The New MB&F LM Perpetual EVO Titanium, With An Icy Blue Dial

Max Büsser might have a fervent imagination, capable of dreaming up spaceships to relay time in the most unusual way to his fellow earthlings, but he also has his feet firmly on the ground. Following the buzz surrounding the launch of the brand’s first perpetual calendar in 2015, a groundbreaking movement with a mechanical processor created by independent watchmaking wizard Stephen McDonnell, Max decided to take the complication out of the safe and adapt it to everyday life. Fitted with shock absorbers, water resistance and a redesigned case in lighter, more resilient materials, the newly christened 2020 LM Perpetual EVO was ready for action – perhaps not kickboxing, but certainly robust enough for an active lifestyle. The fifth LM Perpetual EVO in the all-terrain saga is this titanium version with an attractive icy blue dial plate, a new colour that replaces the titanium model with a green dial.

The LM Perpetual EVO (which stands for Evolution) has appeared in three limited-edition zirconium versions, followed by a titanium edition with a green CVD dial plate. Replacing the titanium case/green dial model, the fifth LM Perpetual EVO is also crafted in titanium and shares the 44mm case diameter and 17.5mm thickness of its predecessors. The no-bezel construction means that the domed sapphire crystal is directly bonded to the case, increasing the viewing pleasure. In a departure from the pushers on the classical LM Perpetual, the EVO has enlarged, easy-to-use oblong actuators, and its screw-down crown ensures the 80m water-resistance of the case. An annular steel dampener – called FlexRing – is placed between the case and movement. to protect the vertical and lateral axes from shocks and increase robustness.

The novelty here is the attractive light blue CVD colour of the dial plate, contrasting effectively with the calendar indications and the time. Smack in the centre of the dial is the mirror-polished V-shaped bridge arching above the spectacular 14mm balance wheel beating at 18,000vph – a signature element of the LM Series. The hours and minutes are at noon on a black galvanic disc with luminescent-tipped hands and light blue markers. Using black galvanic rings, luminescent hands and light blue markings, the days of the week are at 3 o’clock, the months at 6 o’clock and the date at 9 o’clock. At 5 and 7 o’clock, there are two small, rounded tracks: the one on the left indicates the retrograde leap year, and the one on the right is the power reserve indicator.

Visible on the dial is Stephen McDonnell’s revolutionary perpetual calendar. Turning the conventional perpetual calendar movement upside down and inside out, McDonnell’s QP relies on a mechanical processor consisting of a series of superimposed discs. This groundbreaking processor takes the default number of days in the month at 28 – because, logically, all months have at least 28 days – and then adds the extra days required by each individual month. This ensures that each month has precisely the right number of days and removes the possibility of the date jumping incorrectly. An inbuilt safety feature disconnects the quickset pushers during the date changeover so that even if the pushers are accidentally actuated while the date is changing, there is no risk of damage to the 581-component movement.

While most of the horological treats are revealed on the dial, the reverse side reveals the escapement, the double barrels – providing the movement with 72 hours of autonomy – and the superlative hand finishings. Embracing 19^th-century decorative traditions, the reverse side is a trip down memory lane with gorgeous internal bevel angles, polished bevels, large gold chatons, Geneva waves on the darkened bridges and handmade inscriptions.

Availability & Price

The MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual EVO in titanium with an icy blue dial comes with a white rubber strap and titanium folding buckle. The watch is being delivered to MB&F’s retail partners now and can also be bought at the brand’s e-shop. The retail price is CHF 168,000, USD 198,000 or EUR 176,000 (excl. tax).

For more information, please consult mbandf.com.