Speake-Marin: history, models and value

Founded

2002

Founder(s)

Peter Speake-Marin

Headquarters

Geneva

Owner / group

Independent

Speake-Marin: origins and founding

Speake-Marin was founded in 2002 in western Switzerland by the English watchmaker Peter Speake-Marin. The first wristwatch, the Piccadilly, came out the same year. Its name recalls Piccadilly in London, where Peter Speake-Marin had worked restoring antique watches before moving to Switzerland.

Founders and family

Before and alongside his own brand, Peter Speake-Marin worked on projects for other watchmakers. He worked on the Excenter Tourbillon for Harry Winston in 2006, consulted on MB&F's first Horological Machine in 2007 and collaborated with Maîtres du Temps. He left the company in 2017. Christelle Rosnoblet, involved in the company since 2012 and described as an owner, has led the brand since then.

Speake-Marin history and milestones

• 2002: founding and the first Piccadilly watch.
• 2009: Marin 1, the first watch with an in-house movement.
• 2010: Marin 2 Thalassa with the hand-wound SM2m.
• 2011: the Spirit collection, including the Spirit Pioneer.
• 2012: the Renaissance minute repeater tourbillon and the Resilience.
• 2015: movements are developed and assembled in-house in the Neuchâtel area.
• 2017: Peter Speake-Marin leaves.
• 2019: headquarters move to Geneva.

Famous Speake-Marin models

• Piccadilly – the signature round case with a drum-like shape, screwed lugs and a pleated crown. The Resilience, with a white fired enamel dial and blued hands, is one of its best-known versions.
• Spirit – black lacquered dials in a steel Piccadilly case.
• Ripples – a sport-chic line with several variants.
• Openworked – skeleton watches, including tourbillons and dual-time models.
• Haute Horlogerie – rare pieces such as minute repeaters and tourbillons.

Movements and technique

The first in-house calibre, the SM2, took three years to develop and offers about 72 hours of power reserve. Today the brand says its movements are conceived, developed and assembled at its own manufacture, Le Cercle des Horlogers, and that it has produced 13 manufacture calibres, among them the ultra-thin automatic skeleton SMA07. The brand's topping-tool motif, taken from an old watchmaking tool, appears in its designs, for example as the tourbillon cage of the Renaissance.

Speake-Marin today

Speake-Marin is an independent brand based in Geneva, positioned in the high-end independent segment. Its four collections are Piccadilly, Ripples, Openworked and Haute Horlogerie. The brand also runs its own certified pre-owned and service program.

Speake-Marin prices on the pre-owned market

Speake-Marin watches turn up only occasionally on the pre-owned market. Early pieces from Peter Speake-Marin's time, such as early Piccadilly and Resilience watches, attract interest from collectors of independent watchmaking. Value depends on the model, the case metal, an undamaged enamel dial, box and papers and service history. Because buyers are fewer than for big brands, selling can take time.

How to recognise a genuine Speake-Marin

Fakes are not a widespread problem for this brand, but check the basics: the Piccadilly case details, crisp dial printing or enamel, a movement that matches the model and numbers that match the papers. The brand issues a watch certificate and can help with older pieces. More general advice in our guide on how to spot a fake watch.

What is your Speake-Marin worth?

Take photos of the dial, case back and papers and request a free watch value estimate. For an estate, insurance or a family sale, a written watch appraisal is available.

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