The Speake-Marin Ripples Blue Jeans exudes casual elegance
Fergus NashSpeake-Marin’s history is one drenched in luxury with bespoke offerings and a blend of tradition and futurism that very few brands can pull off as well. Last year, they changed gears by introducing the Ripples — their first integrated bracelet watch in steel.
This is one of the most competitive markets for luxury wristwatches, and that made it a huge statement from the company to take on other Swiss giants. Now during 2023’s Watches & Wonders, their new formula takes on an obligatory yet beautiful blue dial in the Speake-Marin Ripples Blue Jeans.
The name of the Speake-Marin Ripples Blue Jeans doesn’t just invoke a sense of casual wear, honing in on the luxury sports watch with jeans and a t-shirt attitude of its contemporaries, but it also accurately describes the specific hues represented.
The Ripples dial itself appears at first glance like a simple Côtes de Genève finish, which would be impressive in its own right, but it is actually a three-dimensional work of architectural mastery that comes alive in motion. The peaks and valleys of the dial’s depth allows the brushed finish to morph between stark contrasts, from the palest pastels to a near-black shadow. It may be a considerable amount more refined than the look of washed-out denim, but it’s no less comfortable to the eye than the jeans would be to wear.
The Speake-Marin Ripples Blue Jeans doesn’t just rest on the mastery of its dial though, with expert finishing on the applied hour markers, Poires Stuart hands, and the small seconds subdial that takes over 1 and 2 o’clock. The dots of differing diameters around the dial’s perimeter show off a sense of playfulness as well as a dedication to legibility, placing utility on equal footing with aesthetics.
The ‘La City’ case, as they have called it, is just another display of mastery. Intricate facets that are innovative without feeling alien are rare, but this 40.3mm wide and 9.2mm thick case screams perfection.
The movement is Speake-Marin’s own Calibre SMA03-T, which you will definitely be staring at from the sapphire display caseback. The large plates are decorated deliciously with Côtes de Genève, and the gaps between them are smooth-flowing with superb polished chamfers. The star of the show is the micro-rotor, which winds automatically to fill up the 52-hour power reserve.
The Speake-Marin Ripples Blue Jeans pricing and availability:
The Speake-Marin Ripples Blue Jeans is limited to just 60 pieces, compared to the annual production of 100 standard models. Price: CHF23,000
Brand | Speake-Marin |
Model | Ripples Blue Jeans |
Case Dimensions | 40.3mm x 9.2mm |
Case Material | Stainless steel |
Water Resistance | 50m |
Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
Dial | Blue |
Lug Width | Integrated |
Strap | Steel bracelet |
Movement | SMA03-T |
Power Reserve | 52 hours |
Availability | Limited to 60 pieces |
Price | CHF23,000 |