptional execution of the movement. The SMA03-T also places the small seconds complication at the 1:30 position on the dial — a technical and design signature unique to all Speake-Marin in-house movements. 

No stainless steel sports watch would be complete without a matching bracelet, and the Ripples is no exception. Its integrated stainless steel bracelet features highly polished center links flanked by neatly brushed outer links, with a double-folding clasp providing a comfortable and secure wearing experience. And as to be expected from a sports watch, the Ripples offers a respectable 5 ATM of water resistance. 

The Speake-Marin Ripples is a contemporary watch designed for the connoisseur who does not want to compromise on casual elegance. It is a timepiece that blends into everyday life while still expressing the sharp taste and horological knowledge of its owner. Price for the Speake-Marin Ripples is CHF 19,900 (excluding taxes). For more information on this watch and the rest of the Speake-Marin collections, please visit www.speake-marin.com