For the first time in history, Maximilian Büsser (Founder Of MB&F) and Edouard Meylan (CEO of H. Moser & Cie); two horological geniuses, have pooled their talents together, to introduce two very special limited edition timepieces whose DNA blends the main characteristics (both technical and aesthetics) of the two maisons. The LM101 MB&F x H.MOSER and ENDEAVOUR CYLINDRICAL TOURBILLON H. MOSER X MB&F – Both these timepieces are offered in several versions and issued in 15-piece limited series. “15” – To honor the 15th anniversary of MB&F as well as the 15th anniversary of the relaunch of H. Moser & Cie.
Precision Engineering AG, H.Moser & Cie’s sister company has been supplying balance springs to MB&F for quite some time now, hence it was no surprise that MB&F asked Edouard Meylan to take part as a “friend” to help create a Performance Art Piece.
“When I called Edouard to tell him that I wanted to collaborate on a creation, I mentioned that I really liked the double balance-spring, the Moser fumé dials and the Concept watch series”, said Maximilian Büsser. “Edouard immediately told me that he would let me borrow these features, but on the condition that he could also reinterpret one of my machines. After an initial moment of surprise, I gave it some thought. Being 50% Indian and 50% Swiss, I am firmly convinced that mixing DNA creates interesting results, so why not try the experiment in watchmaking? I therefore agreed and suggested the FlyingT model, which is particularly dear to my heart.”
LM101 MB&F x H.MOSER
The LM101 MB&F x H.MOSER is based on the existing MB&F “Legacy Machine” design and comes in a 40mm stainless steel case topped with a domed sapphire crystal. When you compare the LM101 MB&F x H.MOSER to other Legacy Machines, you’ll be able to immediately tell that this is MB&F’s purest creation. Like H. Moser & Cie. and the “back to basics” approach embodied in its Concept watch series, MB&F has chosen to remove its logo and return to its roots and indeed to the very origins of horology, when only the movements were signed. The floating domed sub dials have also been removed with the hours and minutes and 45-hour power reserve indicator hands placed directly on the main dial. Four fumé dials, H.Moser & Cie’s signature feat, have been chosen for the LM101 MB&F x H. Moser: Red fumé, Cosmic Green fumé, Funky Blue fumé and a special edition with Aqua Blue fumé made for the retailer Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons. Each version is limited to 15 pieces, as a nod to MB&F’s 15th Anniversary.
Personally I love the way, the large suspended balance wheel (Which has been completely redesigned), highlights the beauty of the fumé dial.
This beating heart, which represents the quintessence of watchmaking in the eyes of Maximilian Büsser, has been fitted with a double balance spring produced by Precision Engineering AG. Thanks to this pair of matching balance springs, the displacement of the point of gravity undergone by each spring as it expands is corrected, significantly improving precision and isochronism in a continuous quest for perfection. In addition, the paired balance springs also reduce the friction effect normally encountered with a single balance spring, resulting in optimised isochronism.
Driving this timepiece, is a three-dimensional horological movement developed in-house by MB&F beating at a frequency of 2.5Hz. Unlike the base movement of the Legacy Machine 101, of which the finishes were determined by co-creator Kari Voutilainen, the aesthetics of the calibre that powers the LM101 MB&F x H. Moser is more contemporary, with a subtle NAC treatment to enhance its beauty.
A hand-stitched calfskin strap with a steel 316L and titanium folding buckle enhances the overall magnificence.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
LM101 MB&F x H. Moser is available in 4 limited editions of 15 pieces in stainless steel: Funky Blue fumé dial, Cosmic Green fumé dial, Red fumé dial and a special edition with Aqua Blue fumé dial made for the retailer Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons.
Engine
Three-dimensional horological movement developed in-house by MB&F
Movement aesthetics and finishing specifications: Kari Voutilainen
Manual winding with single mainspring barrel
Power reserve: 45 hours
Balance wheel: Bespoke 14mm balance wheel with four traditional regulating screws floating above the movement
Balance spring: Straumann® double hairspring
Balance frequency: 18,000bph/2.5Hz
221 components
23 jewels
Chatons: gold chatons with polished countersinks
Fine finishing: superlative 19th century-style hand finishing throughout; internal bevel angles highlighting hand craft; polished bevels; Geneva waves; hand-made engravings, NAC black bridges
Functions
Hours, minutes and power reserve indicator
Large balance wheel suspended above the dial
Case
Available in 4 limited editions of 15 pieces in stainless steel 316, including a special edition with Aqua Blue fumé dial made for the retailer Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons.
Diameter: 40.0 mm
Height: 16.0 mm
35 components
High domed crystal sapphire on top and box sapphire crystal on back, both with anti-reflective coating on both sides
Dial
Funky Blue fumé, Cosmic Green fumé, Red fumé or Aqua Blue fumé with sunburst pattern
Strap
Hand-stitched calfskin strap
Steel 316L and titanium folding buckle
ENDEAVOUR CYLINDRICAL TOURBILLON H. MOSER X MB&F
The ENDEAVOUR CYLINDRICAL TOURBILLON H. MOSER X MB&F is offered in 4 riveting versions: Funky Blue fumé, Burgundy fumé, Cosmic Green fumé, Off-White fumé or Ice Blue fumé with sunburst pattern, each limited to 15 pieces. Based on MB&F’s FLYING T, the watch is housed in a 42mm steel case, fitted with a hand-stitched black alligator leather strap with steel folding buckle engraved with the Moser logo.
At 12 o clock you have a breathtaking one-minute flying tourbillon with skeletonised bridges, equipped with a *cylindrical balance spring, the same as that developed by Precision Engineering AG for MB&F’s LM Thunderdome and an automatic bidirectional pawl winding system.
Just like the LM Flying T, the time is displayed via a 40 degree tilted floating sapphire sub dial. These are inclined at 40° so that the owner of the watch is the only one to whom it reveals the secret of time, and mounted on a conical gear train ensuring optimal torque transmission from one plane to the other. As Edouard Meylan explains: “We have Moserized the MB&F universe by developing a sapphire subdial, which melts into the background so as to highlight the beauty of our fumé dials. And to preserve the purity and elegance of this true work of horological art, we have inscribed our logo like a watermark on the sapphire subdial, thereby underlining the personal character and intimate relationship binding it to its owner”
Equipped with an HMC 810 three-dimensional automatic Manufacture calibre—ticking at a frequency of 21,600vph—ensures a minimum 72 hours of power reserve.
*Invented in the 18th century, the cylindrical balance spring is reminiscent of a worm- or corkscrew, rising perpendicularly around the upper rod of the balance staff. Commonly used in historical marine chronometers at the time, it offers the advantage of developing concentrically, and therefore geometrically, since it works perfectly along the axis of its pivots. This gives it a significant advantage over the flat balance spring, whose opposite ends tend to exert forces on the pivots, despite the Philips or Breguet terminal curves which were specifically developed to partially correct the non-concentric opening of the balance spring. Fitted with a Breguet overcoil at both attachment points, the cylindrical balance spring reduces pivot friction and greatly improves isochronism. Due to its specific shape, the cylindrical balance spring is far more difficult to produce and takes ten times longer to make than a traditional balance spring.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Endeavour cylindrical tourbillon H. Moser x MB&F is available in 5 limited editions of 15 pieces each in stainless steel: Funky Blue fumé dial, Cosmic Green fumé dial, Burgundy fumé dial, Off-White fumé dial and Ice Blue dial.
Case
Steel topped by a high domed sapphire crystal
Diameter: 42.0 mm
Height: 19.5 mm
Height without crystal sapphire: 9.4 mm
Crown at 9 o’clock, engraved with a “M“
See-through sapphire crystal case back
Dial
Main dial: Funky Blue fumé, Burgundy fumé, Cosmic Green fumé, Off-White fumé or Ice Blue fumé with sunburst pattern
Hours and the minutes displayed on a 40° vertically tilted sapphire dial at 6 o’clock
Leaf-shaped hour and minute hands, blued on the reference 1810-1203
Movement
HMC 810 three-dimensional automatic Manufacture calibre
Diameter: 32.0 mm or 14 1/4 lignes
Height: 5.5 mm
Frequency: 21,600 vibrations/hour
29 jewels
184 components
Automatic bi-directional pawl winding system
Oscillating weight in 18-carat gold with engraved H. Moser & Cie. logo
Power reserve: minimum 72 hours
Cylindrical hairspring
One-minute flying tourbillon at 12 o’clock with skeletonised bridges
Functions
Hours and minutes
Strap
Hand-stitched black alligator leather
Steel folding buckle engraved with the Moser logo