What We Know
This year marks 15 years of MB&F’s M.A.D.Gallery, a unique boutique concept that serves as both a storefront for MB&F’s wildly inventive horological creations and a showcase of mechanical art from artists around the world (and yes, you can buy those pieces, too). As one of the projects celebrating this anniversary, the folks behind the M.A.D.Gallery has commissioned British designer Martin Smith to create one of the most unique watch winders I’ve ever seen, in a limited edition of 10 pieces. To say that this is a bit of an unconventional design for a watch winder would be an understatement, and it’s something that I can’t stop looking at.
Designer Martin Smith playing with one of his other kinetic sculptures.
The sculptural form of the Solar Orbiter stands at a height of 60cm—that’s around two feet tall for us Americans—and spans a width and depth (essentially a diameter of the piece) of 40cm or around 16 inches. In the chaos of the two feet of powder-coated steel, aluminum, brass, wood, and electronics, Smith draws inspiration from the whimsy of pop art, toys, and Eames’ iconic Solar Do-Nothing Machine from the fifties to create a spinning, rotating sculpture that is hard to ignore in any room.
But most importantly, there is functionality to it all, as part of the spinning arm of the Solar Orbiter holds a watch to perpetually wind as the machine goes on. There are over 300 handmade parts in this piece, and the design certainly doesn’t hide any of them. Even the packaging is worth keeping around, as the winder crate (screen-printed with the Solar Orbiter’s design on the front) is ironically shipped inside a cardboard box. And no, though you might assume from the name, this one isn’t solar-powered.
Each of the 10 numbered Solar Orbiters is shipped in said bespoke wooden crate with foam interior, and included is a certificate of authenticity with Martin Smith’s signature as well as the number of the piece. The Solar Orbiter is priced at CHF 9,900 (plus VAT).
What We Think
This isn’t typically the kind of thing we cover around these parts, but it’s such a bizarrely interesting piece that still manages to hold a strong tie to MB&F and horology in general that I thought it would be worth talking about. It is, I suppose, a design that complements the boldness of any MB&F Horological Machine, though few of them feature automatic calibers that would take advantage of the Solar Orbiter’s actual utility.
For those seriously considering one of the ten pieces being offered, MB&F notes that the machine operates silently, which means that you can actually have this thing constantly running without any auditory nuisance. As these pieces are sure to go to fervent supporters and customers of the M.A.D.Gallery, it might not be too often that we’ll get to see one of these in the wild. But for now, I’m certainly loving the wild wackiness of this thing. It’s the kind of commission that keeps the ideas coming from MB&F’s M.A.D.Gallery feeling polarizingly fresh as always.
The Basics
Brand: Martin Smith for M.A.D.Gallery
Model: Solar Orbiter Watch Winder
Height: 60cm
Width/Depth: 40cm
Material: Powder-coated steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, carved wood, motor, and custom electronics.
Pricing & Availability
Price: CHF 9,900
Availability: M.A.D.Gallery
Limited Edition: Yes, 10 numbered pieces
For more, click here.
