Introducing the L’Epée 1839 Time Tales: A complex and contemporary reimagining of the traditional Swiss Cuckoo clock, L’Epée 1839 blends nostalgia with the Maison’s boundless creativity, signature playful ingenuity, and demonstration of its ability to develop complex mechanical marvels. Inspired by the whimsical magic of childhood cartoons, L’Epée 1839 breathes new life into this beloved heirloom.
With a total of 1,241 components, L’Epée 1839’s Time Tales brings time to life through its complex in-house mechanical movement. Every hour and half-hour, the signature cuckoo appears from its hidden perch, singing along with the chimes—striking the hours and a single note on the half-hour. The music box then plays its melody, while a double automaton brings mischievous figurines to life in a playful dance, making timekeeping an experience rather than just a measure.
Inspired by the Four Wise Monkeys philosophy and vintage cartoons, Time Tales reflects values dear to the Maison; a blend of playful audacity and a lighthearted reminder to treasure how we spend our time.
More than just a clock, Time Tales is a finely tuned mechanical masterpiece that brings time to life through movement and sound. Designed for versatility, its fully mechanical “computer”, developed entirely in-house, offers complete control—allowing to activate each function on demand, mute elements individually, or pre-program a silent mode for a truly personalized experience.
At its heart, Time Tales features three distinct movements, able to function independently or together, like a fine-tuned mechanical brain; The cuckoo pops out from its bird house, calling the hour in harmony with the hour striking function. Both are chiming the specific hours on the hour and a single strike on the half-hour. Because there are no great cartoons without music, the music box movement starts playing a fine tune, while a double automaton animates the figurines—playing on demand, continuously, or in perfect harmony with the clock’s hourly chime. An 8-day timekeeping movement ensures a precise display of hours and minutes with two matchstick-inspired shaped hands ready to lighten up the time and the whole firework rocket inspired cabinet.
This intricate choreography is effortlessly controlled through three signature pulleys, elegantly suspended from the clock and a lever hidden under the clock. The left pulley is for absolute silence of all sound animations. The middle pulley replays the last hour’s performance at any moment, offering a chance to relive the spectacle. The right pulley activates or deactivates a pre-set silent mode, allowing for scheduled quiet periods. Additionally, a dedicated lever beneath the clock provides independent control over the music box, letting you choose between continuous play, a short demo performance or synchronizing it with the clock’s hourly strikes.
For intense moments of concentration of peace or deep sleep, Time Tales features a do not disturb function with a fully mechanical silent mode, allowing for pre-set quiet intervals. A rotating dial, adorned with two elegant pointers, marks the start and end of each silent period, while a discreet symbol beneath the 12:00 numeral subtly signals when the mode is active.
This is how Time Tales has been mechanically computerized by our brilliant teams.
Design and inspiration
At first glance, Time Tales’ aluminum structure appears sleek and modern, with a black and silver polished housing. But soon, its form reveals a playful twist—evoking retro rockets and the dazzling fireworks of classic cartoons etched into our collective imagination. Think of classic cartoons where a zany character straps themselves to a rocket for a quick escape—only for chaos to ensue. The journey is never as simple as point A to point B; detours, mishaps, and spectacular blunders turn speed into slapstick. Time Tales’ rocket-shaped design playfully echoes this, serving as a reminder to pause, embrace the unexpected, and take time to slow down. And sometimes it is not necessary to rush or go too fast if one wants to succeed.
Time is displayed with two matchstick-shaped hands, a whimsical nod to the slapstick energy of animated adventures. Yet, the real magic begins when the mechanical movement is wound. As the cuckoo sings, a double automat with figurines—channeling “Tex Avery” slapstick brilliance, the timeless antics of “Tom and Jerry”, and the boundless energy of “Looney Tunes”—spring into motion, transporting us back to a childhood where time stood still and every moment was both fun and a new discovery.
Designed by Jason Sarkoyan and Martin Bolo, the mischievous figurines come in three unique collections—dogs, birds, and monkeys—each embodying the timeless wisdom of See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil, and Do no evil. This ancient proverb found in many cultures, often depicted through four wise monkeys, reminds us to be mindful of the negativity we absorb and spread.
A symbol of wisdom, the four Wise Monkeys have appeared across cultures for centuries. In Buddhism and Shinto, they represent the idea of avoiding evil and maintaining a pure mind. In India, similar teachings in Hindu and Buddhist traditions emphasize self-discipline and wisdom. In China, Confucian and Taoist philosophies encourage guarding one’s senses from negative influences.
Today, the four Wise Monkeys remain a popular motif in art and storytelling, reminding others to always stay positive no matter what. With Time Tales, L’Epée 1839 gives the animated figurines a playful role, reinforcing the clock’s lighthearted spirit and encouraging one to embrace moments of self-reflection and time for oneself.
The embedded mechanical computer system:
This kinetic sculpture conceals a sophisticated, in-house-developed cuckoo mechanism, integrating a music box, an hour-striking function, and the signature cuckoo call. The cuckoo call and chimes sound together, marking the full hours with a complete chime and a single strike on the half-hour. The sequence concludes as the music box springs to life, accompanied by the second automaton animating the figurines.
Time Tales’ three mechanical movements function like a mechanical computer, offering precise control over every feature. These are seamlessly guided by three elegantly polished suspended pulleys and a discreetly concealed lever beneath the clock.
Each of these sound animations can operate independently or in unison, allowing complete customization—you can trigger sounds on demand or mute the music box, cuckoo, or chimes individually to suit your preference.
For moments of complete silence, a second dial allows to set a pre-programmable silent mode. Each movement winds independently with a dedicated lever, while a finely-hand finished square key ensures effortless time-setting.
The three pulleys and lever:
Enhancing its versatility, the three pulleys are the commands for the mechanical computer allowing you to tailor its performance to your lifestyle and preferences. Pull the left one to deactivate the cuckoo, chimes and music box for full silence (Absolute silencer). The middle pulley replays the last hour’s spectacle whenever you wish (repeat on demand). The right one activates or deactivates the pre-set quiet time system (mechanical computer activation/reset). Additionally, a separate lever solely controls the music box—choose continuous play, repeat on demand or standard mode. Just like a computer, Time Tales offers complete control.
Programmable silence mode:
For peaceful moments, Time Tales offers a customizable Silent Mode. This all-mechanical system—masterfully engineered by L’Epée 1839—lets you pre-program quiet periods without electronics. Using a dial, set a silence slot with two elegant hands marking the start and end times. A discreet symbol beneath the 12:00 numeral shows when Silent Mode is on, keeping things clear and simple.
