Text by Kien Lee | Cover photo by GreenPlasticSoldier

A clock, barometer, hygrometer, and thermometer come together to form a penta-horological weather station worthy of a trip to the stars.

Introducing Fifth Element from MB&F, whose design was inspired by classic UFO films, books, and comic books from the 1950-60s when the fantasy of space travel and exploration was at its height. This was then combined with functionalities seen in table-top "vintage" dashboard-format weather stations that were popular before weather forecasts were available on websites and now on apps on our smartphones.

Aptly named the Fifth Element encompassing four functions attached to a main hub, what remained for the intrepid folks at MB&F was the challenge to showcase both the overall design, the mechanical inner workings of the main body, as well as allow each element to be a strong standalone feature in itself.

This is especially integral as Ross sits on a rotating disc powered by the mechanical heart inside the Fifth Element, an additional element of surprise, and reminiscent of the gyroscopic rotation required to create an internal gravity on space stations.

The four individual pods each with clock, barometer, hygrometer, and thermometer displays respectively are detachable, like an escape pod, and come with "landing gear" - legs that allow it to placed on table tops, retracted when placed onto the "mothership."

Shaped like an archetypical UFO, Fifth Element by MB&F was made in partnership with L'Epée 1839 - as are all co-creations of table clocks by MB&F - with the latter Swiss clockmaking company responsible for the precision manufacturing of the intricate series of curves and circles within circles that make up the large structure.

In all over 500 individual components can be found in the Fifth Element, a no mean feat as this is more than many grand complication movements found in haut de gamme timepieces.

The Fifth Element is available in 3 limited editions of 18 pieces each in Black, Silver and Blue.