Unveiling the MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual in White Gold (in both limited and non-limited editions)

Unless you have been in a coma for the past decade, you’re probably familiar with Max Büsser and Friends’ (MB&F) creations. Fueled by passion for the craft and unbridled creativity, the innovative horological lab played a pivotal role in the rise of “indie” watchmaking. Out-of-the box thinking is the brand’s raison d’être. In 2011, when MB&F presented its first legacy machine (the LM1), a nod to watchmaking tradition, it had to be disruptive. And a few years later, when Irish watchmaker Stephen McDonnell and Max Büsser started to discuss the possibility of a perpetual calendar, the project brought to life another horological surprise, completely re-imagining a century old complication complete with sensational design. First launched in red gold and platinum, the MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual is now available in white gold with purple or grey dials.

Among our favorites to win the Aiguille d’Or at GPHG 2016 (the Oscars of watchmaking – read our report here), the MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual’s name came up often during recent, late evening conversations within the Monochrome team. As it turned out, Max Büsser would instead bring home the GPHG award for the best calendar watch, a well-deserved industry accolade. As a happy coincidence MB&F was also preparing to unveil two new editions of – its now award-winning – Legacy Machine Perpetual in white gold paired with either a majestic purple (limited edition of 25 pieces) or elegant masculine grey (non-limited) dial.

The MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual white gold non-limited (grey, left) and limited (purple, right)

The Legacy Machine Perpetual is a stunning piece of design with a fully-integrated perpetual calendar for which corrections can be performed whenever you like, without fear of breaking anything (and as Max said during the GPHG ceremony, none of the original 50 pieces have had any issues). Its patent-pending mechanism ensures that each month has the exact number of days on a 4-year cycle, taking the default number of 28 days in a month and adding extra-days as needed (to learn more about this innovative purpose-built development read our hands-on review here). Its heart, laid bear, beats at a slow, captivating and unusual 2.5Hz frequency, revealing the intricacies of the calendar mechanism and bringing dramatic depth. Although the balance wheel is suspended from an architectural full balance bridge, the escapement is actually at a back of the movement and uses an uncommonly long balance wheel pinion. The fact that the complication with its spectacular hand-finishing can be fully admired “dial” side is indeed fascinating.

The new white gold Legacy Machines Perpetual keep the same technical characteristics as the two first limited editions released in pink gold and platinum. The purple version is particularly striking. Some might regret that it is released as a limited edition only, given the success of the first two series of 25 which have sold out already. The charcoal grey face is less distinctive but nonetheless super elegant and will remain a worthy option as a non-limited production. Price of both 18K white gold editions is 148,000 Swiss Francs (ex. taxes). mbandf.com.

Technical specifications of the MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual

• Case: 44 mm diameter x 17.5 mm thickness – 18k white gold – sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coating on both sides – 30m water resistant
• Movement: manual winding, developed with Stephen Mc Donnell – 72h power reserve – 18,000 vibrations/h – fully integrated perpetual calendar with hours, minutes, day, date, month, retrograde leap year and power reserve indication.
• Strap: alligator with 18k white gold folding buckle.