The MB&F LM101 EVO, the Compact Legacy Machine Designed as a Daily Driver

The Legacy Machine collection has always been MB&F‘s most paradoxical line. Conceived as a tribute to 19th-century watchmaking, it features some of the most theatrical three-dimensional movements in contemporary horology. The LM101, introduced in 2014, was the most restrained expression of that idea. Smaller, thinner, and mechanically simpler than its siblings, it stripped the concept down to essentials while preserving the suspended balance wheel that defines the family. But it was also the brand’s first watch to feature an in-house movement. And in this respect, it is pretty important. Over the years, the LM101 has evolved, both in terms of looks and materials, but also mechanically, with the addition of a double hairspring. The next big move for the LM101 was to become potentially the brand’s most practical watch to date. 

This is where the EVO treatment comes into play… With the LM101 EVO, unveiled in 2025 for MB&F’s 20th anniversary, the brand intentionally toughened it up for daily wear. And that makes it pretty special. The EVO concept involves a series of design and technical upgrades to make MB&F watches more robust and consequently more wearable in everyday situations. Using a redesigned, more water-resistant case with a screw-down crown, a proprietary FlexRing shock absorber and an integrated rubber strap, the EVO treatment was introduced in 2020 with the hyper-complicated LM Perpetual, a groundbreaking QP developed in collaboration with watchmaking genius Stephen McDonnell. The EVO treatment was then applied to the LM Split Escapement in 2022 and again on one of MB&F’s most ambitious and insanely complex chronographs, the Legacy Sequential EVO. And now, it’s time for the brand’s compact Legacy Machine to EVOlve…

The Case

The MB&F LM101 EVO case dimensions remain unchanged – 40mm in diameter and 16.5mm thick – but the wearing experience is fundamentally different. Made in titanium, the case is lighter and more forgiving on the wrist, especially when paired with the integrated rubber strap. Despite the huge sapphire dome required to house the monumental balance wheel, the watch sits securely and feels good on the wrist. The sloping lugs, despite the 49mm lug-to-lug measurement, help the watch to feel perfectly balanced on the wrist.

The EVO upgrades are not cosmetic. An 80m water-resistance rating, a screw-down crown, and the brand’s FlexRing shock-absorbing system together transform how the watch behaves in real life. This is the first LM101 that does not demand much restraint from its wearer. With some practice, you stop worrying about it, which is a significant shift. With some practice, you simply wear the watch and enjoy it, which is a huge benefit.

The Dial

The dial remains more a component of the movement, not just a decorative layer. Produced using CVD (chemical vapour deposition), the base plate is available in salmon or a very dynamic peacock green, the latter offering shifting hues that react particularly strongly to ambient light and also feels modern, if not slightly provocative. The sub-dials have been redesigned and are now black with fine metallic frames, with some improvement in contrast. The time display at two o’clock has a new set of white gold hands and applied indices, and the power reserve indicator at six o’clock reflects the upgraded 60-hour autonomy. Legibility is still not the primary objective, but it is more resolved and less ornamental than before.

At the centre of everything is the 14mm balance wheel, suspended beneath a mirror-polished double arch. The bridge has been refined, with cleaner transitions at its base and a more fluid profile, a sculpture in itself. The escapement wheel carries a quiet but unmistakable MB&F signature battle-axe motif, recognisable when you look closely enough.

The Movement

The manually wound LM101 EVO calibre remains an in-house construction, with its architecture and finishing specifications overseen by Kari Voutilainen. It operates at 18,000 vibrations/hour and is equipped with a Straumann double hairspring, produced by Precision Engineering AG, a sister company of H. Moser & Cie, and introduced in this version of the LM101.

The jump from a 45-hour to a 60-hour power reserve is a practical improvement that matters. Winding feels deliberate and controlled, aided by a slipping mainspring barrel. Through the caseback, the movement reveals darkened NAC-treated bridges for the EVO’s sportier tone. Yet nothing about the finishing has been sacrificed: large polished bevels, Geneva waves, gold chatons and polished screws remain executed to a level that comfortably justifies the watch’s positioning.

The Strap

The integrated rubber strap is another transformative element of the “EVO package“. Available in grey or white, it is soft, ergonomic and an excellent fit for the case. It removes the certain formality associated with previous LM101 iterations and reinforces the sense that this watch is meant to be lived with. It’s paired with a titanium folding clasp, with spring-loaded blades – one of the best of its kind on the market.

Final Thoughts

The LM101 EVO is absolutely not about rewriting MB&F’s design. It is about correcting a mismatch between form and use that has existed since the first Legacy Machines appeared. By making the LM101 tougher without stripping it of its spirit, MB&F has produced a very convincing everyday Legacy Machine. 

At CHF 62,000 before tax and produced in limited quantities, this is hardly a casual purchase; this is still not a piece you want to unintentionally and/or occasionally bang against the door frame. But for those drawn to MB&F’s vision and previously hesitant to wear a Legacy Machine outside “controlled environment”, the LM101 EVO makes a compelling, practical case for itself. More information at mbandf.com.