Back in 2014, after launching LM1 and LM2, the watchmaking world was likely expecting MB&F's third Legacy Machine to be a complicated one. Instead, MB&F introduced LM101, which as its name implied focused on the essentials of mechanical watchmaking: the time, the power reserve, and – the real star of the show, the obsession of any watchmaker, the heartbeat of any mechanical watch – the escapement and balance wheel. But in true MB&F fashion, the “flying” balance wheel that has become the signature of the Legacy Machine collection. With a case diameter of 40mm, the LM101 is also MB&F’s most elegant Legacy Machine to date – the horological lab's take on the quintessential mechanical watch.
These new LM101 editions focus even further on the essentials. The previous larger bezel and “Legacy Machine” engraving on the dial withdraw to highlight the time and power reserve, indicated on slightly larger subdials; the star of the show, the flying balance wheel, inherits the amazing Straumann® double hairspring supplied by fellow independent brand H. Moser & Cie.; and the finishing of the LM101 movement, at the time MB&F’s first caliber conceived in-house with the help of long-time Friend Kari Voutilainen, has been modified with a contrasted dark “NAC” finish.
Visually, LM101 is dominated by the monumental suspended balance wheel, its sedate oscillations drawing the eye ever closer. Two pristine-white subdials hover just above the fine sunray-engraved movement top plate. At the top right, highly legible hours and minutes are displayed by beautiful blued hands contrasting against the immaculate white, while the 45-hour power reserve indicator is displayed in a smaller, but similar subdial below.
After decades conforming to the rules of corporate watchmaking, Max Büsser broke the chains and started a rebellion in 2005; a rebellion called MB&F - Maximilian Büsser & Friends.
MB&F is an artistic concept laboratory based around a simple idea: to assemble collectives of independant watchmaking professionals to develop radical watches - Horological or Legacy Machines. By nurturing teams of talented individuals, harnessing their passion and creativity and crediting each person's essential role, MB&F uses their synergy to become much greater than the sum of its parts. Respecting tradition, but never constrained by it, MB&F reinterprets traditional, high-quality watchmaking into three-dimensional kinetic sculptures.
While MB&F’s futuristic Horological Machines have a firm foundation in the very best of traditional horology, Büsser wanted to pay homage to that rich tradition by imagining the type of timepieces he might create if he had been born 100 years earlier, i.e. 1867 instead of 1967. This gave birth to the more classic Legacy Machine collection, inaugurated in 2011.
After decades conforming to the rules of corporate watchmaking, Max Büsser broke the chains and started a rebellion in 2005; a rebellion called MB&F - Maximilian Büsser & Friends.
MB&F is an artistic concept laboratory based around a simple idea: to assemble collectives of independant watchmaking professionals to develop radical watches - Horological or Legacy Machines. By nurturing teams of talented individuals, harnessing their passion and creativity and crediting each person's essential role, MB&F uses their synergy to become much greater than the sum of its parts. Respecting tradition, but never constrained by it, MB&F reinterprets traditional, high-quality watchmaking into three-dimensional kinetic sculptures.
While MB&F’s futuristic Horological Machines have a firm foundation in the very best of traditional horology, Büsser wanted to pay homage to that rich tradition by imagining the type of timepieces he might create if he had been born 100 years earlier, i.e. 1867 instead of 1967. This gave birth to the more classic Legacy Machine collection, inaugurated in 2011.
Three-dimensional horological movement developed exclusively by MB&F.
Movement aesthetics and finishing specifications: Kari Voutilainen. Superlative 19th century-style hand finishing throughout; internal bevel angles highlighting hand craft; polished bevels; Geneva waves; hand-made engravings and NAC black bridges.
Bespoke 14mm balance wheel with four traditional regulating screws floating above the movement.
Straumann® double hairspring.
Frequency: 2.5Hz (18,000 bph).
231 components, 23 jewels.
18k white gold, 18k 5N+ red gold or stainless steel.
High domed sapphire crystal on top and sapphire crystal on back with anti-reflective coating on both sides.
40mm x 16mm
Hours, minutes and power reserve indicator.
Large balance wheel suspended above the dial.
45 hours.
Hand-stitched alligator strap for white and red gold versions, calf strap for steel version with folding buckle matching the case.
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