Before the end of 2021, Max Büsser did the unthinkable releasing a watch priced at CHF 1,900 Swiss Francs —approximately $2,000 USD. Reserved for his friends and what MB&F likes to call The Tribe —the select group of clients that have purchased MB&F watches in the past. The M.A.D. 1 Friends Edition looks a lot like an MB&F but is not one. Between the finishes, the engine, and the craftsmanship, the M.A.D. 1 is just a fun watch that Max Büsser launched because he can. And you know what? We love that.
Posts filed under Other Brands
Introducing: Louis Erard Excellence Guilloché Main II Limited Edition
Based in the Jura mountains, the birthplace of watchmaking, Louis Erard embodies the values of Swiss mechanics, the tradition that keeps its promises. Combining luxury, timelessness, and elegance at a very reasonable price, this independent brand is renowned for its mechanical watches and, in particular, its iconic regulators. A collection on which the brand, founded by Mr. Louis Erard in 1929, built its reputation.
Insider: CIGA Design Blue Planet. The First Chinese Watch to Ever Win at the GPHG.
The CIGA Design Series U Blue Planet is the first Chinese Made watch to ever win at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève and to make it to the shortlist of the nominees. In November 2021, the CIGA Design Blue Planet was awarded the GPHG 2021 Challenge Prize —watches priced under CHF 3,500 Swiss Francs— while competing against other ‘budget-friendly’ or affordable timepieces that included the Doxa SUB 200 C-GRAPH Caribbean, Oris Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candy, Massena Lab Uni-Racer, Anordain Model 1-Payne’s Grey Fumé and the Furlan Marri Mr. Grey.
Introducing: Harry Winston Premier Valentine’s Flying Hearts Automatic 36 mm. A 14-Piece Limited Edition.
For 2022, a model from the luxurious Premier collection has been selected to deliver a joyous message of love. The many facets of love are portrayed by a bouquet of heart-shaped balloons made of precious gemstones and mother-of-pearl cabochons floating in an ethereal mother-of-pearl sky in a limited edition of only 14 pieces.
Experience: Artisans de Genève Armstrong Challenge Project
This personalization is a reflection of Lance Armstrong career and vision of time. He wanted retro functions on his watch while being very light. To live up to the challenge Artisans de Genève developed a pulse dial with dual counters at 3 and 6 o’clock so he could count time during his races. Even the Rolex calibre 4130 was converted from automatic to manual wound in order to allow for more visibility of the mechanism and give the watch a retro-feel as Armstrong wanted it.
Introducing: BA111OD Chapter 4.1 The Veblen Dilemma. Swiss Made Tourbillon Under 4,000 Swiss Francs.
Despite the use of a brand name that could’ve not been any worse —trying to convey the founder’s last name Baillod using a combination of letters and ones—, Chapter 4.1 The Veblen Dilemma is the latest from Swiss watch brand BA111OD. This Swiss-made tourbillon is offered under CHF 4,000 Swiss Francs —approximately $4,300 USD—, bringing a breath of fresh air to an overtly saturated industry where Swiss-made tourbillons are typically not available at a low price point.
Budget Watches: Seven Friday P1C/04 'Caipi'. As Refreshing as a Brazilian Caipirinha.
Discussing ‘Budget Watches’ is not something we do on a very regular basis but more so every now and then whenever we find an inexpensive watch that catches our attention and that we feel is worth talking about. Since today is Friday, why not talk about the latest addition to the Seven Friday lineup. The Seven Friday P1C/04 'Caipi' is as refreshing as a Brazilian caipirinha at the end of the summer months.
Introducing: Lederer Central Impulse Chronometer. Two 25-Piece Limited Series in White Gold.
Following the initial introduction as a concept watch at last year’s Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, the Lederer Central Impulse Chronometer now takes on its final form. This high-performance chronometer with a revolutionary escapement is housed in a 44 mm case, surrounded by two round and domed crystals that have the effect of slimming the timepiece.
News: Presenting the Harry Winston Project Z15 Limited Edition
Harry Winston is presenting the fifteenth timepiece in its avant-garde Project Z series. Crafted from Zalium, a lightweight, highly resilient material exclusive to Harry Winston, the Project Z is distinguished by its fusion of classic horological composition with highly architectural elements. Incorporating a partially skeletonized minute hand in signature brand colors on the dial, Project Z15 is a modern interpretation of the regulator
clock. Only 300 units of the limited edition watch will be available globally.
News: Bovet 1822 Miss Audrey Sweet Art. The World's First Watch Dial Ever Made with Sugar Crystals.
The new Miss Audrey Sweet Art, however, uses a completely new material and a new process to create a dial that has never been seen before in watchmaking. A dial made from pure sugar. Representing sweetness and purity, the sugar crystals covering the dial of the Miss Audrey Sweet Art represents a breakthrough in engineering innovation, materials, and miniature painting —all hallmarks of the House of Bovet.
W&W 2021: Purnell Escape II Absolute Sapphire. A Million Dollar World's First Double Triple Axis Tourbillon in a Full Sapphire Case.
Known to only produce tourbillon movements, the Swiss watchmaker Purnell is inspired by performance, precision and mechanical prowess, doubling down on its philosophy of bringing more future than past to watchmaking. In just a year since the brand’s introduction at Watches & Wonders Geneva 2020, Purnell has made its mark on the landscape of contemporary high watchmaking, not only with its unmistakable Spherion
W&W 2021: Presenting the Hermès H08
Fully developed in-house, the new Hermès H08 is a new pillar collection for the brand. An everyday, all-terrain watch that embodies Creative Director Véronique Nichanian’s vision of the men’s universe. Light and travels easily for any experience. The design is a collaboration between Véronique, Pierre-Alexis Dumas —Artistic Director, Hermès—, and Philippe Delhotal —Artistic Director, Hermès Horloger. Created completely in-house, the new H08 features the manufacture H1837 movement.
News: Presenting the Genus Dragon
Genus presents a watch with a spectacular centerpiece: a guardian dragon in motion that indicates the passage of time. Bringing together Haute Horlogerie, mechanical engineering, goldsmithing, sculpture and engraving:to create a fascinating equilibrium between technical constraints and aesthetic requisites. The result is unprecedented. a graceful, powerful, expressive dragon crafted from 18K gold, like the main components of the movement, revealing not only a full range of horological artistry,but also unlocking vast creative possibilities.
News: Frederique Constant Highlife Perpetual Calendar 18K Gold
For over 30 years, Frederique Constant has developed luxury Swiss Made timepieces accessible to as many people as possible. Today, the brand presents the new Highlife Perpetual Calendar Manufacture in 18K rose gold. This very special timepiece is one for discerning collectors and will be limited to just 30 pieces. Created in 1999, the Highlife collection is making its comeback in 2020, having been entirely overhauled. Its distinctive redesigned case houses a dial decorated with a globe motif. Symbolizing the Earth, the perfection of the circle, it is also the icon of a new generation that shares the same ideal for saving the planet, sustainable and sensible living.
News: Presenting the Christophe Claret X-TREM-1 Azteca
This iconic work of Aztec art proudly adorns the new X-TREM-1. This timepiece including the "Stone of the Sun" in relief, made of solid gold entirely hand-engraved, will be offered as a Unique Piece at the SIAR 2020. Driven as ever by a determination to present avant-garde timepieces, 5N red gold and black grade 5 PVD titanium were the metals chosen to make the case of this new version of the X-TREM-1 Azteca.
News: Czapek & Cie. Place Vendôme 'Al-Kanz' in Support of the Emirates Foundation
Czapek & Cie teams up with Arab Watch Club to create a unique piece, a Place Vendôme model with an exceptional Zoisite —a mineral that includes several gem varieties such as Tanzanite— dial. This watch will be auctioned by Christie's in order to support Emirates Foundation which is an independent organization set up by the Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to facilitate public-private funded initiatives to improve the welfare of youth across the UAE and encourage them to embrace the concept of volunteerism.
Insider: L’Epée 1839 'Pancho Villa' Pistol Clock
Only the clock masters at L’Epée 1839 could’ve thought of creating a mechanical table clock shaped after a smoking revolver. After numerous collaborations with MB&F, the oldest and most reputable clockmaker in Switzerland teamed up with The Unnamed Society —whose motto is “Create the impossible that cannot be imagined”— to come up with what has never been done before.
News: Presenting the Kudoke 2 Nocturne Limited Edition
Stefan Kudoke’s passion for watchmaking handcraft began at an early age when two skilled master craftsmen imbued in him an appreciation and love of the mechanical processes of timekeeping. Although not born into a long family tradition in watchmaking, Stefan finished his studies by graduating with honors. He continued to study and refine his skills at the Glashütte Original manufacture in the studio for complications and prototypes. He then continued his professional development in the service department for Breguet, Blancpain, and Omega in New York. But that is not the end of the story.
News: Presenting the Genus GNS1.2 TD Damascene Titanium
After inventing a new way of telling time, without dials or hands, Genus introduces a timepiece in Damascene Titanium. It is a rare material in Haute Horlogerie. An ancient technique that involves a savoir-faire as challenging as it is subtle. It is called Mokume-gane in Japan, where the method has been used for making katana sword blades since the 17th century. In the heart of the forge, the hammering and folding of layer upon layer of titanium is a craft reserved for the best.
News: Presenting the Krayon Anywhere. Displaying the Time of Sunrise and Sunset Anywhere.
Krayon is a very new independent watch brand founded three years ago in Neuchâtel and their first release was the watch called Everywhere. A year later, the Everywhere would bring them the 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève Innovation Watch Prize. Krayon was launched by Rémi Maillat a watch design engineer and watchmaker. Krayon's approach was born from a dream of having a mechanical movement, adjustable by hand, that would make it possible to read the time of sunrise and sunset in any place in the world.
