The Wildwatch's snake-like hands are tilted so only the wearer can read the time.
Much has been said and said about the eccentric watches designed and made by Maximilian Büsser and his famous MB&F brand, but his mission can be easily summed up in these words: He creates three-dimensional sculptural kinetic art pieces that give time. ”
From the 'Kitty Hawk' HM4, inspired by World War II jets, to the HM8 Mark 2, which celebrates the Porsche 918 Spyder, eye-catching 3D elements have always been a hallmark of MB&F design, and the same goes for the new legacy machine FlyingT Onyx. can be said.
Beneath the convex sapphire crystal is an onyx dial. But while nearly every other watchmaker simply cuts the mineral into a flat surface, MB&F carved the gemstone into a three-dimensional dome shape. This is a feat easier said than done.
The onyx section required an asymmetrical cutout for the 60-second flying tourbillon, which is driven by an automatic rotor in the shape of a backward-facing sun. To accommodate the technical requirements of the movement plate, it was also necessary to vary the overall thickness of the onyx dial.
The majority of the onyx dial's area is taken up by the stacked sections of the movement itself, consistent with Büsser's love of three-dimensional shapes. In reality, the time is indicated by a serpentine hand on the second dial. This dial is somewhat strangely located at the 7 o'clock position and is tilted 50 degrees so that it can only be read by the wearer.
All this horological experimentalism is housed in an elegant round gold case with Art Deco-inspired elongated lugs and a pair of crowns. The left side is for winding the watch, and the right side is for setting the time. MB&F's Legacy Machine (LM) is his modern homage to 19th century watchmaking, so the case shape is due to traditional design.
Onyx is the latest evolution of the legacy machine FlyingT, which was first launched in 2019. The sculptural influence is obvious, but the real inspiration is more abstract.
“We wanted the LM Flying T to reflect the personalities and qualities of the women in our family, especially our mothers,” Bussers said. “We needed to combine supreme elegance with extraordinary vitality.”
“The pillar-like structure of the flying tourbillon was very important to me because I felt strongly that women are the pillars of humanity. At the same time, the sun-shaped rotor brings another layer of meaning. It incorporates life-giving elements, sources of nourishment to which we draw.”
Priced at $133,000, the LM FlyingT Onyx is available now.
