L’Epée 1839 is proud to unveil a one-of-a-kind Métiers d’Art creation, adorned with exquisite enamelwork celebrating one of human’s greatest invention, through of the Age of Enlightenment: The Hot Air Balloon, a new device giving the ability to elevate and float in the air. Shaped into a striking sculptural form, the Imperial Hot-Balloon reflects L’Epée 1839’s love for ground breaking inventions and flying objects with its signature boundless creativity and technical skill.
This unique timepiece pays homage to the historic ascent of the first hot air balloon invented in 1783—the first time a man-made object took to the skies—rising above the earth and capturing imaginations. More than just a timepiece, it’s a celebration of wonder, exploration, and the timeless urge to look up and dream.
At its heart lies a fully gilded movement: a mechanical marvel encased in art.
Developed to complement the design of the timepiece, the Imperial Balloon features a movement developed specially to resemble a hot-air balloon. The hours and minutes are shown by a flame-shaped double-ended hand, gliding over two rotating discs, powered by an eight-day movement.
This mechanical timepiece is set and wound through an ingenious system that combines form and function, reminiscing the conception of an authentic Hot Air Balloon, with its design and engineering, precision and durability.
To set the time, simply turn the wheel-shaped crown located in place of the balloon’s burner blast valve. Winding the barrel is rather unexpected: the key is the balloon’s basket. Simply turn the basket to power the mechanism.
Drawing inspiration from both its rich symbolism and a defining moment in European history, this kinetic sculpture reflects the splendor of the Age of Enlightenment—le Siècle des Lumières—and the grandeur of the French royal court, which supported the Montgolfier Brothers in such endeavor. On September 19, 1783, in the gardens of the Château de Versailles and before King Louis XVI and the royal court, the Montgolfier brothers launched the world’s first hot air balloon, marking the dawn of human flight. This extraordinary event captured the Enlightenment’s core values: reason, progress, and boundless ingenuity. The Imperial Balloon Timepiece channels the bold spirit of that era, weaving together historical tribute and artistic expression.
The decoration on the Balloon first express the grandeur of the French Royal Court represented by King Louis dynasty, with delicate imperial engravings and zodiac-inspired motifs reflecting the timeless link between horology, astronomy, and mankind’s eternal pursuit of discovery and power. The clock’s royal blue and gold palette radiates opulence and refinement, while every design detail tells a deeper story. The fleur-de-lis, symbol of divine rule, Royalty, with the Bourbon dynasty’s legacy, and the golden eagle, emblem of imperial power and ambition, are more than decorative—they embody knowledge, strength, and aspiration.
With its exquisitely enamel-adorned balloon, L’Epée 1839 once again ventures boldly into new artistic territory. Enameling is one of the oldest and most revered decorative arts in watchmaking, passed down through generations of highly skilled artisans.
From the earliest days of horology, enameling has been cherished not only for its beauty but also for its ability to transform a timepiece into a true work of art. Watchmakers soon recognized that beyond precision, visual appeal made timepieces more desirable and enduring.
This meticulous craft involves applying layers of colored vitreous enamel onto a metal surface, then firing it at high temperatures—typically between 800°C and 860°C—to create a smooth, luminous finish. L’Épée draws on the time-honored Grand Feu technique, rooted in the Russian Fabergé tradition. This demanding process yields colors of exceptional depth and permanence—unaltered by time—while requiring absolute precision from the enameller.
The technique often begins with hand-decorated metal, engraved with radiating lines or intricate curves, then coated with transparent enamel to reveal the patterns beneath. In cloisonné enameling, ultra-fine gold wires—thinner than a strand of hair—are shaped into delicate cells that are filled with enamel, color by color. Each hue, created by adding specific metal oxides, is fired separately at its ideal temperature. Some pieces demand 12 to 15 firings, as even a few seconds too long in the kiln can undo days—or weeks—of painstaking work.
Table Clock or ceiling clock?
L’Épée 1839 has imagined its tethered flight in a very specific way, offering a completely new way of presenting time. The Métier d’Art piece can be displayed on a desk, a table or a shelf, and it can also be hung directly from the ceiling, floating in air above it all.
The Imperial Hot Balloon is supplied with a suspension kit. A very thin cable, fully incorporated into the clock’s design, attaches to the balloon, allowing it to take flight.
The time is displayed on the balloon’s burner; a two-pointed needle resembling a flame indicates the hours and minutes on two black cylinders stacked one on top of the other.
The crown for setting the time is located under the vertical escapement, and its gear train is located between the basket and burner, in place of the blast valve. Just as the flow of gas inflating the hot air balloon is adjusted with the blast valve, the clock’s time is adjusted with this crown.
Winding the clock involves the whole basket. Regardless of how the timepiece is displayed, to wind the clock, simply turn the base several times (generally six turns), to provide enough power for eight days of flight. For greater ease of use, especially when the timepiece is placed on a table, L’Épée 1839 has also made it possible to wind the clock by turning the basket’s upper ring, to avoid having to lift the clock.
For more information please visit:
