HM9 Air Edition
THE DESIGN PROCESS
While many MB&F watch designs echo mid-20th century aviation or automotive
profiles, Busser explains that his designs rely far more on his own personal
experiences.
“At the beginning of a project, I don’t actually think: “Let’s create a timepiece
that looks like a car or a plane,” he says. “I create a piece that gets my adrenaline
flowing and then, when the design is finalized or when I have the first 3D print
on my wrist, I realize where the influences stem from. Coco Chanel was credited
with a saying I love: “He who insists on his own creativity has no memory.”
Everything that has seeped into me for the last fifty-one years is the base for the
creative outflow.”
Sometimes, an initial design idea undergoes substantial alteration before the
final version is realized. For the HM9 however, the final design was surprisingly
true to Busser’s initial idea.
“I am so proud of the team because the final piece is practically identical to
my initial concept design,” Busser says. “That usually never happens. I guess
either the engineers were even smarter than usual, or I was just more difficult
and adamant not to allow modifications.
MB&F’s latest Horological Machine, No. 9 Flow, exhibits a kinetic
aerodynamic shape that, with judicious polish and satin finishing and dramatic
sapphire windows, nicely frames a technically exacting engine. Flow fits
perfectly into this independent maker’s ongoing series of retro-futuristic time
machines. The HM9 is offered with a choice of two finishes: an ‘Air’ edition with
darkened NAC movement and aviation-style dial, and ‘Road’ edition with a rose-
gold-plated movement and a speedometer-style dial. In 2019, expect MB&F to
release two new movements that Busser says will be unusual, even for MB&F.
“And we have gotten out of our creative comfort zone,” Busser says. “Yes, it
may seem weird, but we actually have a creative comfort zone. We explore new
unchartered territory, which actually scared the hell out of me!” Each of the
AT THE BEGINNING OF A
PROJECT, I DON’T ACTUALLY
THINK: “LET’S CREATE A
TIMEPIECE THAT LOOKS LIKE
A CAR OR A PLANE,”
two MB&F HM9 Flow editions, Air and Road, will be made in titanium cases and
limited to 33 pieces each. Price: $182,000.
66 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | WINTER 2019
HM9 Rear View