L’EPEE 1839 VANITAS User manual

VANITAS
USER INSTRUCTIONS

CONGRATULATIONS
You have just acquired an advanced timepiece from
L’Epée 1839 and Fiona Krüger.
Vanitas was designed by Fiona Krüger and developed
with passion and care by L’Epée 1839’s master watch-
makers in Delémont, Switzerland.

CONTENTS
Important information 4
Care and Maintenance 5
Winding the movement 6
Setting the time 7
Hours and Minutes display 8
Power reserve 9
Hang Vanitas on the wall 10

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The movement should never be in contact with any liquids
- even in vaporized form. If it occurs, the clock should be
serviced immediately.
A simple contact on certain pieces can generate delays in
timekeeping, which can only be solved by servicing.
Fingerprints will also damage the coating.
The black-painted case should never be in contact with
any liquids or cleaning products. Do not rub anything
against it.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Dust and particles contained in a cloth could scratch
parts. Do not use any kind of cleaning products to wipe
the clock or the skull. It is recommended to keep the clock
distant from any source of heat or vibrations. To preserve
the longevity and functionality of Vanitas, do not perma-
nently expose the clock to direct sunlight or in a humid or
dusty place.
Our clocks are developed to ensure optimal accuracy and
reliability. It is well accepted for a fine mechanical clock
to have a few seconds’ variation per day and our clocks
are set so as not to delay. However if you should notice a
bigger variation, please contact an authorized dealer who
will advise you, or a L’Épée 1839 technical support center
which will proceed with the necessary adjustment.
As for all Horological pieces of art, it is recommended to
periodically service your clock. A mechanical masterpiece
requires fine oils for the lubrication of the movement. These
oils deteriorate over the years. We therefore advise having
the movement serviced every 3 to 5 years. Be aware that
the optimal period between servicing times can vary de-
pending on the surrounding environmental conditions.

WINDING THE MOVEMENT
To wind the movement of Vanitas, use the double-depth
square key delivered with the clock. Be careful when pla-
cing the key to not touch the glass. Do not intend to wind
the clock while the hands are right behind the winding
hole.
The movement should be fully wound every 35 days. Be
sure to wind up the spring completely. At the end of the
winding procedure, you will feel the necessary force in-
crease significantly; do not wind further as this is the sign
that the movement is fully wound.
Please note that seeing the mouth closed does not neces-
sarily signify that the clock has been fully wound. Please
ensure that you feel the tension significantly increasing
when winding up the piece.
WINDING
THE MOVEMENT
Clockwise only

SETTING THE TIME
Using the key, turn clockwise in order to set the time. Be
careful, setting the time in the wrong way could damage
the mechanism and a service would be needed imme-
diately.
SETTING
THE TIME
Clockwise only

HOURS AND MINUTES DISPLAY
The hours and minutes are indicated by the two decorated
black hands.
In this example it is 10h25 (twenty five past ten)
8h50 (Ten to nine) here :

POWER RESERVE INDICATOR
YAWNING MOUTH
The mouth of Vanitas will open progressively as the power re-
serve empties.
Full power reserve Empty power reserve
IMPORTANT :
Vanitas is conceived to work optimally when hung on the wall.
If you need to lie it flat, be careful with the mouth (= power
reserve indicator). It can move free, and the mechanism can
unplug from the movement, which can result in a desynchroni-
zation in the power reserve display.
If this happens, you need to hang the clock back to the wall.
Then, fully wind the movement in order to reposition everything
together and resynchronize the mouth with the mechanical mo-
vement again. The process of resynchronization may take a full
cycle of charge/discharge.

PLACE VANITAS ON THE WALL
You will find on the back side of the clock 3 holes to hang
Vanitas on your wall.
1. Precisely measure the positioning of the 3 holes accor-
ding to the dimensions below (all dimensions are in mm).
2. Use hanging implements which are appropriate for the
holes on the back plate of the clock ( diameter of 6.5 mm
and 10.5 mm) and the surface on which your clock will
be hung.
3. Hang Vanitas and secure to the wall.

100
50 50
160
(

6,5)
(

10,5)

L’Epée 1839
Swiza Sa Manufacture
rue St-maurice 1
PO BOX 973
2800 Delémont
Switzerland
Customer Service:
Tel. [phone]
Mail. [email protected]
www.lepee1839.ch