Timepieces That Break The Mould

Twenty years ago, Maximilian Büsser embarked on a revolutionary journey that would transform the landscape of haute horlogerie. What began as a sketch of Horological Machine No.1 has evolved into a powerhouse of creativity, employing over 60 craftsmen and producing more than 20 exceptional calibres.

“It is like a dream come true, only I never dreamt it,” muses Büsser, reflecting on his company’s remarkable trajectory. The sentiment perfectly encapsulates the brand’s ethos – pushing boundaries that weren’t even visible when the journey began.

Evolution of excellence

The story behind these anniversary timepieces traces back to 2009, during the conceptual phase of the first Legacy Machine. A striking design featuring extended lugs – dubbed ‘horns’ – initially posed practical challenges regarding strap attachment points. The dilemma forced designers to shelve the concept temporarily.

Twelve years later, innovation struck. The solution emerged brilliantly simple: dual spring bar holes allowing wearers to adjust the strap position according to their wrist size. This breakthrough manifested in a unique LM1 prototype, crafted in stainless steel with glossy black dials against a rhodium-plated base plate – a combination that proved challenging to perfect but spectacular in execution.

Technical mastery meets visual distinction

Both anniversary pieces showcase MB&F’s technical prowess while introducing fresh aesthetic dimensions. The stainless steel cases house movements of extraordinary complexity, while the signature long horns add an architectural element that transforms their presence on the wrist.

The glossy black lacquer subdials contrast magnificently against rhodium-plated base plates, with blued hands providing an additional layer of refined detail. Each timepiece represents a masterclass in finishing, demanding painstaking attention to eliminate even microscopic imperfections.

Perpetual innovation

The LM Perpetual Longhorn demonstrates why MB&F earned its GPHG award. Stephen McDonnell’s revolutionary 581-component movement reimagines the perpetual calendar completely. Traditional perpetual calendar drawbacks disappear thanks to his “mechanical processor” design, which prevents date-skipping and gear jamming through automatically deactivating adjuster pushers during calendar changes.

Sequential brilliance

Following its sibling’s technical excellence, the LM Sequential Flyback Longhorn represents MB&F’s first venture into chronographs. McDonnell’s innovative “Twinverter” binary switch enables multiple timing modes – independent, split-second, cumulative and lap-timer functions coexist within one mechanism. The addition of flyback capability elevates its utility from racetrack to cockpit.

Celebrating collaboration

These commemorative pieces honour Stephen McDonnell’s pivotal role in MB&F’s journey. From assisting with Horological Machine No.1’s final development to creating some of the brand’s most complex movements, McDonnell exemplifies the collaborative spirit at MB&F’s core.