Welcome to the Mecascape – CODE41 Gives Birth to a New Type of Horological Device

November 4, 2022

Swiss independent watchmaker CODE41 launches its first Mecascape, the “Sublimation One” – a pocketable, mechanical, 8 day, titanium cased clockwork landscape.

Founded in 2016 by Claudio D’Amore, Lausanne-based CODE41 is an independent Swiss watch brand that aims (and arguably succeeds) to make the art of haute horology available for all – utilising their highly engaged community to help shape and refine their projects, provide funding for their creation through a highly transparent pre-order system, and ensure that only the watches that people want to buy are created.

To date, CODE41 have created 6 watch collections (ANOMALY01 & ANOMALY02, DAY41, X41, ANOMALY Evolution, NB24 and ANOMALY-T4), which while not conforming to the very traditional design aesthetics typically found in the Swiss watch industry, were clearly recognisable as time-keeping devices for the wrist. The Mecascape however, is a whole new thing. Not a wristwatch, because you can’t wear it on your wrist. Nor a pocket watch, although you can slip it into your pocket inside its plush leather holder. Nor a clock, even though it comes with a metal support for standing it on your desk. The Mecascape is, in the words of CODE41, a “time object” where the mechanical elements of a traditional wristwatch are laid out as a landscape for horological exploration.

Whilst the layout may be unfamiliar, the components are as you would expect, with the balance, barrel and gear train clearly on display. The mechanical magic of the Mecascape is the way that CODE41 and their partners Cercle des Horologers have managed to lay out these components on a flat plane, and create something that is technically impressive, spectacularly legible and incredibly aesthetically pleasing.

Constructed entirely from Grade 5 Titanium, the 8mm thick case of the Mecascape is topped out with a sheet of anti-reflective sapphire glass, and the solid rear case back (chosen for maximum structural integrity) with a sapphire porthole to enable viewing of the gear train in action. Arguably, the Mecascape is “all dial”, or perhaps “all dials”. With a combined minute and date dial interlocked with the hour and seconds dials on the left hand side, and an 8 day power indicator and 24 hour GMT dial on the right. The twin crowns to the left and right allowing for winding/time setting, and date adjustment respectively.

Available to pre-order from November 2, the Mecascape “Sublimation One” will be available in a variety of colourways (currently being voted on by the CODE41 community) and comes equipped with a metal stand, and a leather travel case. Prices start from CHF 9,950/€11,450/£9,950/$9,950.