Initially launched in 2010, the new MB&F FrogX watch celebrates the 10th anniversary of the brand’s most popular model.

Ten years ago, MB&F introduced the amphibious inspired HM3 Frog in all its bug-eyed glory. It was one of the brand’s best sellers throughout its five-year run. Featuring two large “eyes” that rotated to display the hours and minutes and a broad grinning “smile,” MB&F’s Frog pushed the boundaries of design and looked ready to jump at a moment.

Now to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its creation, MB&F has created a special limited edition FrogX in three different colors with a new sapphire crystal case and a “secret that appears only under the right light”.

Like the previous Frog edition, two paper-thin domes milled out of light-weight black anodized aluminum indicate the hours and minutes and are housed under two sapphire crystal domes. What is different with the new FrogX model is that the entire case has now been crafted out of sapphire crystal (instead of only the domes combined with a metal case).

On both editions of the Frog, the curvature of the domed “eyes” has to be exactly right and the thickness of the crystal strictly controlled throughout so as not to distort the time display. With the new FrogX, however, the two sapphire domes are fused to the sapphire crystal upper case body, creating an additional level of difficulty.

Machining and polishing each case of HM3 FrogX requires weeks of intensive and meticulous work, a time-frame that would be significantly multiplied if not for MB&F’s experience in sapphire crystal design dating back to 2005.

Incorporating the distinctive HM3 engine built by watchmaker Jean-Marc Wiederrecht, the FrogX still offers the wearer an uninterrupted view of the 22K gold and titanium winding rotor and the oscillations of the balance wheel but has forgone the date display to ensure the MegaWind rotor and domes are given enough real-estate on the dial.

To make it easier to read the time at night, the dome numbers are coated with Super-Luminova and appear like two glowing eyes of a wild tree frog peering out of the darkness in the Amazon.

Another unique attribute of the FrogX is the secret MB&F battle-axe “signal” that appears at just the right angle thanks to some clever light-sculpting techniques by Swiss company Rayform.

Using the FrogX’s crown (usually engraved with MB&F’s iconic battle-axe insignia), the smoothly polished crown has instead been sculpted at microscopic levels that allow light to be reflected in a highly specific way. By micro-forming a metal surface at levels nearly imperceptible to the human eye, Rayform’s technology allows direct incident light beams to be reflected in the battle-axe shape that can be viewed on any relatively uniform surface.

Limited to 10 pieces of each of the three versions (blue, purple or turquoise), the HM3 FrogX 10th anniversary limited editions are priced at CHF 138,000 each (approx USD$150,000) and available through retailers and MB&F directly.

MB&F HM3 FrogX Details

Variants

• Sapphire Crystal case with blue dial plate
• Sapphire Crystal case with purple dial plate
• Sapphire Crystal case with turquoise dial plate

Engine

• 3D Horological engine designed by Jean-Marc Wiederrecht/ Agenhor on Girard-Perregaux GP03300 base
• Power reserve: 48 hours
• Balance frequency: 4Hz / 28,800 bph
• Number of components: 277
• Number of jewels: 36

Functions / Indications

• Hours on one dome and minutes on second dome
• “Secret message” crown that reflects light rays to project MB&F battle-axe icon

Case

• Material: Sapphire Crystal
• Dimensions: 48.3 mm x 52.7 mm x 17.5 mm
• Number of components: 70
• Water resistance: 90ft / 30m / 3 ATM

Strap & Buckle

• Hand-stitched alligator strap with titanium folding buckle

Price

• MB&F HM3 FrogX Price: CHF 149,000 + VAT / USD$152,000 + tax / EUR 138,000 + tax