Finally, the moment that so many have been waiting for: the release of the MB&F Legacy Machine LMX. This MB&F timepiece commemorates the tenth anniversary of the magical collection.
Don’t worry if you missed the big reveal, we’ve included the video just below. Be warned, however, you’ll be glued to your screen!
What is the Legacy Machine?
Maximillian Busser & Friends is perhaps the furthest thing from mainstream, so I’m not sure how many of you are familiar with it. As such, we won’t go too much into detail about MB&F as a whole, that way we can focus on the Legacy Machine.
Introduced as a parallel to their flagship model, the visionary Horological Machines (HM) which look to the future, the Legacy Machines (LM) look to the past.
In fact, the MB&F Legacy Machines are the answer to the question: what would MB&F’s timepieces look like if they were made 100 years ago? So, they’re sort of like retro futuristic watches: they have traditional features such as lacquered dials and round cases, but they also contain avant-garde ones, like suspended balance wheels.
Speaking of, Maximilian himself admitted to having an obsession for suspended balance wheels. Do I also subscribe to that point of view? I can’t say for certain, but what I do know is that they are so cool to look at.
Given this vision, or concept, in 2011, MB&F introduced the first Legacy Machine: the LM1.
Now, we fast forward 10 years to today.
MB&F LMX
LMX stands for Legacy Machine number 10: a bit like the iPhone X, but a lot cooler in my opinion.
Why? Because, unlike other “X”s for 10s, the MB&F “X” represents something more enigmatic and intricate, like a pendulum oscillating between the futuristic feat of engineering and a mystically captivating early 20th century design.
So, how does it differ to previous Legacy Machines? Whilst it’s got that unmistakeable MB&F appearance, a lot has in fact changed. Let’s not forget that this is a brand which has produced 8 entirely unique calibers in 10 years.
MB&F LMX: A New Interpretation
One of the first things that I noticed when saw the LMX were the dials. Let’s just take a moment to talk about them.
These two dials, which display two different time-zones, are perhaps the most eye-catching aspects of this timepiece. They are purposefully misaligned and inclined so that you can only see one at a time, but it also ensures perfect symmetry on the face of the watch.
Although the two-dial layout was already present on the very first Legacy Machine, the LM1, still, a lot has changed. This time, the LMX’s inclined dials represent MB&F’s growth over the years, as well as the brand’s vision of “building up” the dial, giving a new meaning to watch ergonomics. Unsure what we are on about? Have a look at the LM Thunderdome and the LM Flying T!
Furthermore, the inclined dials required conical gears to better pronounce the elevation. This process undoubtedly would have made the planning and manufacturing of this timepiece far more complex, which adds an extra element of appreciation for this work.
MB&F LMX: Power Reserve
If the dial layouts weren’t whimsical enough, have a look at the 7-day power reserve: a vertically arranged indicator featuring the days of the week, shaped like a mini-hemisphere within a larger one.
No, it’s not a calendar, it’s just an out-of-the-ordinary way of displaying how much power is left in the watch. After all, MB&F is no ordinary brand: they engineer for the fun of it, just how modern independent horology should be.
MB&F LMX: Perfect Symmetry
Are you familiar with Giotto’s Perfect Circle? The perfect proportions? Well, I’m sure that it was the a principle that MB&F had in mind when designing this watch.
Other than the two faces, the overall dial is composed from tastefully decorated exposed gears, a large, 13.4mm, centrally suspended balance wheel (obviously), an ax-shaped balance wheel bridge, a central seconds gear, and two crowns. The result? Perfect symmetry… this watch is just pure art.
I can’t quite figure out whether this watch reminds me more of Iron Man, or a reptilian-alien creature. Either way, I will admit that there was an inexplicable, almost magnetic attraction that I had for this intruiging watch.
My one criticism? It’s a bit big: the already large 44m case diameter is only inflated with the domed shape of the crystal. I can certainly appreciate the achitecture of the watch and would really like to try it on!
I will say this: if, one day, MB&F decides to make these objects 60mm wide, I would put myself in a neveredning line to get one for my desk.
MB&F LMX: Configurations
Step aside, blue, because there’s another colour which is going to dominate the market in 2021, and it’s green. We’re not even joking: all you need to do to make a watch enthusiast’s ears perk up is to add a touch of green here and there to your watch and you’ve pretty much sealed the deal.
Don’t get us wrong, we do like the colour green, but after having lived through the “blue craze”, we know how easily the market can get out of hand.
Having said that, we really like this green: it reminds us of MB&F’s very successful collaboration with Moser.
Aside from the titanium-green configuration (limited to 33 pieces), MB&F is also offering 18 pieces with a red gold case.
Quality over quantity.
It would appear that Maximilian Busser has wowed us once again. Was it the dials? The green hue? The suspended balance wheel? All three? Might be. All we know is that we love it.
What are your thoughts? And what do you think the future holds for the Legacy Machine collection? Let us know in the comments!
-Translated by Patrick R.
