Independents

Max just unveiled the LM1 in Singapore and it is stunning! It is a total departure from previous machines. Not only is the movement classically styled but it is finished to the nth degree.

- SJX

 

 

Press release:

Legacy Machine N ^o 1

 

 

Wild, extreme, outrageous, unrestrained: all might be used to describe MB&F's futuristic Horological Machines, but traditional, classical… round? With its monumental central balance; superlatively finished movement; completely independent dual time zones; unique vertical power reserve indicator and elegant annular case, Legacy Machine No.1 (LM1) is a tribute to the great innovators of traditional watchmaking; and above all, an authentic three-dimensional MB&F Machine.

 

 

 

Legacy Machine No.1 was conceived when Maximilian Büsser started fantasising: "What would have happened if I had been born in 1867 instead of 1967? In the early 1900s the first wristwatches appear and I would want to create three-dimensional machines for the wrist, but there are no Grendizers, Star Wars or fighter jets for my inspiration. But I do have pocket watches, the Eiffel Tower and Jules Verne, so what might my 1911 machine look like? It has to be round and it has to be three-dimensional: Legacy Machine No.1 was my answer."

 

In fidelity to high-quality 19th century pocket watches, LM1 features a sedately oscillating (2.5 Hz), large diameter balance with traditional Breguet overcoil suspended from majestic twin arches; its enigmatic regulating mechanism in full view, but without apparent connection to the movement. Both the hours AND the minutes on each of the two sub dials can be set completely independently of each other – dual time zone complications usually do not allow independent adjustment of the minutes – their domed dials further reinforcing visual references to the golden age of watchmaking (1780-1850). Looking like a miniature sextant, a world-first vertical power reserve indicator keeps track of available power while providing a visual three-dimensional counterpoint to the graceful arches supporting the balance.

 

Gazing down through Legacy Machine No.1's crystal clear bubble sapphire dome to the micro-mechanical fantasy below, it's easy to imagine Jules Verne’s Captain Nemo looking upon the mythical underwater city of Atlantis.

 

 

 

Legacy Machine No.1's transcendental in-house movement bears testimony to the enormous talent of its creators. Jean-François Mojon and his team at Chronode (Best Watchmaker Prize at the 2010 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève) met the considerable challenge of developing the calibre for LM1 from a blank sheet, while acclaimed independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen took responsibility for the aesthetic design and for strictly ensuring the utmost respect for tradition and finish. Immaculate Geneva waves, highly-polished gold chatons and bridges with impeccably executed bevels following deliberate internal angles (which cannot be finished by machine) showcase the movement's absolutely peerless fine-finishing. The movement of Legacy Machine No.1 proudly bears the names of both its creators, and is the first calibre other than Voutilainen's own to bear his name.

 

 

 

With Legacy Machine No.1, MB&F has majestically reinterpreted traditional 19th century watchmaking excellence to create a contemporary, three-dimensional objet d'art. 

 

 

Legacy Machine N ^o 1 in detail

 

 

Inspiration and Realization: Maximilian Büsser has had a long affinity with pocket watches of the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Virtually all horological complications we see today were not only imagined in that period, they were developed using just paper and pen (no sophisticated computer programs), components were produced to extremely high precision using – by today’s standards – fairly primitive machines (no electricity) and finely finished, assembled and regulated to an incredibly high quality that we still strive to match today. Their generous size compared with modern wristwatches allowed for uncluttered movement architectures with beautifully shaped bridges and plates.

 

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 timepiece he might create if he had been born 100 years earlier, in 1867 instead of 1967. With its large, sedately oscillating balance, domed dials, historical bridge design and classical fine-finishing, Legacy Machine No.1 is the very contemporary, yet traditionally elegant, fruition of that dream.

 

 

Engine: LM1’s ingenious three-dimensional movement was specifically developed for MB&F

from Maximilian Büsser’s sketches by Jean-François Mojon and his team at Chronode in Le Locle, Switzerland. The balance wheel and spring are at the very heart of any mechanical watch movement and are responsible for regulating timekeeping accuracy. Büsser has long been fascinated by the large slowly oscillating – 18,000 bph compared with the 28,800 bph common today – balance wheels of antique pocket watches, so it was no surprise this was his starting point from which to let his fertile imagination roam free. What was surprising though is just how radically he re-interpreted tradition by relocating the balance wheel from its more usual position hidden at the back of the movement to not just the top of the movement but majestically floating above the movement… even floating above the dials!

 

 

 

While the location of Legacy Machine No.1’s regulating organ may be considered avant-garde, ‘tradition’ is upheld by the large 14mm diameter balance wheel with regulating screws specifically developed for MB&F, balance spring with Breguet overcoil and mobile stud holder.

 

Another very special feature of the LM1 movement is the ability to set the two time zones completely independently. The vast majority of dual time zone movements only allow the hours to be independently adjusted, a rare few offer setting to the half hour. Legacy Machine No.1 allows both hours and minutes of each dial to be set to whatever time the user wishes.

 

The world’s first vertical power reserve indicator on LM1 is driven by an ultra-flat differential with ceramic bearings allowing for a slimmer complication and a more robust and longer-wearing mechanism.

 

 

Dial and Indications:  The rate keeping of the twin dials is controlled by the same regulator (balance and escapement) so that once set, the two times stay perfectly synchronised with each other. Both the hours AND minutes on both dials can be set to any time desired via their respective crowns.

 

 

 

Complementing the three-dimensionality of the balance floating in space, the dual white dials with their bright blue gold hands float above the top of the movement. The dials are gently domed with a translucent, high-gloss lustre created using a laque tendue process in which multiple layers of lacquer are applied and heated, causing them to stretch over the surface of the dials.

 

To ensure aesthetic purity of the dials and their traditional Roman numerals, a sophisticated fixation underneath negates the necessity of visually obtrusive used screws. A fine golden perimeter circumscribing each dial elegantly reinforces their timeless classicism.  

 

Fine Finishing and Historical Legitimacy: Acclaimed master watchmaker Kari Voutilainen assumed responsibility for ensuring the historical accuracy of the style and finishing of the Legacy Machine No.1 movement. No easy task with such an unconventional suspended-balance design from which to begin.

 

A finely engraved sun-ray pattern on top of the movement plate (dial side) subtly catches the eye at certain angles without distracting attention from the twin white dials, floating balance or vertical power. But it is in the style and finish of the bridges and plates visible through the display on the back of the movement where Kari Voutilainen has excelled in providing exquisite historical fidelity in both the shape of elegantly curved bridges and the traditionally wide space between the bridges and between the perimeter of the bridges and the case.

 

On the back of the movement, over-sized ruby jewels set in highly-polished countersunk gold chatons provide striking visual counterpoints to the Geneva waves traversing the sensually curved bridges. While providing historical links with the large jewels seen in high-grade antique pocket watch movements, the ruby bearings have a practical application in reducing wear/increasing longevity by accommodating large diameter pinions and holding more lubricating oil.

  

 

Legacy Machine N ^o 1 – Technical Specifications

 

 

Engine:

Three-dimensional horological movement developed 100% for MB&F by Chronode and created by Jean-François Mojon and Kari Voutilainen

Manual winding with single mainspring barrel

Power reserve: 45 hours

Balance wheel: Bespoke 14mm balance wheel with four traditional regulating screws floating above the movement and dials

Balance spring: traditional Breguet curve terminating in mobile stud holder

Balance frequency: 18,000bph/2.5Hz

Number of components: 279

Number of jewels: 23

Chatons: gold chatons with polished countersinks

Fine finishing: superlative hand finishing throughout respecting 19th century style; internal bevel angles highlighting hand craft; polished bevels; Geneva waves; hand-made engravings

 

 

Functions:

Hours and minutes; completely independent dual time zones displayed on two dials; unique vertical power reserve

Left crown at 8 o'clock for setting time of left dial; right crown at 4 o'clock for setting time of right dial and winding

 

 

Case:

Available in 18k red gold or 18k white gold

Dimensions: 44mm wide x 16mm high

Number of components: 65

 

 

Sapphire crystals:

High domed sapphire crystal on top with anti-reflective coating on both sides; sapphire crystal on back with anti-reflective coating on single side

 

 

Strap & Buckle:

Black or brown hand-stitched alligator strap with gold tang buckle to match case

 

 

 

'Friends' responsible for Legacy Machine N ^o 1

 

 

Concept: Maximilian Büsser / MB&F

Product design: Eric Giroud / Eric Giroud Design Studio

Technical and production management: Serge Kriknoff / MB&F

Movement development: Jean-François Mojon / Chronode

Movement design and finish specifications : Kari Voutilainen

 

Wheels: Jean-Marc Naval / Rouages SA

Balance wheel bridge: Benjamin Signoud / AMECAP

Balance wheel: Yann Le Martret / Société Manufacture d’ébauche de Balancier

Plates and bridges: Arnaud Faivre / Tec ébauches

Hand-engraving of movement: Eddy Jaquet

Hand-finishing of movement components: Jacques-Adrien Rochat / C-L Rochat

Movement assemblage: Didier Dumas, Georges Veisy, Alexandre Bonnet of MB&F

Case: Bertrand Jeunet and Dominique Mainier of G&F Chatelain

Buckle : Erbas S.A.

Dials: François Bernhard and Denis Parel of Natéber

Hands: Pierre Chillier, Isabelle Chillier and Félix Celetta of Fiedler

Strap: Olivier Purnot / Camille Fournet

Presentation box : Olivier Berthon

Production logistics: David Lamy / MB&F

 

Communication:

MB&F: Charris Yadigaroglou, Virginie Meylan, Céline Cammalleri and Isabelle Boutantin

Graphic Design: Alban Thomas and Gérald Moulière of GVA Studio

Product Photography: Maarten van der Ende

Display Architecture: Frédéric Legendre / Lekoni

Portrait Photography: Régis Golay / Federal

Webmasters: Stéphane Balet and Guillaume Schmitz of Sumo Interactive

Texts: Ian Skellern / underthedial

This message has been edited by SJX on 2011-10-04 05:25:01

That is quickly firming as a 'must-see'. Congratulations to the team behind it - and thanks for the heads-up SJX.

Cheers,
pplater.

It was easy.....

CO2 - designed spring 2006




HM1 - announced Sept. 2006



CO6 -announced spring 2011



LM1 - announced Oct. 2011



Time for Max to stop copying   
(or was it just in the air? ....)

Don

Don.

I was just going out to another watch event so I could not get to a computer until now.

At first glance there is similarity in the idea of raising the balance wheel (heart) of the movement above the dial and under a dome watch glass; the Corson UFO Tourbillon was first at the PuristS 10th anniversary celebrations!   

MB&F Legacy Machine #1 does not have a tourbillon balance wheel but then again, it does have a nifty and flexible two time zone display / mechanism......... ta-daah!

 

Overall: I like it.

 

Regards,

MTF

This message has been edited by MTF on 2011-10-04 12:31:19

What do you have coming next ... ?
This message has been edited by cazalea on 2011-10-04 14:11:22

You were always a thought-leader Don!

If you wouldn't mind telling us what you're working on now, we will know whether or not to save for Max' next piece (after buying yours, of course!).

Cheers,
pplater.

Sure, I can show you drawings my next, but I think I will have to consult with Max first. 

But seriously, considering the outbursts of tradition-breaking pieces that are Max's specialty, I am pretty sure his will have nothing to do with my next.  It is already such a coincidence that there are design similarities in 2 watch designs made at about the same time.  Max and I had already joked about it 5 years ago when the HM1 came out and I showed him my Nr.2.

I think the most interesting thing is that with his company model Max can make very different watches every year.  Each model seems to me to evolve within its esthetic world as time advances, but each watch model is very different from the others.  There is a radical break with each new model, no evolution.   Such radical breaks are very difficult to if there is just one development team.  Having a different development team for each watch allows this to happen.  The continuity is in the quality of the finishing and the PR.

I can't wait to see a LM1 in the metal and try it on.  It is surely a completely different world than the previous models.  I want to see that blued escape wheel turning.  These press pictures are too "licked clean" for me to get a good impression.  I hope we will have some pictures in the wild real soon.

So I think the best thing to do is sit back and enjoy the ride!

Don

 

Superb Don... Can you already tell us what LM2 will be next year?

That watch sounds very promising, and, to say all, I can't wait to see it in the flesh before any final comments, but I already feel I will love it.

For the concept, for the aesthetics, for the level of finish and for the functionality: Congratulations!

The only thing is the wearibility of the case, as its dimensions ( 44 mm x 16 mm ) are generous.

But for once, this is a watch my chicken wirst could well wear!



All the best, my friend.

Nicolas.

Congratulations to all involved in this project -- this piece looks great!

I'll stop being a one-trick pony at some point, but to me this watch and its underlying story are a great new interpretation of Vianney's futur anterieur concept -- imagining how someone in the past would have seen the future. As the narrative says, the 1800s Max would have had the Eiffel tower and Captain Nemo, not newer images, from which to draw and therefore would have had to rely on those earlier concepts in developing a "futuristic" watch.

We had dinner with Kari last night and he didn't spill the beans -- wish he had!

Best,

Gary G

Not something you'd normally expect from Max but amazing all the same. There are so many tiny details with restrained subtlety that IMO makes this piece work. My only concern is how this sits on the wrist; 44mm with the domed crystal  requires viewing the piece in the metal before making a judgement. Wouldn't it  also be difficult to synchronize the two dials without the seconds hand; a small inconvenience or an inconsequential observation?

Normally, it takes a while to warm up to Max's innovations but this one immediately hits the spot! The movement, even in pics. is unbelieveably sensuous.

Thanks SJX for this revelation and congrats to MB&F!

Fernando

wonderful piece in a non expected direction at least on my personal view... another hit is seeing the light... would love to see it in flesh or at least in live shots... the piece is astonishing.

No message body

 it does give a whole new meaning to getting up!

I couldn't resist!

Great watch.
S
This message has been edited by Ancienne Le Brassus on 2011-10-04 10:14:26

This is awesome...I have always been impressed by MB&F, but I never considered their pieces wearable.  But this is great.  Is the component count really only 65, or is that a typo?

is 65.  Forgive my too-quick question.

This watch will definitely attract new blood to the brand since the design is more along traditional looks. 

Cheers,
Anthony

This watch is a beauty...  and another surprise from Max thanks to the huge gap it creates when compared with the 4 HM.

Congrats to the team!

Fx

No message body

Vacheron, PP, JLC, and so on... 44 mm and 16 mm is something usual for Grandes Complications, or for these Big Complications.

Are they unwearable?

I don't think so, unless your wrist is around 14 or 15 centimeters.

To be tried in the real before any statement on this matter, I think.

Best,

Nicolas.

I am sure that you could "wear" it, but when - and why -  and Where.