MB&F LM101 Rose Gold, 2022

Dealer description — S.Song Watches

Maximillian Büsser and Friends, or as we more familiarly know it, MB&F, is one of the most exciting and avant-garde independent watch brands in the watch collecting scene today. Known famously for its ethos of collaborating and acknowledging other master watchmakers in the industry, it is helmed by Max Büsser who together have created some of the most radical and out-there watch designs. The brand is divided into two distinct segments: the HM series, which stands for Horological Machine, and features their most unconventional and audacious timepieces, and the LM series, which stands for Legacy Machine, representing watches that embody the style of a century ago. This structure of the brand is remarkable as it signifies a deep respect for the past, drawing inspiration from it, while simultaneously forging ahead with futuristic and innovative designs. It's a beautiful balance between honoring tradition and creating original, forward-looking horological machines (in other words, highly unique timepieces). The LM101, as denoted, is part of the Legacy Machine series and is the most wearable MB&F by a long margin. First introduced back in 2014, it took the watch world by storm with its unconventional expression of how a watch movement could be constructed. At 40mm, it is sized more conservatively than the other 44mm LM’s and for me, sits the best on the wrist. While the LM101 is considered the entry-level MB&F, it is my favorite because of its fine balance between being simple and looking crazy at the same time. What we have here today is the ‘Red Gold’ variant of the LM101, housed within an 18-carat red gold case and features a contrasting sunburst silver baseplate. In ‘typical’ MB&F fashion, what sets this design apart from other independents is the distinctive signature that made the brand renowned — the large 14mm floating balance positioned on the front of the watch. With a V-shaped 3D bridge suspending the balance above the dial, this watch is far from being "classical" and I assure you, you'll find yourself captivated by it throughout the day. Additionally, a 45-hour power reserve and time indication sub-dial with lacquered finish float above the silver sunburst dial, adding the final touch to this three-dimensional masterpiece. When you turn the watch over, you'll notice that MB&F didn't only focus on the front side. The entire movement is impeccably finished, demonstrating their commitment to perfection. What I particularly appreciated about the movement is its visual proximity to the surface of the sapphire caseback, which enhances the overall viewing experience and makes it even more captivating to admire. The overall aesthetic design of the movement is beautiful, with huge spaces between the bridges and Geneva-striped bridges. Interestingly, the LM101 movement is the first entirely developed and assembled in-house movement from the brand, with the help of course from a long-time friend of the house, Kari Voutilainen.