MB&F unveils LM Perpetual EVO Silicon Valley

Priced at $210,000+

MB&F creations have long since carried their wearers beyond the realm of the ordinary, transporting them to fantastical locales that exist only within the confines of the imagination. From the commanding prowess of star cruisers to the delicate, otherworldly dance of deep-sea jellyfish, Maximilian Büsser’s Machines are the architectural cartographers of the multiverse.

With the introduction of the EVO line in 2020, this journey transcended even further, and the LM Perpetual EVO arrived as a beacon for those whose lives were constantly on the move. It was a watch that would accompany its owner, never faltering, no matter the path taken.

The LM Perpetual EVO debuted in three limited editions fashioned from zirconium, followed by a sleek titanium edition adorned with a striking green CVD dial plate. In February 2024, the titanium iteration was updated with an ice-blue dial plate, a fresh visual cue that embodied the passage of time with unfailing elegance.

To commemorate the grand opening of the MB&F Lab in Silicon Valley, a special edition was created, limited to only 18 pieces. Each features an 18K rose gold case and an ocean blue dial plate. Every edition boasts a meticulously crafted integrated rubber strap, ensuring the most comfortable wearing experience ever to grace an MB&F Machine.

The LM Perpetual EVO Silicon Valley is a limited edition of only 18 pieces. It will be available exclusively at the MB&F Lab, soon opening in Menlo Park with the watchmaker’s retail partner, Stephen Silver. The retail price is $210,000 + tax.

With a case diameter of 44mm, the LM Perpetual EVO’s design evokes a profound sense of clarity and openness. A bespoke monobloc shock-absorbing system, known as the “FlexRing,” was developed specifically for this piece, marking it as the most robust Machine ever emerging from the MB&F atelier.

LM Perpetual Engine

Central to the watch is the LM Perpetual Engine, a design genius by Stephen McDonnell. This award-winning perpetual calendar mechanism diverges from traditional systems by incorporating an innovative mechanical processor.

The MB&F collection has long been a confluence of horological prestige and avant-garde mechanics. However, the Legacy Machine Perpetual has stood as the pinnacle of MB&F’s watchmaking savoir-faire since its introduction in 2015. While the 44mm case diameter remains unchanged, the new EVO case boasts a revolutionary no-bezel design, with the sapphire crystal seamlessly fused to the case.

This radical new approach enhances the piece’s aesthetic fluidity, balancing the legibility of the perpetual calendar indications with the cinematic choreography of the engine components, all crowned by the iconic MB&F hovering balance wheel.

Achieving this new presentation of the LM Perpetual Engine was no simple feat. Extensive recalculations of the sapphire crystal’s geometry were required to preserve structural integrity while reducing its height-to-diameter ratio. The removal of the bezel further necessitated the implementation of an advanced thermal bonding system between the sapphire crystal and the case.

The pushers for adjusting the perpetual calendar have also evolved and are now transformed into enlarged, double-sprung oblong actuators. These additions offer enhanced tactile feedback, providing the user an intuitive and comfortable experience.

Moreover, the LM Perpetual EVO boasts an 80m water resistance rating thanks to its screw-down crown. This intricate detail incorporates a mechanism that disengages the winding stem when the crown is pushed in and secured, preventing the risk of manually overwinding the mainspring barrel.

FlexRing

The most striking innovation in the LM Perpetual EVO is the FlexRing—an annular dampener between the case and the movement that delivers shock protection across both vertical and lateral axes.

Crafted from a single block of stainless steel, the FlexRing imparts an extraordinary level of durability to the perpetual calendar, a complication traditionally regarded as the epitome of horological elegance yet one of the most practical high complications.

Stephen McDonnell’s quest to revolutionise the perpetual calendar led him to rethink the mechanical foundation of this centuries-old complication. The LM Perpetual Engine eschews traditional methods by introducing a “mechanical processor” consisting of interlocking disks. Rather than assuming a default of 31 days per month, as in conventional perpetual calendars, McDonnell’s design begins with 28 days – the only number of days standard to all months.

The processor then adds the requisite days for each specific month, ensuring absolute precision and eradicating the possibility of erroneous date changes. Furthermore, an integrated safety mechanism disconnects the quickset pushers during the date transition, safeguarding the movement from accidental damage.

Legacy Machine Perpetual has always been at the cutting edge of watchmaking, seamlessly blending time-honoured artisanry with a forward-thinking spirit. Yet the LM Perpetual EVO takes this ethos a step further. It is not merely a timekeeping instrument; it is a life companion.

Regarding calendrical computation, traditional perpetual calendars function as a module atop an existing movement. These systems employ a lever mechanism that transmits information across the calendar indications, adjusting the date with elegant yet cumbersome components. While beautiful, such traditional systems are often unwieldy and restrict the movement’s potential, rendering the creation of something as complex as the Legacy Machine Perpetual impossible.

The LM Perpetual Engine, however, ushers in a new era. Its unique system of superimposed disks allows the perpetual calendar to adapt fluidly to the varying lengths of months, ensuring each month has precisely the correct number of days.

Including a planetary cam further enhances the design, allowing for quick and effortless year adjustment by the four-year leap year cycle. In contrast, traditional perpetual calendars necessitate tedious scrolling through several months to arrive at the correct date.

The LM Perpetual Engine’s ingenuity also extends to its built-in safety feature, which disconnects the quickset pushers during the date changeover and eliminates any risk of damaging the movement.

In 2015, MB&F introduced the world’s longest balance wheel pinion, a technical marvel that connects the hovering balance to the escapement at the back of the engine. This extraordinary achievement was a testament to the brand’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of horological excellence, and it has since been showcased in various other pieces within the MB&F collection.

In every aspect, from its intricate design to its groundbreaking mechanics, the LM Perpetual EVO is a true masterpiece—a watch not just for sporting pursuits but for the entirety of life’s grand adventures.

Hero image: The LM Perpetual EVO Silicon Valley is a limited edition of only 18 pieces. Credit: MB&F

Last Updated on 1 week by News Desk 2