MB&F HM8 with Cassandra Legendre – The Most Artistic and Offset Piece of Only Watch 2017

Only Watch 2017, the much-awaited 7^th edition of the biennial fundraiser for research on muscular dystrophy, is fast approaching. Only Watch kicked-off their world tour in Monaco on the occasion of the Yacht Show before heading to Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai, Istanbul, Hong-Kong, Taipei, New York and Los Angeles. 50 one-of-a-kind watches will be auctioned by Christie’s in Geneva, Hotel des Bergues, on November 11^th, 2017. Today, we take a closer look at the MB&F Horological Machine N°8 ‘Only Watch’, made with young artist Cassandra Legendre.

Max Busser and Friend has been a longtime supporter of AMM (Association Monégasque Contre les Myophaties) and Only Watch – It is no surprise to see Max Busser’s horological lab taking part in the 7^th edition of the fundraiser.

For the occasion, MB&F have customized their automotive inspired Horological Machine N°8 with lateral time display (read our hands-on review here). Launched in 2016, its concept built around an automatic movement with jumping hours and running minutes discs. An optical prism refracts the numeral so they can be read on a vertical plane. Celebrating Max Busser’s nostalgia for supercars and the brutal mechanical spirit of Can-Am, the aerodynamic bodywork is protected under roll bars riveted to the case. Sapphire crystals reveal the engine of the watch from different angles.

The Only Watch version has been personalized with a doodle by 15-year-old Cassandra Legendre (a student, ballet-dancer and artist from Madrid) in a touching metaphor of a child creating something to help children. This collaboration somehow will come as no surprise from a brand whose motto is that “a creative adult is a child who survives“.

Childhood and the power of dreams – Cassandra Legendre’s whimsical creation is engraved and metallized on the sapphire crystal that surmounts the movement. The plate previously engraved by the MB&F logo has been transformed into a smiley, its two screws forming the eyes. One of the elements of her drawing is featured in 3D between the optical prism. This white gold micro-sculpture, hand-crafted by Oliver Khun (also involved in the manufacturing of the HM6 Alien Nation), took 120 hours of meticulous work to complete with details as small as 0.2 mm in diameter such as the tusks.

The alligator strap is fit on extension pivots which help the watch to fit on the wrist comfortably, despite its imposing dimensions. It is secured with a folding buckle.

The estimate for this unique piece donated by Max Busser and Friends for Only Watch 2017 is of CHF 80,000 to CHF 100,000. This is to be compared to a retail price of CHF 78,000 for the HM8. At Only Watch 2015, MB&F a unique piece (Melchior Only Watch with L’Epée) was sold for CH 75,000 vs. an estimate of CHF 30’,000 to CHF 45,000.

For more information about MB&F and Onlywatch, please visit www.mbandf.com and www.onlywatch.com.

Technical specifications – Horological Machine N°8 for Only Watch 2017

• Case: 49 mm x 19 mm x 51.5 mm – white gold and titanium – sapphire crystals all with double-sided anti-reflective coating – water resistant to 30m.
• Movement: mechanical with automatic winding (base GP3300) – 42h power reserve – 28’800 vibrations/h – 30 jewels – Bi-directional jumping hours and trailing minutes displayed by two optical prisms.
• Strap: alligator strap with white gold buckle.
• Unique piece for Only Watch 2017 (featuring a drawing from 15-year-old artist Cassandra Legendre)
• Estimate: CHF 80,000 – CHF 100,000