„Hands-On-Basel” Speake-Marin Spirit Wing Commander [live pics, price]

Łukasz Doskocz31.05.201412.07.20167 min. of reading

Crazy Baselworld week this year was as hectic as usual, but this time I had a bit of spicing on it – a Speake-Marin newest timepiece strapped to my wrist.

Whenever we start our annual Baselworld preparation, tickets booking, hotel, appointments list etc. I get really excited to not only visit some of the greatest watch manufactures out there, but even more to meet our friends – the guys that stand behind some of the most impressive independents of horological world. Most of them resides in The Palace, but one particular favorite of ours just moved to the main Hall 1, making the year 2014 probably one of the most significant dates in his short-but-already-rich history. His name is Peter Speake-Marin.

But before I’ll present you my in-depth impression from a week on the wrist with his newest (well, one of few) creation, couple of words about the men himself, and what actually makes this year so special.

Before

Peter Speake-Marin is English born (1968) master watchmaker living and creating at the border of Switzerland and France. He started his education in Hackney Technical Collage in London (1985) and followed it at the famous WOSTEP watchmaking school in Neuchatel. His early career included restoration work for Somlo Antiques in London and then transition to Switzerland and work for famous Renaud & Papi in Le Locle. Vast experience gained from years crooked behind the watchmaking bench eventually resulted in AHCI membership, creation of the first very-own pocket watch called “the Foundation Watch” (2003) and finally, after years of planning and preparation, establishment of his own, long-dreamed manufacture – Speake-Marin. The year was 2008.

After

Between then and very recent past Speake-Marin was a highly-positioned, fully independent manufacture with a very clear image and massage. When I talked to Peter in our interview back in Baselworld 2011 (watch it HERE), he emphatically highlighted, that what he does is strongly rutted in tradition with a pinch of his own personality and style, topped with in-house watchmaking. And now, it all pretty much changed. Peter still is an independent creator, but his brand recently turned into a much more open and way much more affordable one, luckily in keeping with already strongly recognizable DNA.

So, now Speake-Marin is located in Hall 1.1 of Basel, number of employs grows and the collection has a new, clear image with three major lines: Spirit, J-Class and Cabinet des Mysteres. Each of them received some new entries this year, ranging from the simple three-hand all the way up to the flying tourbillon. I was very, very curious to see how new PSM works in the flesh, so sometime while this pre-Basel prep I called Peter to ask, if we could maybe get some extensive hands-on experience with one of the novelties. And so here it is – my weekly impression of wearing the new Spirit Wing Commander.

Spirit

Inspired by aviation and military, the Spirit collection thus far includes 4 models. 2 of them are simple automatic pieces with central second and either steel or DLC coated steel case.

Remaining 2 new titanium cased pieces are either a chronograph called “Seafire” or the watch you’ll read about in a second – the “Wing Commander” with a specific small-second, big date and power reserve indicator.

Wing Commander

Since we already know the functions included in the watch, lets start with the look on the face of the timepiece in question – the dial. Because of the military-style inspiration the dial is monochromatic black-and-white, created in a very particular process of embossing luminous material with a special mold. The result is a multilevel surface with round hour indices and three indications: date window at 12 o’clock (double digits, black background), rounded power reserve at 6 and small second at 9.

This one is presented in a form of topping-tool wheel – a trademark of Speake-Marin – with a little whole marking the exact second. At this point it’s important for me to highlight, that the piece I wore and pictured was a prototype, and the final version will probably have two slightly modified details. First is the date window which will have a more open frame to it, second being the seconds wheel, which might receive a matt finishing instead of the polished one on the tested piece. Keeping this in mind I have to say, that while I was a bit sceptical about the dials layout and readability, it turned out to be surprisingly balanced and well thought out design. Blackened Foundation-style hands with some luminova work really good in terms of legibility too. Preserving Speake-Marin’s DNA the dial is unique yet user-friendly and has all the complications needed. It’s also very well made with superb luminescence (green) and high attention to details, just as same as the titanium case.

At first, not being a titanium fan at all, I was a bit disappointed that Speake-Marin decided to go with this material over more traditional and easy-to-use stainless steel. You know all this grey, boring, flat looking titanium watches? – this was what I was afraid of the most. And boy was a wrong. Titanium made by S-M (grade 5) is refined and immaculately finished with polished 2-parts bezel, polished massive lugs with screwed pins for the strap, small diamond-shaped crown and brushed case band. Caseback is also brushed with engraved topping-tool wheel in the center and collection’s motto “Fight, Love and Persevere” around it.

I always liked Peter’s “Piccadilly” case with its shape, generous lugs and overall handsomeness – it says Speake-Marin vividly at the first glance. It is so with the Wing Commander’s case, and the only drawback of that particular model is thickness. Due to the automatic movement and embossed dial the case is quite high (didn’t measure it, but bet on around +15mm), but still fits the wrist nicely, and might even slip under the shirt cuff. The diameter is a reasonable 42mm, WR is 30m and a sapphire glass has an anti-reflective coating.

Going the more-affordable direction Peter Speake-Marin also decided (or rather had to decide) to use some of the shelf mechanical movements. The ones you’ll find in the collection were all made by Swiss companies Technotime, Concepto, and in this case Timeless, to the specifications provided by Speake-Marin. Vaucher manufacture will join the list shortly. Wing Commander is powered by an automatic (bi-directional winding) caliber 1024SPM with a single barrel, 48h of power reserve, 4Hz balance wheel (28.800 vph), quick-set date and stop-second. While a week of using the watch might be a bit too short to make a proper judgement, I had no problem with it at all – worked as smooth as it should.

Conclusion

The last day of our week-long Basel trip, when I had to return the watch back, I thought to myself – this could be my watch. You know that feeling when a watch grows on you every day? That is exactly what happened with the Wing Commander. I took it off and on again many times during our many Basel appointments, always with a pleasure to strap the thick, brown, calf leather strap with white stitching (and titanium pin buckle) back on the wrist. Furthermore, the piece gathered quite a lot of attention and people asking me about it, willing to try it on and take a picture. The overall impression was highly positive, and so is mine. Priced at 7.500CHF the Spirit Wing Commander is a very Speake-Marin, very impressive timepiece that has it’s style, it’s character and it’s coolness. If you like it, you’re going to love it.

And in case you wonder what is Peter’s plan for the future:

“This is a life’s goal for me not a 10 year business plan. I am going to make Speake-Marin grow into a an international recognized watch brand, known not only by a small group of passionate collectors but by everybody. Gotta aim high.”

Thanks to Peter Speake-Marin and his team for providing us with a watch and a pleasurable BaselWorld experience.

More on Speake-Marin on the brand’s new website HERE.