It is a decidedly difficult task for the watch lover to not be enraptured by the many wondrous horological propositions of Maximilian Busser. One of the industry’s most consistently inventive, and mechanically enraptured frontmen, he’s stunned us over and over from the early days of the Harry Winston Opus series in the 1990s, then to his own ventures at MB&F with the wildly inventive Horological Machines and on to the fundamentally simpler, yet no less stunning Legacy Machines line of which we have further development here to ponder over. The Legacy Machines 101 are MB&F’s attempts to distill the pure aesthetics of functional watchmaking in a way that creates genuine visual intrigue and openness into the heart of horology, as seen through the lens of classical 19th century craftsmanship and technical solutions. Thrust high above the stepped and separated subdials for hours and minutes, as well as seconds, the balance wheel and escapement float high atop it all, like something from a Salvador Dali painting. The result is ethereal, yet technical and mesmerizing, a tribute to both science and fantasy. As always, the perfectionist ethos of MB&F’s friends, such as the legendary independent master Kari Voutilainen who was an early partner in these watches, ensure that every single component of the movement, is engineered and finished to a level near the pinnacle of the craft.
2021’s LM101 editions add further visual intrigue to this lovely line of watches with gorgeous shades of clear lacquer, in a royal blue for the red gold version, paler blue for the stainless steel option, and an iridescent purple for the white gold Legacy Machine 101. The scintillating nature of this dial is achieved by the manufacturer via a multi-layer, multi-step heating process in which these layers of translucent lacquer are gradually drawn out to cover the entire dial’s surface area. These are all so gorgeous to behold, I don’t know how one could choose, and can only say there is no answer which isn’t resoundingly right! “Let the beholder find their beauty.”
As always, bravo to Mr. Busser and his team, for ensuring we all just can stop a moment to appreciate the wonder of Swiss watchmaking at a fantasy level, both in terms of pure craftsmanship, and inventive artistry that transcends petty commercialism.