When MB&F launched the HM8 Mark 2 last year, I talked about automotive-inspired watches, legends and childhood dreams. Interesting materials, quite innovative in the industry, a design more oriented to the SciFi inspired images and films and a big name should be enough for a legendary piece. But only time will tell. This year, the MB&F’s M.A.D.House in Carouge (Geneva) cooked a new variation for the Horological Machine 8: a bold blue piece with a shine like no other, the MB&F HM8 Mark 2 Blue.
Most of you should already be acquainted with the HM8 Mark 2 concept, so I will not waste too much time and bits with all the details. If not, you can read all about it on the MB&F Website here: MB&F HM8 Mark 2 or my report: How Legends are Born: MB&F HM8 Mark 2.
The chassis, the body, the CarbonMacrolon®
If we are talking in automotive terms, the HM8 chassis is built in a monocoque style using titanium. Brushed and polished surfaces streamline and highlight the automobile-inspired shape. Although we can consider most of the watches as being monoblock construction, the MB&F HM8 Mark 2 is, at least said, atypical. It metamorphoses the buggy, tubular construction of the Mark 1 (another unusual construction for the watch industry) into a more robust and aerodynamic piece with an assured feel.
The coachwork (or the body panels) is manufactured from the CarbonMacrolon® – a custom-developed material for MB&F. CarbonMacrolon® consists of a polymer matrix infused with carbon nanotubes to enhance durability and stiffness. Unlike conventional carbon fibre reinforcements, carbon nanotubes offer improved tensile strength and rigidity. MB&F‘s CarbonMacrolon® is a solid substance, weighs eight times less than steel and has a smooth texture, capable of being coloured, polished, bead-blasted, lacquered, or given a satin finish.
The fantastic look of the MB&F HM8 Mark 2 Blue with its iridescent sapphire blue is obtained from metallic pigments of mineral origin introduced in the CarbonMacrolon, naturally with a secret recipe, and finished with a glossy polish. The sheen, the sparks and the entire appearance are breathtaking.
The crown uses the “double de-clutch” system (pushing the crown in and turning it three-quarters of a turn to release it) to engage while keeping it slightly under the hood and non-obtrusive but well-protected.
Time reading
I must add again the Amida Digitrend that impressed not only Max but also generations of enthusiasts. (No worries, I will write about it soon.) Using prisms, the time reading was transposed to another dimension. The watch and the time reading are gaining another dimension, creating a practical driver watch that can be easily read with the hands on the wheel, or, my favourite, with the hands in the pockets. The time reading is rather simple: jumping hours on the left indicator and sweeping minutes on the right indicator using dual reflective sapphire crystal prisms with integrated magnifying lenses.
The hood, the engine
As now typical for MB&F the inner guts of the watch are well visible from the top. A double-curved sapphire serves as a see-through hood revealing the battle-axe rotor that powers the calibre composed of a jumping hour and trailing minutes module, developed in-house by MB&F on a Girard-Perregaux base movement.
A nice touch is the backplate of the movement that was adorned with engraving similar to the view underneath a car – with longitudinal vents for cooling and aerodynamic stability.
It is worth mentioning the architecture of the movement. The rotor weight and the balance wheel (28,800bph/4Hz) are visible on top, revealing that the movement is upside down and the plate on the back of the watch hides the proprietary module. The jewels in gold chaton hold the discs of the jumping hours and minutes indicators in place.
On the wrist, feelings and conclusions
MB&F HM8 Mark 2 Blue looks and feels like a bespoke super-sport car. A beautiful blue shade (unfortunately not well captured by me, but I will attach the press kit photos to the end gallery) that plays fantastically well with any light, a smart shape, automotive-inspired that makes the time reading behind the wheel a bliss and a dream come true by any automotive/watch lover. I have to admit that I am amazed by the stoicism with which Max refuses to give up his dreams and metamorphose them into the next best thing. And not only for him to enjoy but for us as well.
In real life, the MB&F HM8 Mark 2 Blue sits well on the wrist. I don’t think size is of any importance for this piece. You just need to enjoy it. Lightweight and with good legibility, the HM8 Mark 2 was already an interesting proposal, but with the new case finish and shade, it becomes a must-have. And that is the magic of MB&F – when you think you got used to a creation, they bring that little something that makes it twice as interesting, or “worse” – indispensable.
MB&F HM8 Mark 2 Technical Specifications
In titanium and blue CarbonMacrolon® body panel limited to 33 pieces, CHF 68,000 + VAT (USD 78,000 / EUR 70,000 + 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 blue 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 are treated with anti-reflective coating on both faces.
- Dual reflective sapphire crystal prisms with an integrated magnifying lens.
Strap & Buckle
- White calfskin strap with a titanium tang buckle.
