The MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual (or LM Perpetual) is one of those watches that can’t fail to impress. The most complicated watch in the MB&F collection to date, it relies on a surprisingly classical complication – the perpetual calendar. Somewhat unexpected in the line-up of MB&F’s habitual watches, it still managed to feel like a Büsser …
The MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual (or LM Perpetual) is one of those watches that can’t fail to impress. The most complicated watch in the MB&F collection to date, it relies on a surprisingly classical complication – the perpetual calendar. Somewhat unexpected in the line-up of MB&F’s habitual watches, it still managed to feel like a Büsser …
After a long day admiring traditional watch fare from the more conservative brands, a visit to MB&F offers an energising boost of unorthodox horology. Surrounded by a fleet of intergalactic watches, Balthazar the robot, an eight-legged table clock and even a chirping turtle automaton, it is plain to see that Max Busser’s enterprise is a bubbling cauldron of creativity. Busser is fast becoming the matchmaker extraordinaire of the watch world inviting talented friends from different disciplines to join in his creative cocktails where unlimited imagination coupled with impeccable craftsmanship are the main ingredients.
One of the basic ideas behind MB&F has always been to have “friends” involved in the creation of new pieces. We can easily remember watches made together with Alain Silberstein (on the HM1 or the LM1), Black Badger or the involvement of Kari Voutilainen in the decoration of the LM movements. Another collab that stuck in collectors’ mind was the MoonMachine. Using the HM3 as a base, Stepan Sarpaneva added its famous moon-face complication. Here we go again, as both parties join forces for the second time to create the MB&F MoonMachine 2, this time based on the HM8
With MB&F, you’ll never know what’s going to be next. Will it be a new Sci-Fi or Steampunk watch? Will be it be a music-box shaped like a space-vessel? Will it be a robot-like table clock? This is the beauty of this independent “creative-lab” watchmaker. They still continue to surprise us after 11 years of existence. As part of their Pre-SIHH 2018 launch, MB&F, in association with Reuge and Nicolas Court, introduces Kelys & Chirp – and this time, it’s not a watch, it’s not a clock, it’s not a music-box… It is a mechanical walking turtle combined with a singing bird.
Last month, we introduced you to the stunning new MB&F Legacy Machine Split-Escapement. A successor of sorts to the highly popular Legacy Machine 1, which was officially retired by MB&F earlier this year after six years of faithful service, the Legacy Machine SE serves as yet another reminder that even when Geneva’s top Creative Lab is trying to be conservative, they’re still full of surprises. Luckily for us, MB&F were exhibiting at SalonQP last week, giving us the opportunity to spend a bit of hands-on time with this incredible new timepiece.
Recently, MB&F announced the final edition of their most successful watch in the “Legacy Machine” Collection, a sort of farewell version of the LM1, with a stainless steel case and a brown dial, to close a 6-year story. But this watch was not intended to be seen as the end of the road, because, as ever Max Büsser and his friends had something new in mind, a new watch that could possibly replace the LM1 in the heart of collectors (if ever this watch needed to be replaced)… Here is the new MB&F LM SE – Legacy Machine Split Escapement – straight on the market in 4 different versions, and with a movement that has some stories to tell.
Only Watch 2017, the much-awaited 7th edition of the biennial fundraiser for research on muscular dystrophy, is fast approaching. Only Watch kicked-off their world tour in Monaco on the occasion of the Yacht Show before heading to Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai, Istanbul, Hong-Kong, Taipei, New York and Los Angeles. 50 one-of-a-kind watches will be auctioned by Christie’s in Geneva, Hotel des Bergues, on November 11th, 2017. Today, we take a closer look at the MB&F Horological Machine N°8 ‘Only Watch’, made with young artist Cassandra Legendre.
MB&F has always been built around collaborations with other watchmakers/designers/friends. All about the brand turns around collaborations, which led to the creation, over the 11 years of existence of the brand, of some of the boldest watches of modern days. But not only… These joint-ventures also brought some ultra-cool pieces, such as music machines or timekeeping UFOs, a mix between art sculptures and table clocks. After Destination Moon, Balthazar or Melchior, all of them inspired by space and sci-fi, here is Octopod, the newest collab table-clock made with L’Epée 1839 – and this time we move into aquatic themes.
With MB&F you always have to be prepared for the unexpected. Their Horological Machine 6 (HM6) is a horological UFO (Unidentified Flying Object). Of the latest version, Alien Nation, they created four unique pieces and they live up to the name. For collector’s there good news and bad news, and you decide whether it’s good or bad. The news is that, if you planned to spend half a million USD on a new MB&F watch, these four unique version of HM6 won’t kill your savings; all four unique pieces have already been sold… to one collector!