Felipe Pikullik Mondphase 1

When we announced our partnership with Felipe Pikullik, 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. Here, Pikullik adds a moonphase complication to the collection with the Mondphase 1.

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. The dial is frosted brass with black rhodium plating, resulting in a beautifully textured, matte surface. 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  provides a level of craftsmanship in the movement to match the beauty of the 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. The 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.

The first complicated timepiece from Pikullik, the Mondphase 1 is a stunner from this rising star in independent watchmaking.