MB&F is a brand that keeps our expectations high. And consistently fulfil and exceed them every time. MB&F announces a new collaboration with Reuge and Nicolas Court: The “Kelys & Chirp”. Here is a peek and the technical specifications released as the embargo lifts. We will return on 13th of December with our full analysis on this new release.
Chirp enjoy its freedom and safety singing joyfully for Kelys, its tortoise protector.
The new collaboration is both magnificent and playful at the same time, and leverages on the Reuge’s expertise of automata and the ability to play music. The object is a moving tortoise, whose back opens to reveal a singing bird. Kelys (from the Greek chelone or chelys for tortoise) moves in a realistic tortoise-like gait with his head moving slowly side-to-side, his movements all in synchronicity with Chirp as springing from her nest and pirouetting, her beak opening and closing, wings flapping, and tail wagging, all in time to the melodic bird song.
Our full analysis on this new release will be published at our 9:30pm (Singapore time) timeslot.
Kelys & Chirp: technical specifications Specifications and price:
Kelys & Chirp is available in 4 limited editions of 18 pieces each in blue, green, yellow or ochre with a price of CHF 49,000 plus taxes.
Animation:
The tortoise walks, the bird opens from back, moves and sings.
For 10-12 seconds, the bird flaps its wings, moves its tail, opens its beak in time to the birdsong, then as if magically disappears.
The tortoise moves its legs in a realistically intermittent gait, its head moves.
Average tortoise speed: 0.03 m/s (0.06 mph).
Materials:
Generally rhodium plated brass, stainless steel and 18K white gold for the bird.
Tortoise scales: handmade leathering with coloured calfskin.
Movement:
Number of components: 480
100% hand assembled
Chirp the singing bird:
Materials: 18K polished white gold, eyes in sapphire
Number of components (bird alone): 30
Number of components (bellows): 90
Mainspring: twin-cam spring barrel
Power reserve: 3 cycles of turtle walking and bird singing
Bellows: double bellows system (bi-directional air pushing)
Security mechanism: if the bird or cover are pushed down while the bird is singing, the bird automatically retreats
Kelys the automaton tortoise:
Material: grained, satin and polish finishing, rhodium-plated brass, eyes in black onyx gems
Shell: 12 leather scales with individual polished edges
Mechanism for turtle automaton is driven by the Singing Bird movement
Number of components: 100, all rhodium or satin finished
Gear train: elliptical gearing with max/min 1.3/0.8 ratio enables the turtle to advance with a realistically non-regular gait.
Table/desk edge detector: turtle automatically stops when reaching the edge of the surface.
Tail switch: world first tail indication; with the turtle’s tail up it rests in place while the bird sings; with the turtle’s tail down it walks and the bird sings.
Security friction clutch
Circular stainless steel winding key located on tortoise’s belly.
Dimensions and weight:
Weight: approx. 1.4 kg
Dimensions: 24 cm (length) x 16 cm (width) x 8 cm (high without bird open)
