At about the 7 o’clock position
you’ll find the dial, tilted at 50
degrees to face the wearer. In
order to display the time at
such an angle, MB&F employed
unusual conical gears to effectively
transmit torque from one plane of
components to another.
TILTED DIAL
The tourbillon tower and its gem-set or black lacquer moat is not the only
unusual sight under the Legacy Machine Flying T dome. At about the 7
o’clock position you’ll find the dial, tilted at 50 degrees to face the wearer.
MB&F says this placement amplifies the more personal nature of time as
this dial is most visible only to the presumably female owner of the Legacy
Machine Flying T.
On the white or black dial MB&F places serpentine, blued hour and
minute hands. MB&F explains that in order to display the time at such an
angle it employed unusual conical gears to effectively transmit torque from
one plane of components to another. This echoes similar solutions first used
in HM6 and more recently inside in the HM9 Flow.
The undulating shapes on the dial are also seen echoed as rays on the
sun-shaped automatic winding rotor, a dramatic gold, platinum and titanium
construction visible through the clear sapphire caseback. While not
technically solar-powered, the automatic engine here is at least
84 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | SPRING 2019
metaphorically sun-driven.
According to Busser, more feminine shapes on this MB&F Legacy Machine
Flying T symbolize his respect for the women in his life.
“I wanted LM Flying T to possess the epitome of femininity as reflected by
the women in my life, particularly my mother,” he recalls in a press release.
“It had to combine supreme elegance with tremendous vitality. The column-
like structure of the flying tourbillon was very important to me as I felt very
strongly that women form the pillar of humanity.”
The movement energizing the tourbillon tower and angled dial has a
power reserve of an impressive 100 hours, among the highest in all MB&F
collections.
The MB&F Legacy Machine Flying T, which debuted at Baselworld 2019,
launches in three editions, all in white gold and set with diamonds. Prices:
$115,000 (black lacquer dial plate with case set with brilliant-cut diamonds;
$145,000 (dial plate and case both fully set with brilliant-cut diamonds;
$315,000 (dial plate and case both fully set with baguette-cut diamonds).