Speake-Marin Introduces the New Ripples Infinity Date Ahead of Watches and Wonders 2024

Monochromatic timepieces usually feature a design concept that promotes simplicity, elegance, and versatility, making them appropriate for a variety of occasions, casual or formal. Furthermore, one colour (or shades of a single colour) is generally used across the watch components — dials, cases, hands, and, in many cases, straps or bracelets. Showcasing such a minimalist design concept and responding to the demand for premium sports watches, Speake-Marin debuted the Ripples range in 2022. This year, just ahead of Watches and Wonders 2024, the brand has released a new silver tone-on-tone edition (Ref. 604018440) of the Speake-Marin Ripples Infinity Date. 

The words "ripple effect" do not quite refer to a universally accepted design feature in the watch industry. It may conjure up specific images and concepts connected to watch aesthetics or functioning. In terms of aesthetics, certain watches may have dials with a ripple-like design — think of concentric waves that emerge when an object ‘disturbs’ a body of water. This can be a simple design choice, utilising guilloché or other decorative techniques to create a visual texture resembling ripples. Luxury watchmakers may opt for such an elaborate design to add depth to their dials.

The 40.3 mm stainless steel Infinity Date's brass dial, boasting a hand-applied satin finish, features 12 horizontal “ripples”. The square bezel resembles a porthole, with rounded sides; the polished bevelled profile and the satin-finished surface add to the monochrome magic. There are nine baton indices for the hour markers, with a double index at 12 o'clock, as well as the traditional Speake-Marin heart-shaped hour hand. The hands are rhodium-plated and have no luminous treatment. The date window at 6 o'clock, with its rhodium-plated and shot-blasted rectangular frame, displays white Arabic digits on a matte black disc; a small seconds counter is visible at 1:30. There is a screw-down crown protection at 3 o’clock.

The shiny silver-metallic dial on this new Infinity Date model ensures a monochrome appearance. A white-silver minute track with sparkling black dots covering the periphery has a scale of 5.  Mirroring a similar motif, the metallic silver-white tiny seconds subdial has a sunray finish and black polished seconds markers. The power comes from the calibre SMA03-TD, an automatic movement, manufactured by Le Cercle des Horlogers. “T” stands for “Tradition” as the movement boasts excellent finishing, as required by the high quality standards of Swiss watchmaking; “D” represents date display.

The movement is special to Speake-Marin and consists of 162 components, including 31 jewels. It operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and has a 52-hour power reserve. The back view is appealing, with a Côtes de Genève striping, perlage, and anglage. The tungsten micro-rotor has complex engraving ornamentation and the mainplate is finished with a circular graining pattern. The smoothly integrated three-row stainless steel bracelet has a polished and brushed finish, and is secured with a folding buckle featuring the brand's name.