quattro
[Moderator]
19122
The MB&F Horological Machines
enjoythemusic kindly invited me yesterday to broaden my horizons and open myself up to more whimsical creations.
Always open to friendly advice, I decided to play along.
So here's an overview of the Horological Machines 1 through 11 by MB&F.
Raised central one-minute tourbillon, separate hours and minutes, 7-day power reserve
22k gold ‘battle-axe’ automatic winding rotor - Four mainspring barrels in parallel
3D case and dial - Dimensions: 41 x 64 x 14 mm
Three-dimensional horological engine designed by Jean-Marc Wiederrecht/Agenhor and powered by a Sowind base (22k gold ‘battle-axe’ automatic winding rotor)
Left dial: retrograde date and bi-hemisphere moon phase - Right dial: jumping hours and concentric retrograde minutes
Dimensions: 59 x 38 x 13 mm
Horological Machine N°3 (2009) - MB&F official webpage
This version is the Megawind (giant battle axe rotor) and Sidewinder (cones perpendicular to arm). Several other versions have been made.
Three-dimensional horological engine designed by Jean-Marc Wiederrecht/Agenhor - Sowind oscillator and gear train - 22k gold and titanium battle-axe automatic winding rotor
Hours on one cone and minutes on second cone - Dimensions 47 x 50 x 17 mm
Horological Machine N°4 - 2010 GPHG Concept & Design Watch prize - MB&F official webpage
This is the Thunderbolt version
Three-dimensional horological engine developed with Laurent Besse and Beranger Reynard - Manual winding with two mainspring barrels in parallel
Hours and minutes on right dial, power reserve indicator on left dial - Separate crowns for time setting and winding - Dimensions: 54 x 52 x 24mm
HM4 (left) and HM3 (right)
Horological Machine N°5 'On the Road Again' (2012) - MB&F official webpage
This is the HM5 CarbonMacrolon in CarbonMacrolon with stainless steel container
Three-dimensional horological engine developed by Jean-François Mojon and Vincent Boucard of Chronode and powered by a GP/Sowind gear train
Slide button to open/close flaps - Exhaust ports to drain water - Engine housed in a water resistant inner container
Bi-directional jumping hours and trailing minutes displayed by reflective sapphire crystal prism with integrated 20% magnifying lens - Dimensions: 51.5 x 49 x 22.5mm
Horological Machine N°6 'Space Pirate' (2014) - MB&F official webpage
This is the HM6 Ti with Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5) titanium
Three-dimensional horological engine developed exclusively for HM6 by MB&F with David Candaux
Flying Tourbillon with retractable shield and twin aluminium turbines driven by winding rotor - Power reserve: 72h
Hours and minutes on separate semi-spherical aluminium indications - Crown to open/close tourbillon shield
HM1 through 6 from left to right
HM 4 - 5 - 1 - 6 - 3 - 2
HM 4 - 3 - 1 - 6 - 2 - 5
credit: Hodinkee
Horological Machine HMX (Created for the 10th anniversary of MB&F in 2015) - MB&F official webpage
Three-dimensional horological engine, composed of a jumping hour and trailing minutes module developed in-house by MB&F, powered by a Sellita gear train
Bi-directional jumping hours and trailing minutes, displayed by dual reflective sapphire crystal prisms with integrated magnifying lens
credit: Monochrome
credit: A Blog To Watch
credit: Hodinkee
‘Air’ edition with aviation-style dial and NAC-finish movement
credit: Monochrome
credit: Hodinkee
credit: Hodinkee
Material: grade 5 titanium and stainless steel with detailing in black, green, blue or red - Dimensions: 46.8 x 44.3 x 20.7 mm
credit: Monochrome
Horological Machine N°7 'Aquapod' - MB&F official webpage
Material: Grade 5 titanium or 18k 5N+ red gold or Platinum 950 - Spherical construction - Dimensions: 53.8 x 21.3 mm - Water resistance: 50 m / 165 feet / 5 atm
Three-dimensional vertical architecture, automatic winding, conceived and developed in-house by MB&F - Central 60-second flying tourbillon
Hours and minutes displayed by two aluminium / titanium spherical segment discs rotating on oversized central ceramic bearings (for the Platinum Red edition, three-dimensional “floating” hour and minute numerals)
Unidirectional rotating bezel for elapsed time - Numerals, markers and segments along the rotor in Super-LumiNova - 3 panels of AGT (Ambient Glow Technology) lume around the flying tourbillon
Two crowns: winding on left and time-setting on right
credit: A Blog To Watch
Horological Machine N°8 (2016) - MB&F official webpage
Three-dimensional horological engine conceived and developed by MB&F from a Girard-Perregaux base calibre (22k gold battle-axe automatic winding rotor)
Minutes and bi-directional jumping hours displayed by two optical prisms that both reflect and magnify
Material: 18k white gold/titanium and 18k 5N+ red gold/titanium - Dimension: 49 x 51.5 x 19 mm
credit: Hodinkee
Horological Machine N°9 'Flow & Sapphire Vision' (2018) - MB&F official webpage
Grade 5 titanium construction - Dimensions: 57 x 47 x 23 mm
Manual-winding in-house movement - Two fully independent balance wheels with planetary differential
Hours and minutes on vertical dial display
‘Road’ edition with speedometer dial and red gold-finished movement
‘Air’ edition with aviation-style dial and NAC-finish movement
credit: Monochrome
Horological Machine N°10 'Bulldog' (2020) - MB&F official webpage
Manual-winding in-house movement - Bespoke flying 14mm balance wheel with four traditional regulating screws floating above the domed dials - Frequency: 2.5Hz (18,000bph)
Super-LumiNova on hour/minute domes and markers - Hours on left dome (rotating in 12 hours) - Minutes on right dome (rotating in 60 minutes)
Power reserve indicated by opening and closing of the jaws (end of power reserve=closed jaws) - Dimensions: 54 x 45 x 24 mm (grade 5 titanium)
credit: Hodinkee
Horological Machine N°11 'Architect & Art Deco' (2023 & 2025) - MB&F official webpage
Below is the HM11 Architect (2023) in titanium with blue dial plate
Display markers (HM11 Architect): conical rods in stainless steel (Ø 0.50mm to 0.60mm), darker beads in polished titanium and lighter beads in polished aluminium (Ø 1.30mm to 2.40mm)
Three-dimensional horological engine featuring flying tourbillon and bevel gears, developed in-house by MB&F - Mechanical movement, manual winding (by turning the entire case clockwise) - Power reserve: 4 days (96 hours)
Hour and minutes - Power reserve - Temperature (-20 to 60° Celsius, or 0 to 140° Fahrenheit) - Dimensions: 42mm diameter x 23mm height - Water resistance: 20m / 68’ / 2ATM
credit: Hodinkee
I hope you have enjoyed the playful journey.
This kind of horology doesn't speak to me personally, but it doesn't prevent me from admiring the endless creativity and fantasy.
Best, Emmanuel
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The MB&F Horological Machines
enjoythemusic kindly invited me yesterday to broaden my horizons and open myself up to more whimsical creations . Always open to friendly advice , I decided to play along . So here's an overview of the Horological Machines 1 through 11 by MB&F . Horologic...
You are ever so kind Quattro.
...and a VERY bad influence too... in ALL the right ways PS: Have written erotica under a psudo... wonder if there's anyone who'd desire... horology'rotica? I could feel her supple leather strap embrace me My ever-so-willing wrist My body, now eager Time,...
Well, you are ever so kind too!
As I'm sure you know, 'horology'rotica' is definitely a thing: just think about the several Blancpain minute repeaters, like this one sold by Phillips or this one sold by Sotheby's ! Ulysse Nardin also made many, if I remember well. Cheers, Emmanuel
Ok, lemme see my schedule. Blancpain minute repeater is awesome Albert's fave (EWC in Boston).
Hmmm, my schedule opens up in July, maybe carve out a day or three to compose Horo'rotica, or Horology'rotica Poens and Stories. Hmm, not a fan of either name, gotta work on that, too.
Btw, many this weekend at a luxury home audio event asked about the LMSE on my wrist.... i might have helped sell two more MB&F.
Guess i'm a very, very bad influence 😁 Might have 'sold' an H. Moser too. Perhaps my calling is going back to my roots as a luxury goods concierge (sales, service, and resources).
Aha! I’m not surprised that your
LMSE piques the interest of the people you interact with!
I share your sentiment 😊
However two stood out to me MB&F And Alain Silberstein HM2.2 “Black Box” Watch Source: Quill & Pad, Horologium And MB&F Horological Machine No. 5 Source: ablogtowatch I like them, the idea, the execution, would I wear them? Not Sure. ...
I think you summed up how I feel about these Horological machines perfectly with "This kind of horology doesn't speak to me personally, but it doesn't prevent me from admiring the endless creativity and fantasy"
Having said that when it comes to the Legacy Machines I feel completely differently, as this kind of horology really does speak to me and I find them both fascinating and stunning in equal measures. I could quite happily lose hours looking at all the fine...
I fully understand why you feel differently concerning the LM compared to the HM.
They're a kind of their own and in a league of their own. That said, they don't speak more to me, personally. But I still fully understand their importance and greatness. Best, Emmanuel
HM4 is IMHO the turning point
The machine become a true artwork whose main feature is telling the time. I still remember when I tried it, a jaw dropping architecture in a bold design. I’m also thankful that Max has given to the mortals the chance to buy the MAD series, which is obviou...
I fully agree with you concerning the HM4 being a turning point.
As if they had crossed a threshold and dared to go all the way to the end of their dreams. Best, Emmanuel
Another great and inspiring post dear quattro . Thanks
All pieces of art and for a decade or so one has always been on my wishlist. The HM3 in rose gold . Maybe when the stars align one day 🙏🏻
Thanks for putting these together 👌🏻👍🏻
I quite appreciate some of these even if my wrist would not carry all of them 😁
The creativity is admirable,
but, tbh, this kind of watchmaking doesn't really speak to me.
I have to say…
That it’s at least a demonstration that creativity is still possible - something the large brands would do well to learn.
You’re absolutely right and what they do
is definitely important. I think it’s simply the idea of watches being “machines”, even if “legacy machines”, that doesn’t really resonate with me. I don’t see my watches as machines, but rather as “companions” (it sounds a bit silly, I agree), little thi...
We all have slightly different takes on what we find exciting, which is what makes this hobby so rich and diverse 😊👍🏻👏🏻
And huge congratulations on 15.000 posts 🎉🎊🎈
You got my attention now !!!
Big big fan of the HMs, even if it took until HM3 for me to find the appeal. I have this vivid memory, and I’m not sure it’s correct, of a fellow Purist (Horo, Horogasm) having the HM1 and HM2 back in the day and sharing them here or elsewhere. And they w...
Thank you so much, Jay! I'm glad my little presentation "tricks" work (the bolding of some words).
And I wish you the best for the hunt of a HM3: hopefully you'll score one in the not too distant future. Best, Emmanuel