Peter Speake's career as a watchmaker began in London, where he learnt the basics of his craft at Hackney Technical College before moving on to WOSTEP. He returned to London to start his career, cutting his teeth at Watches of Switzerland, Piaget, and Omega, before settling down for six years to work in restoration at Somlo Antiques. His lengthy experience also includes a stint at Renaud et Papi in 1996, which was also the year he moved to Switzerland, where he has since settled and creates his watches from.
He became independent in 2000, taking on commissions and developing his first collection, before officially launching Speake-Marin in 2002. Since 2017, Speake is no longer part of the original brand, but his early pieces continue to be a source of fascination, thanks to their elegant craftsmanship and unconventional ideas. He will continue to create new projects under PS Horology.
This Marin 1 MK1 was inspired by one of 20 watches that Speake created for collectors, ranging from simple timepieces to perpetual calendars and hand-engraved art pieces with the goal being that the funds from these commissions would go on to fund the development of the SM2 movement, which also powers the Marin 1 MK1. According to Peter Speake, this particular watch was intended to combine modern elements such as the Piccadilly case with very strong classical elements, influenced by marine chronometers. Fewer than 100 examples were created of the Marin 1 MK1, with this watch bearing a number below 15.
“For myself, [the creation of the SM2] was the high point of our work in the brand. Prior to the SM2 we had always modified existing calibres, but the SM2 was entirely original, hand-finished and assembled.”
The dial itself has a two-part construction between inner and outer sections, with both pieces being made from enamel, a material that gives the watch a glossy sheen. The outermost section features a 60-second counter printed in black, further sub-divided into seconds, while the indications themselves are printed in red. Slim Roman numerals in black mark the quarter-hours, while the stylised arrow and heart-shaped hands are fairly large, and further filled with luminous material for increased legibility. The inner section is slightly sunken, giving the dial a sense of depth, and in the centre is printed "Speake-Marin – Switzerland". Overall, it's clear that the piece takes inspiration from traditional marine chronometers, not only through the combination of red and black indications but also in the elegant and clear dial layout.
The cases of the Marin 1 were originally made in 42mm and 38mm. This example is part of the latter sizing, which was introduced later on in the watch's run. Furthermore, as Speake notes, in the early 00s, there were few cases made in polished titanium, and even fewer examples that featured polished cases. An added difficulty was the lugs, which had to be riveted onto the main case from the side, while also remaining water resistant. This style of case was also named the "Piccadilly", as a tribute to Speake's years at Somlo Antiques in London, who once boasted a world-class workshop and team of young watchmakers, overseen by Peter Speake. It remains one of Speake’s biggest influences, and the Piccadilly case adds a modern touch through the strict lines, which contrast with the classically styled dial.
“The original Piccadilly case design in 38mm remains, to my eyes, as strong today as it was 20 years ago and it was in a small way symbolic of a period when the independent world started to be increasingly visible, emerging at the same time as digital photography and the early plethora of internet watch forums.”
The SM2 movement is visible through the sapphire caseback, with these first pieces featuring an automatic movement, while the Marin 2 possesses a manual-wind movement. When asked about why he chose to inaugurate his first watch with an automatic movement, Speake mentions that the decision was very personal – he liked the look of the rotor, and how it played with the rest of the movement. The rotor itself features an unusual openworked style, exposing more of the movement and revealing more of the watchmaker's inspirations. Modelled after a rounding-up tool, or "topping" tool, which is used to cut and reshape the teeth of wheels, Speake adds his own flair to the wheel found on these tools, with sharp points and beautiful anglage on the spokes of the rotor, in addition to black polish throughout. Below this, the baseplate is finished with even circular graining, a glimpse into the watch's workings, and a gold cartouche bearing the brand's name. The movement also features a double micro-adjustment system for the balance spring. Every part of the SM2, from the setting mechanism through to the balance wheel, were made exclusively for the calibre.
