Speake Marin puts a metallic green spin on its luxury sport collection. One of the great things about wristwatch design is how a simple color variation can totally transform the look of a timepiece that is otherwise the same in every respect. The trick is to begin with a great design, one that lends itself to multiple interpretations without compromising its original aesthetic. The Speake Marin Ripples model is one such design.
The mint green dial on our new Ripples edition is fresh and assertive, but we also wanted to keep it understated. The green adds a bold pop of color to the watch, but it’s a neutral tone that can easily be worn with anything from a casual weekend outfit to a dark blue suit. We form the dial’s distinctive horizontal texture into a series of deep, rounded grooves to create a deliberate sense of depth and movement – as is fitting for a sports watch. It looks different from every angle because the color and reflections can vary throughout the day, depending on the light and the wearer’s movements. It’s the kind of dial that catches the eye, especially in this new metallic green color.
Casual elegance
The Ripples model, as you may remember, was added to our catalog in 2022, and it was conceived as an entry into the luxury sports watch segment. The stainless steel case and integrated steel bracelet make it an excellent, elegant example of that genre, yet it stands alone as an original design. It is also pure Speake Marin, with its signature small seconds dial positioned at 1:30, heart-shaped “Big Ben” hands and the “La City” case – a round square or a square in the round – inspired by the architecture of London’s financial district, which combines business, heritage and design. These elements are a tribute to Speake Marin’s British roots, expressed in a way that is sporty, yet understated.
Compact and wearable
The other thing we wanted to do was to keep it compact. With a 40.3mm diameter and only 9.20mm thickness, the Ripples Metallic Green is a comfortable daily wear, particularly with the three-link, tapered integrated bracelet that feels like a second skin.
This compactness is thanks to the slim in-house movement, the automatic calibre SMA03-T, designed and developed in the brand’s own Research and Development department at Le Cercle Des Horlogers near Neuchâtel, Switzerland. It’s a complex movement, with an integrated micro-rotor and a 52 hour power reserve, structured with four bridges, each with a côtes de Geneve finish. Other high watchmaking finishes include chamfered edges on the movement components and elegant polished bevels on the sides of the bracelet links. We think it works on every level: high watchmaking, technical prowess, good design, and easy wear.
Like all Speake Marin watch references, the Ripples Metallic Green will be made in a limited number of pieces. In this case, 60 will be produced. Our decision to create limited editions rather than to mass produce each series stems from our desire to tightly control the quality of each piece. Once they are completed, we are free to move on to the next iteration of Speake Marin’s signature expression of luxury independent watchmaking.
This approach incidentally adds a rarity factor to each model. This makes Speake Marin watches sought-after on the secondary market, and although that is not our end goal, it is gratifying to know that they retain their value. They are also meant to be worn. The Ripples Metallic Green is a sports watch. It is built to take the knocks and pressures of an active life, and to feel comfortable on the move. Enjoy it with confidence!