WatchTime New York, since its inception, has served as a summit for creative minds across the watch industry, attracting some of the best watchmakers in the world to take part in unforgettable events. This year is no different, and as part of 2021’s meeting of the minds, WatchTime is excited to be featuring MB&F among its roster of independent watchmaking maisons.
While MB&F has received much praise this year for many of its releases — among them the LMX, HM9 “Sapphire Vision”, and the HM10 Panda created for the Only Watch auction — its spotlight at this year’s WatchTime New York event will be on a new execution of its Legacy Machine 101, updated for 2021.
Dubbed “the quintessential mechanical watch” by the brand, the LM101 was first introduced in 2014, its stated mission being to focus only on the essentials of a timepiece. The original LM101 not only swiftly became a hit; it also helped establish the watchmaker as a creative leader in the watch industry.
In 2021, MB&F revisited the series once more, evolving it for the modern day with new colors and case materials, alongside an array of other updates. The bezel and engraving on the dial feature deeper recesses, further highlighting the time and power reserve displays. Perhaps most significantly, the true “star of the show,” MB&F’s signature “flying” balance wheel, is now updated with a double hairspring.
Executed in three different styles — including an 18k white-gold option with a purple dial, an 18K rose-gold version with a deep blue dial, and a steel model with a lighter blue dial — the updated watches remain very true to the original aesthetic of the LM101, with the updates further accentuating the spirit of the series. Each watch features a 40-mm by 15.5-mm case with a highly domed crystal and an off-center crown toward the bottom right position. Each is secured to the wrist with a spring-loaded double butterfly clasp, its material matching that of the metal used for the case.
While partially visible via the striking dial, the incredible Caliber LM101, with its fine, 19th century-style hand-finishing, is on full display on the back side. With polished bevels, Geneva waves, hand-made engravings, gold chatons with polished countersinks, and NAC black bridges and a frosted dial plate, it’s a sight to behold through and through. Aside from its impressive embellishments, the movement’s additional features include a bespoke 14-mm balance wheel with four traditional regulating screws floating above the movement, in addition to the aforementioned Straumann double balance spring, developed in partnership with H.Moser & Cie. The manually wound movement holds a power reserve of 45 hours.
The MB&F Legacy Machine 101, along with many other of the brand’s rare and limited timepieces, will be on display at WatchTime New York 2021, held at New York City’s Gotham Hall from October 22-24. To see these coveted creations in person, as well as many other rare, luxurious timepieces, order your tickets now for WatchTime New York 2021!
