MB&F’s collaboration with acclaimed British-Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori brings a fresh perspective to contemporary watchmaking. The M.A.D.1S Grow Your Dreams collection fuses vibrant colour, playful motifs, and thoughtful craftsmanship, translating Ilori’s distinctive visual language into timepieces that feel alive on the wrist. Sun, Nature, and Water transform classic Swiss mechanics into pieces that are as expressive as they are meticulously made.
The partnership between MB&F’s accessible M.A.D.Editions line and Yinka Ilori MBE emerged from an unexpected encounter. During summer 2023, Maximilian Büsser discovered the artist’s work whilst browsing magazines during a holiday break. Within six days, Ilori found himself in Geneva, exploring how his distinctive visual language might translate to timepieces.
Ilori’s philosophy, shaped by his parents, is anchored in patience, hope, and the nurturing of dreams. These values manifest in his recurring tree motifs, symbolic of growth and resilience, which appear across his projects.
Sun, Nature, Water: ‘A Trio of Dreams’
The M.A.D.1S Grow Your Dreams collection comprises three limited editions of 400 pieces each: Sun, Nature, and Water. Each variant maintains the Swiss-made LaJoux-Perret G101 movement from the standard M.A.D.1S, but introduces significant aesthetic modifications that required months of development.
The titanium rotor, traditionally a utilitarian component, underwent a complete reconceptualisation. Engineers designed a slimmer, more intricate structure without compromising performance, integrating Ilori’s signature tree motif through precision milling. Anodisation treatments in yellow, green, and blue define the three variants, while Super-LumiNova accentuates both the contours and Ilori’s etched inscription: Grow Your Dreams.
Ilori’s influence extends to the dial, where custom numerals replace conventional hour markers. The result is a design where function and imagination come together, transforming the watch into a wearable work of art.
A New Approach to Colour
The bezel introduces colour through a process entirely new to M.A.D.Editions. Instead of conventional PVD coatings, precision-machined grooves are inlaid with HyCeram, a high-tech liquid ceramic that hardens under controlled heat before being hand-polished to achieve its final finish. This technique allows for vivid, precisely placed colour while maintaining long-term durability.
Further detail emerges beneath the movement, where stamped aluminium baseplates display three-dimensional wave patterns. As the rotor turns, these textures create subtle shifts of light and depth, adding visual intrigue without compromising mechanical integrity. Despite such decorative refinements, the 42mm stainless steel case preserves a water resistance rating of 30 metres.
Each variant is paired with deliberately mismatched rubber straps embossed with a leaf motif. Sun unites luminous yellow and green, Water layers deep and sky blues, while Nature contrasts purple with red. For versatility, every model is also supplied with an interchangeable white strap.
Priority Access for the Community
Distribution follows M.A.D.Editions’ established hierarchy. Priority access is reserved for The Tribe (existing MB&F owners) and The Friends (the brand’s long-standing suppliers), in recognition of their enduring support. Remaining pieces are offered via public raffle, to ensure fairness while managing the inevitable demand for such limited production runs.
This approach stems from the brand’s origins as an unexpected thank-you to the MB&F community. What began as a spontaneous email to collectors in June 2021 evolved into a separate product line after overwhelming demand. The original M.A.D.1 Blue generated such interest that public variants followed, including the award-winning M.A.D.1 RED, which received the Challenge Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
The collaboration with Ilori is the second artist partnership for M.A.D.Editions, following Jean-Charles de Castelbajac’s contribution in March 2024. Each partnership explores how contemporary creativity can enhance mechanical watchmaking without compromising either discipline’s integrity.
The collection demonstrates that luxury watches can break from tradition without compromising on quality. Thoughtful engineering and creative design come together in pieces that are of premium quality, distinctive, and full of character.