BY MICHAEL THOMPSON
Backstory
REAR VIEWS OF NOTE
MB&F
LEGACY MACHINE NO. 2
RED GOLD BLUE
FIRST SEEN IN 2013, THE LM2 COLLECTION
includes models with various dial treatments
cased in platinum, white gold, red gold and
titanium. This red gold model with a blue dial
is the newest of the LM2 series, released this
past summer.
As seen through its sapphire glass, the
MB&F original movement was developed
for MB&F by award-winning, innovative
watchmaker Jean-François Mojon (Best
Watchmaker at the 2010 Grand Prix
d’Horlogerie de Genève) and acclaimed
independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen
(also a winner of several Grand Prix awards).
Together, these very different watchmakers
ensured that the movement's aesthetic style
was consistent with high-quality traditional
timepieces of the 19th century. Even the
names of the two men are hand engraved
on the back in a style reminiscent of that
early era.
Voutilainen was especially careful to
ensure that the style and finish of the
bridges and plates visible here are
historically accurate. Note the shape of
curved bridges and the traditionally wide
spaces between the bridges and
between the bridges and the case.
Voutilainen also specified the
hand-finishing: Geneva waves,
over-sized ruby jewels set in
highly-polished countersunk gold
chatons, mirror-polished bevels and
bridges designed with deliberate
internal beveled angles (that cannot
be finished by machine). While
providing historical links with the
large jewels seen in high-grade
antique pocket watch
movements, the large ruby
bearings have a practical
application in reducing wear by
accommodating large diameter pinions and
holding more lubricating oil.
MB&F notes that one of the key
challenges when designing the back of the
movement was to make it beautifully
balanced despite the fact that this particular
movement is missing what most display on
the back: the escapement. Of course, the
MB&F Legacy Machine No. 2 features not
one, but two escapements, and both are set
as the highlights of the dial side, complete
with the LM2’s signature flying balance
wheels, anchors and escapement wheels.
98 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | FALL 2019
THE ESSENTIALS
CASE
44mm x 20mm 18-karat red gold (also made in white
gold, platinum 950 or grade 5 titanium). High domed
sapphire crystal on top and sapphire crystal on back
MOVEMENT
Three-dimensional, developed exclusively for MB&F by
Jean-François Mojon at Chronode and Kari Voutilainen,
manual winding with single mainspring barrel, 45-hour
power reserve, planetary differential comprising 3 gears
and 5 pinions, two bespoke 11mm balance wheels with
four traditional regulating screws floating above the
movement and dials, 18,000-bph balance frequency, 241
components, 44 jewels, superlative hand finishing
throughout respecting 19th century style; polished
internal bevel angles highlighting handcraft; polished
bevels; Geneva waves; gold chatons with polished
countersinks; hand-made engravings.
PRICE
$156,000