This MB&F HM3 Starcruiser watch in 18K red gold and titanium features an openwork dial to fully appreciate the “battle-axe” shaped rotor, paired with a truly distinctive horological design where the date surrounds the movement, the first cone provides a suspended hour with a day/night indicator, the second provides minutes, in a radical 47 x 50 mm triangular case, shown on a black hand-sewn alligator strap.

The MB&F HM3 Starcruiser watch utilizes a mechanical self-winding movement.This HM3 image shows a superimposed reflection of the sapphire caseback for an alternate view.

The MB&F Horological Machine No 1 exemplifies the concept of fine watchmaking as “kinetic sculpture”, and employs this radical concept to interpret the highest accomplishments of haute horlogerie. The Horological Machine No 1 incorporates Abraham-Louis Breguet’s prestigious invention–the tourbillon–along with a number of other brilliant technical achievements, all within a form sharply distinct from that of any established watch design. To create this masterpiece of ingenuity and craftsmanship, MB&F founder Maximilian Busser reached out to tap the joint talents of enterprising horological engineer Laurent Besse and artisan-watchmaker Peter-Speake Marin–a man who has established himself at the vanguard of truly exceptional independent masters.

The MB&F HM1’s extraordinary 41mm x 64mm case, crafted from 18K red or white gold (the latter also being offered in a PVD-finished variant), is made up of no fewer than 48 individual components. This avant garde brushed and polished case artistically divides hours and minutes into two sectors. Bridging the two essential measurements of time is an elevated tourbillon whose intricate cage bearing the balance and escape wheel continually turns at a rate of one revolution per minute. MB&F offers several appealing options for this exceptional and decidedly unusual dial, including silver with ruthenium accents, a predominantly ruthenium color with silver accents, and for maximum insight into the underlying mechanics–a transparent sapphire dial. A detail shared by all variations, is a black-polished steel tourbillon cage with three gleaming peripheral elements that call to mind the razor edge of a sinuously curved blade.

The movement animating the MB&F Horological Machine No 1 is as as unconventional as the case which holds it, and represents an extraordinary engineering feat as well as a triumph of unconventional construction and form. Appearing as two semi-circles joined together at the center, this self-winding caliber with 376 individual parts and 81 functional jewels features immaculate Cotes de Geneve decorated bridges, and a spectacular 22K gold winding rotor designed to evoke a double-bladed battle axe. The movement’s unusual shape was dictated by the arrangement of four mainspring barrels, a pair of which accumulate energy by the winding crown, and the other pair from the motion of the rotor. The engineering solution of four barrels operating in parallel enables MB&F to keep power distribution to the going train even–a boon to consistent timekeeping precision, and the moderation of torque. The latter aspect results in improved isochronism, and reduced wear to the mechanism. From the wearer’s perspective, the most immediately obvious benefit of these four receptacles of energy, is an impressive week-long power reserve. The status of the HM1’s power reserve is displayed on a discreet indicator located at center within the minute dial.

Because of the immense effort involved in its creation, and the superior finishing and engineering quality it embodies, production of the MB&F Horological Machine No 1 is extremely limited. For example, both the black PVD-coated white gold HM1 and red gold HM1 with the transparent dial are being offered in a series of just 10 pieces! Regardless of which Horological Machine No 1 a client chooses, he or she receives it in a most worthy fashion, within a custom-fitted presentation case of Wenge hardwood and fine leather. This case in turn, is sheathed within an elegant pin-striped Etro carrying bag crafted from flannel and leather. The MB&F HM1 timepiece is completed by a beautiful hand-sewn alligator leather strap and an 18K gold deployant buckle that displays the same perfectly executed brushed and polished contrasting finishes as the watch case.