Timeless time: bespoke marine chronometers

As the curtain rises on the Cannes Yachting Festival, Hermitage Bespoke takes a look back on a truly unique project.

Today, one can tell the time by looking at a phone, tablet or computer but, despite this, a gentleman would always wear an automatic wristwatch. Although nautical navigation technology has advanced, the style and elegance of a marine chronometer remains unrivaled.

Marine chronometers are, in fact, the most exact portable mechanical timepieces ever produced. They served, alongside the sextant, to determine the location of ships at sea. In the past, especially during the British Empire, they were an enormous advantage and made a real difference in the power of a country. In fact, without their accuracy and the accuracy of the feats of navigation that marine chronometers enabled, it is arguable that the ascendancy of the Royal Navy, and by extension that of the British Empire, might not have occurred so overwhelmingly. This is why seafaring nations invested richly in the development of these precision instruments, as pinpointing location at sea gave a decisive naval advantage. This is why still today, despite the new technology developed, a marine chronometer cannot be absent on a luxury yacht. Our client certainly believed so when they asked our team at Hermitage Bespoke to create a unique marine chronometer not only to be used on their boat, but also to be displayed in their house. A yacht connoisseur and person of impeccable taste, our client gave some indications regarding the idea he wanted to develop. Our team of award-winning designers and craftsmen first studied the extensive international collection of marine chronometers, including the famous Harrisons H1 to H4, at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich (London). We then put together some sketches and created different versions of marine chronometers, some elegant but simple, other reminiscent of mythological sea creatures. All are precious and bespoke creations made from scratch following the wishes of the client, and characterized by exquisite quality and fine workmanship that adorn every piece of our creation, crafted in style and elegance.

As every year, I will be attending the Cannes Yacht Festival, where many of the shipyards Hermitage Bespoke collaborates will be present” stated Ms. Rachele Benvenuti, Executive Director of Hermitage Bespoke. “It will be an occasion to meet with partners, see friends and clients and discover the latest models on show. In these months leading up to the Cannes yachting festival, Hermitage and I have been working on a very important refit of the fabrics of an iconic yacht and created some bespoke bed linens for the same boat.”

As well as marine chronometers, luxury linens and bespoke interior decoration, Hermitage has a long history in serving luxury yacht owners with creations that will make their boat feel like the home of their dreams. There isn’t a wish that Hermitage cannot satisfy, and the marine chronometers are proof of this.