To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the MB&F Legacy Machine No. 2 , the LM2 returns cloaked in palladium in a limited edition of 18 pieces with an aquamarine —light teal green— sunray dial. Initially launched in 18K white gold with a dark grey dial, in 18K red gold with a silver dial and in an 18-piece limited edition in platinum with a blue dial, the LM2 was the first MB&F timepiece to have two suspended balance wheels above its dial. Years later after its release, a limited edition of 18 pieces in titanium with a green dial was added in 2017, in 2018 a limited edition of 12 pieces in 18K white gold with purple dial was presented and in 2019, an 18K red gold blue limited edition was launched in just 12 pieces. We still remember admiring these timepieces in person and the adrenaline rush we experienced while taking pictures of them back then.
The MB&F LM2 is a timepiece tracing its lineage back over 250 years to three of the greatest watchmakers who ever lived: Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747– 1823), Ferdinand Berthoud (1727– 1807) and Antide Janvier (1751– 1835). These horological legends of the 18th century are united not only by their inventive genius, but also by the fact that they have all constructed clocks and watches with two balances. Two and a half centuries after three of the world's greatest watchmakers put two balance wheels into their movements, MB&F celebrated their pioneering works by creating the Legacy Machine No.2 —LM2—, a timepiece with two balances hovering outside the movement.
The MB& F Legacy Machine No. 2's dual flying balances are suspended high above the dial from four gracefully arching arms. Fitted with a robust and perfectly sized case measuring 44 mm in diameter and 20 mm in thickness, the Legacy Machine No. 2 is just stunning. With a beautiful crown located at what would be the 2 o'clock position, the watch is immaculately finished with a satin-brushed finish.
On display under a highly domed sapphire crystal cupola with anti-reflective treatment on both sides, the dial of Legacy Machine No. 2 is an object lesson in symmetrical simplicity. Top to bottom: the white stretched lacquer sub dial at 12 o'clock, with its blued gold hour and minute hands, is visually balanced by the large, raised differential at 6 o'clock. Left to right: the two flying balances and their escapements are identical mirror images, right down to the position of the stud holders pinning their balance springs.
While the levitated oscillating balance wheels of the binary regulators catch and hold the viewer's gaze, it is the large planetary differential sitting proud of the dial that is the real heart of Legacy Machine No. 2. In an incredible feat of micro-engineering —and the sheer paucity of timepieces with multiple regulators connected via a differential attests to the enormous difficulty in creating such a complex high-precision mechanism.
Immaculate Geneva waves, gold chatons, mirror-polished bevels and bridges designed with deliberate internal beveled angles showcase the movement's peerless fine finishing. Consistent with MB&F's spirit of transparency, the names of the two men responsible for the movement —Jean-François Mojon and Kari Voutilainen— are hand engraved on the back. The manual wound three-dimensional calibre is composed of 241 parts, 44 jewels, a planetary differential comprising 3 gears and 5 pinions, two bespoke 11 mm balance wheels with four traditional regulating screws floating above the movement and dials and a Breguet balance spring and when fully wound, it provides a power reserve of 45 hours while beating at a frequency of 18,000 vph.
To round out the elegance and exceptional look of this amazing timepiece, MB&F chose to fit the watch with a very elegant matte hand-stitched black or brown alligator strap with pin buckle to match case.
Sticker Price $172,000 USD. For more info on MB&F click here.
