New: MB&F LMX Paris Edition with Laurent Picciotto

Interesting new addition to the MB&F LMX family with a collaboration with Laurent Picciotto of Chronopassion.

Press Release information with commentary in italics.

New: MB&F LMX Paris Edition with Laurent Picciotto

The new MB&F LMX Paris Edition is available exclusively at Chronopassion in Paris. Retail price is EUR 122,000 before taxes (= EUR 146,400 including VAT). Limited Edition of 15 pieces.

Commentary

Interesting collaboration between MB&F and Laurent Picciotto. The relationship between the two goes way back. All the way to the very beginning when Max Büsser created MB&F in 2005, Laurent was one of the few retailers who agreed to place orders for the Horological Machine No.1. This was despite what we understand to be a 30% downpayment, and a two year delivery period. And Chronopassion, Laurent’s boutique in Paris became one of just 6 retail partners who took the leap of faith.

Fast forward 17 years, and in 2022, Laurent opens the very first MB&F LABs in the world on rue St-Honoré. And as a special mark of this exceptional friendship comes this new LMX Paris Edition, with a purple sunray dial plate, white gold case, limited to only 15 pieces.

The novelty is the same LMX that was introduced in 2021. But with the new purple sunray dial. The pricing of the LMX has seen a modest increase since the launch price at then EUR 105k / CHF 112k in red gold, to the current novelty at EUR 122k / CHF 118k (today’s exchange).

Release information

In 2023, MB&F brings back a beautiful new edition of its LMX timepiece, featuring a stunning purple dial plate encased in a complementary white gold case. The LMX Paris Edition will be exclusively available at the Parisian MB&F LAB on Rue Saint-Honoré and limited to 15 pieces.

“If I were to give a name to the LMX Paris Edition, I would undoubtedly call it the ‘LMX Deep Purple’ in reference to the famous 1968 rock group – this piece is definitely rock ’n’ roll!”, says Laurent Picciotto, founder of Chronopassion and owner of the MB&F LAB in Paris.

MEET THE “X”

In the MB&F universe, X has a special significance, based on the Roman numeral for 10. It signals a 10^th anniversary, like the HM3 FrogX (2020) marking a decade of the totemic HM3, or HMX (2015), which headlined the 10^th year of MB&F. But X is more than an ancient alternative to the Arabic numeral 10. In algebra, X is the unsolved variable; in cartography, X is the desired destination. X represents the indescribable, the unexplainable and the uncategorisable; it symbolises everything we do not know – yet.

PRESENTING LMX, CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF LEGACY MACHINES

Back in October 2011, MB&F had just launched Legacy Machine N°1, the first creation of a new collection, alongside the existing Horological Machines; one creative lab, two interpretations of time-telling. LMX returns to the earliest encounter with the Legacy Machine collection, utilising the same expression comprising a central flying balance wheel and two dials, although everything else is different.

TWO INDEPENDENT TIME ZONES ON TILTED DIALS

Those familiar with MB&F’s very first Legacy Machine will instinctively know how LMX operates. Two dials of stretched white lacquer, each with its own display of hours and minutes. The dial on the right is set by the crown at the 2 o’clock position, which bears an engraving of the MB&F battle-axe and also winds the movement. The crown at 10 o’clock, engraved with a globe to acknowledge the potential use of a second time zone, sets the time of the left dial. Unlike the first Legacy Machines however, both dials are tilted at an angle – a more complex feature present on the most recent Legacy Machines, requiring the transfer of energy from horizontal to vertical planes thanks to conical gears.

APPARENT MECHANICS UNDER A SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL DOME

While the first few Legacy Machines took a selective approach to what was showcased between dial plate and sapphire crystal dome, later models such as LM Perpetual, LM FlyingT and LM Thunderdome were more open and demonstrative about their mechanical prowess. LMX follows this latter approach, revealing functional elements such as the battle-axe-shaped escapement bridge and gear-train components. Three large wheels are particularly visible: placed next to each winding crown, two are set in motion when setting the time on the corresponding time display, while the gear at 6 o’clock is the common seconds’ wheel.

Of particular note is the new bespoke balance wheel, a 13.4mm behemoth with inertia blocks that marks a departure from the more traditional screwed balances and offers greater accuracy to the watchmaker in regulating the heart of LMX. Other refinements include the polished arms of the straight bridges exposed on the dial plate, manually finished to impart a curved, or bercé, profile on their upper surfaces.

HEMISPHERICAL 7-DAY POWER RESERVE INDICATOR

In another nod to the world-first vertical power reserve indicator of Legacy Machine N^o1, LMX builds on this slice of MB&F history, with a completely novel three-dimensional display that showcases the engine’s impressive seven days (168 hours) of power reserve. In this evolved display, there is the option to select between two modes of counting down the power reserve. Two markers are positioned on opposite sides of a hemisphere; one framed by an arched scale numbered 1 to 7, another with a scale showing the days of the week.

This complex and completely novel interplay of components is given an additional level of intricacy, by the rotation of the entire power-reserve display itself. This allows wearers to choose their preferred mode of power-reserve indication: by continuing to wind the battle-axe crown even after the power reserve is fully replenished, wearers can adjust the orientation of the indication in order to make the day-of-the-week or numeric scale more visible when LMX is on the wrist.

SYMMETRICAL MOVEMENT CONSTRUCTION

Like a perfectly balanced X, the engine of LMX is deeply symmetrical – not only dial-side but also as observed through the sapphire case back, revealing the three barrels placed evenly around the centre, accentuated by the sunray pattern of the Côtes de Genève finishing. A treat for those who can read the language of watch movements, who can discern expert intent and refined purpose behind the placement of each component.

The X in LMX is more than just a symbol for symmetry, or another way to indicate the numeral 10. LMX is the crossroads where the first and second decades of the Legacy Machine Collection meet.

Four limited editions form the LMX collection:

– 18 pieces in 18K red gold with black NAC treatment on plates and bridges;

– 33 pieces in grade 5 titanium with green CVD treatment on plates and bridges;

– 33 “Steel & Brass” pieces in 316L stainless steel with a frosted face.

– And in 2023, a new limited variation of 15 pieces; the LMX Paris Edition, in white gold with a beautiful sunray purple dial.

MB&F LMX – TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Engine

Three-dimensional horological movement developed exclusively by MB&F

Manual winding with three mainspring barrels

Power reserve: 7 days (168 hours)

Balance wheel: new bespoke 13.4mm balance wheel with inertia blocks, floating above the movement

Time display on two inclined dials in stretched lacquer

Balance spring: traditional Breguet curve terminating in mobile stud holder
Balance frequency: 18,000bph/2.5Hz
Number of components: 367
Number of jewels: 41
Chatons: gold chatons with diamond countersinks
Fine finishing: superlative hand finishing throughout respecting 19^th century style; internal bevel angles highlighting hand craft; polished bevels; Geneva waves; hand-made engravings; polished arms of the straight bridges exposed on the dial plate, manually finished to a curved “bercé” profile on their upper surfaces; frosted face for the “Steel & Brass” edition.

Functions
Hours and minutes: completely independent dual time zones displayed on two dials.
Unique hemispherical power reserve with choice of weekday or 7-day indication; rotates to adjust the preferred power reserve indication.
Left crown at 10 o’clock for setting time of left dial; right crown at 2 o’clock for setting time of right dial and winding.

Case

Four editions: 18K 5N+ red gold case limited to 18 pieces, grade 5 titanium case limited to 33 pieces, 316L stainless steel case limited to 33 pieces or 18K white gold case limited to 15 pieces.

Dimensions: 44 x 21.4 mm
Number of components: 27

Sapphire crystals
High domed sapphire crystal on top and sapphire crystal on back with anti-reflective coating on both sides.

Strap & Buckle
Black hand-stitched alligator strap with 5N+ gold folding buckle for red gold version, grey hand-stitched alligator strap with titanium folding buckle for titanium edition, brown hand-stitched alligator strap with stainless steel folding buckle for steel version and grey hand-stitched alligator strap with purple lining and white gold folding buckle for the white gold edition.