Felipe Pikullik Mondphase 1 Meteorite

When we announced our partnership with Felipe Pikullik last year, we were thrilled to take the Berlin-based watchmaker on board. One of the core reasons we became so attracted to Pikullik’s creations is his creative fervor and willingness to do whatever it takes to bring his vision to the world. From the Sternenhimmel to the HTH, Pikullik has built out a small catalog of timepieces in a quick period of roughly five years, all according to his taste for astronomical aesthetics. Back now with a new edition of the Mondphase 1, Pikullik is elevating the moonphase complication timepiece with an all-new meteorite dial. This is the Mondphase 1 Meteorite.

The defining feature of the Mondphase 1 Meteorite is its dial. Made from fragments of a meteorite that hit Earth on the ancient continent of Laramidia approximately 80 million years ago, no two dials are the same. Widmanstätten patterns – a crystalline, geometric-line structure formed through the slow cooling of iron and nickel over millions of years – exemplify the unusual, extraterrestrial character of the material.

Compared to stainless steel, German silver, and brass – all materials used regularly in Felipe Pikullik’s workshop – the meteorite lends itself exceptionally well to finishing. Glancing at the dial, the beveling around the open-worked gearing is applied directly to the meteorite. The effect is extraordinary. The beveled edges shine bright, much brighter than traditional materials. The meteorite is something close to the territory of platinum in terms of how sharply it catches light.

Emblematic of the model, the timepiece’s moonphase complication pokes through an aperture on the dial at 9 o’clock. Designed and manufactured in-house, the complication presents a beautiful three-dimensional moon. The complete moonphase mechanism is made on the same Schaublin lathe as the moon itself – both the plate and 1.8mm brass gear driving each lunar movement. Out in the open, the moon’s sheer size is best visible through the exhibition caseback in the skeletonized movement. Notably, this moonphase is oriented toward the southern hemisphere, a nod to Felipe Pikullik’s roots in Brazil.

Flipping the timepiece over, the Mondphase 1 Meteorite provides a level of craftsmanship in the movement to match the beauty of the meteorite dial. Based on a Unitas movement, the timepiece features extensive modifications with in-house manufacturing across the hand-skeletonized bridges, gold-plated gears, gold-plated balance cock, moonphase complication and abundant fine finishing. The movement’s surfaces are frosted. Beveling is completed in-house and by hand. Ratchet wheel is snailed and the wheel’s teeth are beveled as well. Screw heads are black polished. Balance cock is hand-engraved with a floral pattern. Pinions are manufactured in-house and polished for the gears. A feast for the eyes, the movement plays with depth, texture, as well as complementary and contrasting colors.

Limited to 20 pieces, this is the final production model for the Mondphase 1.