- Felipe Pikullik introduces the Mondphase II, equipped with the Calibre FPMP2: the brand’s first-ever in-house movement with fully designed architecture.
- Available in either stainless steel, bronze or platinum, the Mondphase II is limited to 20 pieces per case material.
- Notably, the setting and winding system has been built as an independent module, separated from the rest of the calibre.
Berlin’s independent scene has gained a distinct voice in recent years, and Felipe Pikullik is a key reason why. His early work—fully open‑worked FPSK pieces, the aventurine‑backed Sternenhimmel and a three‑dimensional moonphase—have built a reputation for high‑contrast finishing, crisp interior angles and a habit of putting the movement on stage. Production has remained intentionally small, the workshop hands‑on, and the aesthetic consistent: mechanical architecture treated as design, not just engineering. The result has been watches that read as studies in structure, with the gear train, balance and bridges given equal billing to the time display. It’s an approach that has resonated with collectors who prefer evidence of the hand at work over mass‑produced sheen, and it has positioned the German atelier as one of the more distinctive voices among Europe’s younger independents.
That trajectory now reaches an inflection point with the Mondphase II. It moves Pikullik from reworked ébauches to a calibre conceived in‑house and presented dial‑side, establishing a new “Serie Universum” that ties his cosmic motifs to a fully authored layout. The familiar signatures remain—aventurine sky, sculptural balance, a visible moonphase and a 24‑hour indication—but the intent is different: this is a statement about where the atelier is headed.
Rather than carving back an existing movement, the Calibre FPMP2 starts at the drawing board. Wheel positions, bridge shapes and the way light travels across the dial were decisions, not constraints, and the whole composition has been arranged to feel like a small mechanical landscape rather than a watch with a conventional dial.
The movement itself is hand-wound, running at 3 Hz with a power reserve of around 40 hours, and it integrates hours, minutes, moonphase and a 24‑hour indicator into the openworked, dial‑side architecture. Pikullik describes roughly 90% of the calibre as being in‑house, and the design reflects that freedom. By fixing the train and the key organs where he wanted them rather than where an inherited plate allowed, he could balance readability with theatre. The off‑centre chapter ring pulls the eye away from the centre, leaving space to expose the gear train, while the moonphase and 24‑hour displays operate as functional punctuation points within the layout.
There is a practical dimension to the project as well: the setting and winding works are executed as a self‑contained module. That choice promises simpler service in years to come and, in day‑to‑day workshop terms, gives younger watchmakers an entry point into assembling a complex piece without risking the rest of the calibre.
Much of the appeal of this watch lies in its finishing. Pikullik’s watches have long been noted for generous anglage and true interior angles—details that absorb a surprising number of hours when done by hand—and that discipline is on display again. Edges catch the light, surfaces alternate from brushed to mirror‑polished, and the large balance bridge has a broad bevel that acts almost like a reflector. The most deliberate flourish is what the atelier calls the “Heart of Reflection”: the area around the balance has been milled into a contoured, highly polished recess, so the oscillation can be read in multiple reflections.
The backdrop is a sheet of aventurine fitted directly to the baseplate. It’s a familiar material in modern watchmaking, but less common at this scale, and it does more than provide a starry sky. By placing the stone underneath the architecture, Pikullik makes the mechanics feel suspended, a decision that suits the astronomical theme while also adding visual depth. Achieving that effect required a wafer‑thin insert machined to match the contours of the plate. The suppliers reportedly questioned whether it could be done reliably, yet the workshop persisted with trial fittings until the stone sat flush. The result is restrained in photographs and more pronounced in person, where the gold‑toned inclusions spark under changing light and the layered structure reads clearly from different angles.
The case aims for everyday practicality without diluting the theatrical dial. It measures 41mm in diameter, 10.5mm in thickness and 50mm lug‑to‑lug, with 50 metres of water resistance. The silhouette is familiar to those who know the brand: brushed surfaces on top, polished chamfers along the lugs, and a clean mid‑case that doesn’t compete with the show above. A sapphire crystal keeps the view unobstructed, and a calfskin strap with a pin buckle keeps the tone understated.
Closing thoughts
The Mondphase II launches as a limited edition of 20 pieces in each metal: bronze, stainless steel and platinum. That structure mirrors the rest of the catalogue, where scarcity and small‑team production keep output contained. It also underlines the point that the Mondphase II is a directional watch for the brand. The new Serie Universum label is meant to house the atelier’s most complex, internally developed work, and the thinking behind FPMP2—modular elements for service, a display that favours depth and legibility, and space for hand‑finishing to matter—reads like a roadmap rather than a one‑off exercise.
Felipe Pikullik Mondphase II pricing and availability
The Felipe Pikullik Mondphase II is limited to 20 pieces per case material and is now available directly from Felipe Pikullik. Price: €45,000 (stainless steel), €58,000 (bronze), €65,000 (platinum)
€58,000 (bronze)
€65,000 (platinum)