Back in 2015, Maximilian Büsser, the Founder of MB&F, was on his way to a hotel in Tokyo when he had a sudden vision of a watch that had four legs, a big head, two eyes, a brain and edgy jaws. – After a lot of procrastination, the HM10 Bulldog was conceived and the response, as we know it, has been phenomenal. “What you see now in front of you is more or less exactly what I saw at the time,” said Büsser, “and it was the first time I actually saw a watch in my mind, just like that.”
An unintentional amalgamation of some of MB&F’s best machines – the eyes of the frog, the flying balance wheel of the Legacy, the mobile attachments of the HM4, the 3D power reserve indicator from the LM 1, the HM10 BULLDOG is a powerful and startling wrist machine. In a deeply affirmative way, HM10 Bulldog is simultaneously a reflection of MB&F and a paean to the fidelity of their followers. The traditional saying “as stubborn as a bulldog” parallels the determination of MB&F to chart an untraditional path outside of conventional watch design, sometimes with creations that have polarised the horological community.
This 54mm x 45mm x 24mm asymmetrical masterpiece is offered in two versions: Grade 5 titanium and 18K 5N red gold, coupled with a generous ration of sapphire crystal. In terms of wearability, I’d give the Bulldog a 10/10, all thanks to the sprung strap attachment “legs” that allow the body to wrap firmly around the wrist. The 18K 5N red gold version comes with a hand-stitched brown calf-leather strap with custom-designed red gold folding buckle while the Ti version is fitted with a hand-stitched blue calf-leather strap with Velcro system and titanium buckle.
Two prominent aluminium time-display “eyes”, rolling at anyone who dares look its way, sit beneath the domed sapphire crystal. Another interesting feature here are the hinged jaws that open and shut according to the amount of wind left in its mainspring. A fully closed mouth tells you that “Bulldog” is wound down and ready for a nap. If you can clearly see the rows of shining teeth lining the jaws, get ready, because that means “Bulldog” is full of fight, charged up with 45 hours of mainspring energy. This massive power-reserve indication has been carefully designed and calibrated to consume the least energy possible, allowing HM10 Bulldog to direct its considerable mainspring torque solely towards its suspended balance and its revolving hour and minute domes.
The mechanics of the HM10 Bulldog are equally impressive. The 301-component manual-winding engine was designed and developed in-house, leveraging the best of MB&F’s technical expertise built up over the years. Operating on a single barrel the watch delivers a power reserve of 45 hours; indicated by the opening and shutting of external hinged jaws. Whereas conventional examples of power-reserve display will aim for a simple hand indicator that consumes as little energy as possible, HM10 Bulldog has chosen to make a statement of strength with its impossible-to-miss display. Separate crowns are actuated for winding and time-setting, located towards the rear of the HM10 Bulldog body.
The eye-catching balance, suspended beneath the central sapphire crystal dome and beating at the traditional cadence of 2.5Hz (18,000vph), first appeared in an MB&F creation in 2011, with the debut of Legacy Machine N°1. Since then, this technically challenging mechanism has become a unique icon of MB&F, appearing in the majority of Legacy Machines, Horological Machine N°9, and now HM10 Bulldog.
I resonate with this watch on so many levels, particularly that inscription on the back “Forget the Dog, Beware of the Owner” 😉
Just the an actual bulldog, the HM10 Bulldog may not be a crowd pleaser, but gives you that kind yet courageous, friendly but dignified vibe.
HM10 BULLDOG – TECHNICAL SPECS
Horological Machine N°10 ‘Bulldog’ is available in two versions:
– Ti version: grade 5 titanium case with blue hour and minute domes;
– RT version: 18k red gold and titanium case with black hour and minute domes.
Engine
Manual-winding in-house movement
Frequency: 2.5Hz (18,000bph)
Bespoke flying 14mm balance wheel with four traditional regulating screws floating above the domed dials
Super-LumiNova on the hour and minute domes and markers
Single barrel with 45 hours of power reserve
301 components, 34 jewels
Left crown at 11 o’clock for winding; right crown at 1 o’clock for setting the time
FUNCTIONS & INDICATIONS
Hours on left dome (aluminium dome rotating in 12 hours)
Minutes on right dome (aluminium dome rotating in 60 minutes)
Power reserve indicated in 3D by the opening and closing of the jaws (end of power reserve = closed jaws).
Case
Version Ti: grade 5 titanium
Version RT: 18k 5N+ red gold and grade 5 titanium
Dimensions: 54mm x 45mm x 24mm
Water resistant to 5ATM / 50m / 160ft
Sapphire crystals
2 sapphire crystals treated with anti-reflective coating on both sides
Strap and buckle
RT version: hand-stitched brown calf-leather strap with custom-designed red gold folding buckle.
Ti version: hand-stitched blue calf-leather strap with Velcro system and titanium buckle.