In 2023, a decade after MB&F’s inaugural foray into automotive-inspired horology, the independent concept laboratory unveiled the HM8 Mark 2, a timepiece that encapsulates the brand’s enduring fascination with the world of high-performance automobiles. The initial launch presented two editions—one in white and another in green CarbonMacrolon®, the latter limited to 33 pieces. This lineage was soon expanded with a glossy blue edition in 2024, and, for 2025, MB&F introduces a striking purple variant, also limited to 33 pieces, its casework shimmering with metallic pigments reminiscent of the most luxurious car paints.
The Genesis: MB&F and the Automotive Muse
MB&F’s relationship with automotive design is deeply personal, rooted in the childhood dreams of founder Maximilian Büsser, who once aspired to be a car designer. This passion, undimmed by time, found new expression in the world of horology, where Büsser’s vision of kinetic art could be realised through radical watchmaking1. The automotive theme first materialised in the HM5 (2012), continued with the HMX (2015), and matured in the HM8 (2016). Each model is distinguished by a speedometer-style display, evoking the bold, futuristic dashboard designs of the 1970s.
The Evolution of MB&F’s Automotive-Inspired Machines
The HM5 drew inspiration from the Amida Digitrend, employing a sapphire prism to project jumping hours and sweeping minutes vertically, thus creating a display reminiscent of vintage speedometers. The HMX refined this concept, offering a partial view of the movement beneath a sapphire crystal and incorporating miniature oil caps, a nod to classic automotive engineering. The HM8, dubbed ‘Can-Am’ after the Canadian-American Challenge Cup racing series, introduced titanium roll bars and a visible, dial-side rotor, further deepening the automotive analogy.
HM8: The Can-Am Legacy
The original HM8 was a sculptural homage to the exuberance of Can-Am racing, its case design echoing the distinctive roll bars of those legendary machines. The movement, based on a Girard-Perregaux calibre, featured a rotor visible on the dial side, a technical flourish that underscored the kinetic spirit of the piece. This movement and its innovative display mechanism would become the foundation for the subsequent HM8 Mark 2.
HM8 Mark 2: Technical and Aesthetic Mastery
The HM8 Mark 2 represents the culmination of over a decade of experimentation and refinement. Its construction is directly inspired by automotive chassis engineering: a water-resistant titanium frame forms the foundation, onto which body panels of CarbonMacrolon® are affixed. This proprietary material, a polymer matrix reinforced with carbon nanotubes, offers remarkable strength and rigidity while weighing eight times less than steel, and can be finished in a variety of colours and textures.
The case, measuring 47mm by 41.5mm with a height of 19mm, is crowned by a double-curved sapphire crystal—a feat of manufacturing complexity, requiring a process 30 to 40 times more demanding than a standard dome sapphire. The body panels, available in white, green, blue, or purple, are imbued with metallic pigments to achieve a lustrous, car-paint effect. Each edition is paired with a rubber strap, ensuring both comfort and a sporty aesthetic.
The Dial and Display
The MB&F HM8 Mark 2’s display is a masterclass in optical engineering. Hours and minutes are indicated by discs lying flat atop the movement, their numerals projected vertically via high-precision sapphire prisms with integrated magnifying lenses. This arrangement not only enhances legibility but also creates an almost digital effect, with numerals rendered in reverse on the discs and corrected by the prism. Super-LumiNova® is applied beneath the sapphire, ensuring a uniform, flat luminescence even in low light.
The Movement
At the heart of the HM8 Mark 2 is a three-dimensional horological engine: a jumping hour and trailing minutes module developed in-house by MB&F, powered by a Girard-Perregaux base movement. The automatic calibre comprises 247 components and 30 jewels, with a power reserve of 42 hours and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4H). The signature 22-carat gold “battle-axe” rotor, now visible on the dial side, is manufactured to exacting tolerances, its blade just two-tenths of a millimetre thick and requiring stamping rather than machining.
The Case and Crown
The case construction is a testament to MB&F’s engineering prowess. The titanium chassis and CarbonMacrolon® body panels are meticulously machined, while the double-curved sapphire crystal is produced by a single supplier willing to undertake the challenge. The crown, concealed near the “boot” of the case, features a world-premiere “double de-clutch” system: it is released by pressing and turning three-quarters of a turn, a solution that saves space and enhances security—qualities essential for a watch with sporting ambitions.
Conclusion
The MB&F HM8 Mark 2 is the embodiment of a lifelong dream, realised through the fusion of avant-garde design, technical innovation, and a profound reverence for automotive culture. Each edition, from the original white and green to the dazzling blue and purple, pays homage not only to the aesthetics of supercars but also to the spirit of relentless invention that defines both high horology and high-performance motoring. In the HM8 Mark 2, MB&F has created a true supercar for the wrist – a machine that invites its wearer to dream boldly, and to remember that the pursuit of passion need never be abandoned.
MB&F HM8 Mark 2 Purple Technical Specifications
HM8 Mark 2 is available in a grade 5 titanium case with white CarbonMacrolon® body panels; or in limited editions of 33 pieces each with green, blue or purple CarbonMacrolon® body panels.
Price: CHF 68,000 + VAT (USD 88,000 / EUR 74,000 + taxes).
Engine
- Three-dimensional horological engine, composed of a jumping hour and trailing minutes module developed in-house by MB&F, powered by a Girard-Perregaux base movement.
- Mechanical movement, automatic winding
- 22K gold automatic winding rotor
- Power reserve: 42 hours
- Balance frequency: 28,800bph/4Hz.
- Number of components: 247 components
- Number of jewels: 30 jewels
Functions/indications
- Bi-directional jumping hours and trailing minutes, displayed by dual reflective sapphire crystal prisms with integrated magnifying lens.
Case
- Grade 5 titanium with green, white, blue or purple CarbonMacrolon®
- Dimensions: 47 x 41.5 x 19 mm
- Number of components: 42
- Water resistance: 30m / 90’ / 3atm
Sapphire crystals
- Sapphire crystals on top, front and display back treated with anti-reflective coating on both faces.
- Dual reflective sapphire crystal prisms with integrated magnifying lens.
Strap & Buckle
- Rubber strap – white for the British green, sapphire blue and purple models and green for the white model with a titanium tang buckle.
