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Pure Beauty: MB&F Legacy Machine LM 101 (51.S1L.W)



The ultimate interpretation of the balance wheel.

When I first met Maximillian Büsser, he was in New York to launch his second horological machine (Horological Machine No. 2, or HM2 for short) in the United States. He took me to lunch at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), which seemed like the perfect place to appreciate a piece of modern horological art. Today, the HM2 is a classic, a classic in itself, like many works that break aesthetic taboos. But it remains a perfect example of the fundamental ideas behind all horological machines—creating a movement and case that fundamentally deconstructs the traditional design language of haute horlogerie and reinterprets it with a variety of cultural symbols, ranging from cars, comics (especially comics and science fiction), airplanes, spacecraft, and even highly stylized animal imagery.

However, at some point, Max, clearly possessing a keen appreciation for the value of classic haute horlogerie, began to ponder what kind of watches he would have created if he had been born in an earlier era and possessed his current taste—"What would have happened if I had been born in 1867 instead of 1967?" In 2011, we found the answer—the first Legacy Machine watch was launched, also MB&F's first round wristwatch. The LM1 won the Best Men's Watch award at the 2012 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) and introduced a completely new fundamental design that has permeated almost all subsequent Legacy Machine watches—the so-called "flying balance wheel." In this design, a large balance wheel with a diameter of 14 mm (by comparison, the ETA 2892 movement has a balance wheel diameter of 9 mm) is suspended above the dial, supported by two arched bridges, the ends of which connect to the balance wheel axis above.

The first Legacy Machine watches, the LM1 and LM2, featured relatively complex structures. The LM1 had two dials displaying the time in two different time zones and used a curved three-dimensional power reserve indicator. The LM2, designed by MB&F long-time partner Steven McDonnell, employed a "split escapement," with the lower pivot of the balance wheel and the shock-resistant jewel mounted on a bridge on the back of the movement, and the escape wheel also located on the back. This can be seen as a logical extension of the concept first explored in the HM1 watch—that the balance wheel could oscillate without being directly connected to the rest of the timekeeping train. In the next Legacy Machine watch launched in 2014—the LM 101—MB&F returned to the original design of the LM1, with the balance wheel, lever, and escape wheel clearly visible through the domed crystal. Earlier this week, we explored the latest Legacy Machine—the LM Serial Flyback Chronograph—and in this week's "Watch of the Week," we'll be introducing the LM 101 (51.S1L.W).

The most dynamic element in a watch is undoubtedly the balance wheel, yet despite its visual appeal, it's almost invisible when worn—the only exception being watches with skeletonized windows on the dial, including tourbillon watches. Of course, there's always been controversy among collectors regarding skeletonized dials—some find them repulsive for various reasons (they're unconventional; they disrupt the harmony of the dial), while others appreciate them for different reasons (it gives your wrist a chance to show it off; it reminds you that this is a mechanical watch; if I were spending a six-figure sum on a tourbillon, I'd certainly want to see it). However, the LM 101 is quite different—this watch takes the concept of showcasing the balance wheel to its extreme. The entire design revolves around creating a truly unique visual experience: if you're going to showcase the balance wheel, make it a (truly) spectacular display.

This 40mm platinum-cased watch became one of the most wearable models in the MB&F Classic collection and even other collections upon its release. The name "101" reflects its emphasis on fundamental elements. However, it cannot be called a back-to-basics watch. The balance wheel is suspended above the dial (hence the need for a high-domed crystal), supported by double-arched bridges, the shape of which is also reflected in the bridges of the escapement wheel and escapement fork. This movement is MB&F's first fully in-house developed movement, with Kari Voutilainen involved in its finishing and layout design. As you would expect, the finishing is superb under his guidance.

The movement's exquisite craftsmanship is undeniable, and it is a solid foundation of traditional haute horlogerie (the S-shaped central bridge looks like it was transplanted directly from an antique pocket watch), but what truly makes it more than just a piece of heritage, but a "masterpiece of heritage," is the dramatic three-dimensionality of the dial's sides. I don't know if Max Busser would have designed such a watch if he had been born in 1867 instead of 1967, but in any case, this concept provides a starting point rather than a fixed formula.

While the dial is clearly the more modern of the watch's two sides, it is not entirely detached from the traditions of haute horlogerie. For example, the choice of font for the power reserve Arabic numerals and the slender Roman numerals on the time sub-dials, the handcrafted Breguet-style hairspring, and the lacquered finish on the sub-dials all reflect this tradition; the lacquer gives the watch a deep, enamel-like quality.

All MB&F watches are exceptional, each unique. In the case of the LM 101, what sets it apart from other Legacy Machines watches is its essence—despite its superb technology, it showcases not only the most captivating aspects of its own design but also the most fascinating aspects of mechanical watchmaking. The LM 101 is less a revolution in watchmaking and more a mechanical meditation on the essence of watchmaking's allure—it reminds us that the essence of any type of haute horlogerie lies in the perfect fusion of aesthetics and mechanics.