MB&F LMX Celebrates 10th Anniversary of the Legacy Machine

This year MB&F celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Legacy Machine with the release of LMX, an edition that revisits and reimagines the very first LM1.

When MB&F first launched the new Legacy Machine collection back in 2011, no-one was more surprised than the watch industry. At the time, the avant-garde Swiss watchmaking company was known for “outlandish” 3D watch shapes, and a traditional round watch from the brand could seriously run the risk of being considered mildly dull.

But after four unconventional Horological Machines, MB&F was looking for a new challenge and found it in the question, “What would MB&F have created a century ago, during the golden age of watchmaking?”

The aim was to create a modern-day timepiece that paid tribute to watchmaking excellence of the 18th and 19th centuries, and the first Legacy Machine LM1 was the resulting timepiece.

Utilizing a classic round watch in appearance, the LM1 featured two white lacquer dials to display the hours and minutes, yet still defied traditional watchmaking concepts by floating the balance wheel high above the watch face rather than keeping it safely protected in a rear-mounted location.

This unique “flying” balance wheel would come to distinguish the Legacy Machine collection from its Horological Machine counterparts and inspire a range of intricately unique pieces, as described by Maximilian Büsser in the video below.

Now ten years later, in the form of the new LMX (X representing 10 in roman numerals), the Legacy Machine LMX has time-traveled back to the very first Legacy Machine model and returned with the two white lacquer dials to display twin timezones, although this time instead of lying flat on the face they’ve also been elevated to new heights – on a 50-degree angle to be specific.

While it may appear simple enough at first glance, the very act of tilting the dials required a great deal of ingenuity to produce the transfer of energy from horizontal to vertical planes and is achieved through the engineering of conical gears.

Taking inspiration from later Legacy Machine models like the LM Perpetual Calendar and LM Thunderdome that brought the mechanics to the forefront in an even greater way, the LMX also follows suit and reveals the functional battle-ax-shaped escapement bridge and gear-train components.

Another new feature on the Legacy Machine LMX is an entirely novel three-dimensional countdown display (positioned at what would be 12 o’clock on a traditional watch face) that indicates the seven day/168-hour power reserve in either days-of-week on one side of the 3D display or a 1-7 days scale countdown on the other side.

Thanks to clever engineering, after the watch has been fully wound, the 3D power-reserve display can be rotated so that the wearer can choose which side is visible from their perspective when wearing the watch (the side with the two white lacquer dials facing you).

Interestingly the MB&F LMX was never intended to be an anniversary piece although as fate would have it, Maximillian Büsser’s decision to revisit the first LM1 and ongoing the three-year development time coincided with the 10th anniversary to create the “little city under a sapphire dome” as Büsser’s describes the new timepiece.

The new MB&F Legacy Machine LMX is available from the M.A.D gallery as 18 pieces in Red Gold priced at USD$128,000 or 33 pieces in Titanium and priced at USD$112,000.

MB&F Legacy Machine LMX Details

Engine

• LM Three-dimensional movement developed exclusively for MB&F
• Manual winding with three mainspring barrels
• Power reserve: 7 days (168 hours)
• Balance frequency: 2.5Hz / 18,000bph
• Number of components: 367
• Number of jewels: 41

Functions / Indications

• Hours and minutes: completely independent dual time zones displayed on two dials
• 3D Hemispherical power reserve with choice of weekday or 7-day indication display

Case

• Material: 5N+ 18k red gold or Grade 5 titanium
• High domed sapphire crystal on top and sapphire crystal on the back
• Dimensions: 44 mm x 21.4 mm
• Number of components: 27

Strap & Buckle

• Black leather hand-stitched alligator strap with 5N+ red gold folding buckle matching the case or Grey leather hand-stitched alligator strap with Grade 5 Titanium folding buckle

Price

• MB&F Legacy Machine LMX Red Gold Edition Price: USD $128,000 (limited to 18 pieces)
• MB&F Legacy Machine LMX Grade 5 Titanium Price: USD$112,000 (limited to 33 pieces)