First launched in 2019, the Legacy Machine FlyingT was MB&F’s first-ever machine dedicated to women and it was awarded the prize for Best Ladies’ Complication at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève that year. The MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT was first launched in 18K white gold and then in 18K red gold and platinum. Following the year 2020, MB&F added special editions with stones including Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, and Tiger Eye. Now, with winter right around the corner, two limited edition Legacy Machine FlyingT models inspired by swirling snow and icy stalagmites make their appearance.
These new Ice and Blizzard editions —limited to eight pieces each— are the result of a collaboration between MB&F and French jewelry designer Emmanuel Tarpin. Emmanuel is a 30-year-old independent jewelry designer from Annecy, in Haute Savoie, France. Fascinated by art and precious stones from a young age, he studied jewelry design at Geneva’s Haute Ecole d’Art et Design —HEAD—, before accepting an internship with a studio working for Van Cleef & Arpels. Keen to learn all aspects of the jewelry business, he would continue working directly for Van Cleef & Arpels in the Maison’s Haute Joaillerie workshop for three years.
This is the second collaboration within the Legacy Machine FlyingT collection. The first was with the renowned Italian luxury brand Bulgari and now Emmanuel Tarpin decided on a wintery theme, as not only is winter his favorite season but traveling back and forth between his hometown of Annecy to Geneva, in a sometimes wintery wonderland, quickly provided him with the inspiration he needed.
For this collaboration, Emmanuel Tarpin had a few requests in respect of the movement, starting with the elimination of all gold-colored elements that would have clashed with the white gold case and icy theme. This seemingly innocent request was not quite as simple as it may seem, but all the yellow or red gold elements were changed, while the balance wheel was blued. Another request was to switch out the diamonds set into the center of the tourbillon and two crowns for rare turquoise Paraiba stones, to further reinforce the glacial theme.
MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT Ice
The first model, called Ice, features asymmetrical diamond-set stalagmites that encroach on the sapphire crystal dome and the movement. Each icy stalagmite is different, replicating the randomness of nature. Tarpin took his inspiration from a trip to Lake Baïkal in Southern Siberia, where in winter the lake freezes from the edge inwards until it is totally frozen. The claws of the diamond stalagmites have not quite claimed the movement and the matt lapis lazuli dial, leaving the beauty of the mechanism and the time visible to the eye.
The Ice Edition features:
• Brilliant-cut diamonds on the Ice decoration: ~ 0.611ct
• Brilliant-cut diamonds on the crowns: ~ 0.138ct
• Brilliant-cut diamonds on the case: ~ 1.402cts
• 2 paraibas on the crowns: ~ 0.11ct and 1 paraiba on the tourbillon: ~ 0.03ct
MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT BLIZZARD
For the second model, named Blizzard, Tarpin let his imagination run free into the Alps where he has been skiing since he was two years old. He has interpreted memories of being caught in blizzards of snow into the LM FlyingT with brilliant-cut diamonds set under the sapphire crystal dome and closed-set diamonds set into the matte lapis lazuli dial, depicting snowflakes on the ground. The result is like a snow globe in motion.
The Blizzard edition features:
• Brilliant-cut diamonds on the dial: ~ 0.0457ct
• Brilliant-cut diamonds on the Blizzard decoration: ~ 0.921ct
• Brilliant-cut diamonds on the crowns: ~ 0.138ct
• Brilliant-cut diamonds on the case: ~ 1.402cts
• 2 paraibas on the crowns: ~ 0.11ct and 1 paraiba on the tourbillon: ~ 0.03ct
ON THE WRIST & Price
Powering these new editions is the same movement with the soaring vertical structure of the FlyingT movement, topped by a 60-second flying tourbillon. The sun-shaped winding rotor ensures the automatic movement is fully wound, offering 100 hours of power reserve.
The time is displayed thanks to delicate serpentine hands on a tilted subdial placed at 7 o’clock, visible only to the wearer of the watch; an unconventional layout underlining the intimate, personal nature of the LM FlyingT.
Both watches are delivered on a white alligator strap with light blue lining and a paved pin buckle matching the case and are available in a limited edition of only 8 pieces each.
Sticker Price $170,000 USD. For more info on MB&F click here.
