Following the LM Perpetual EVO, the LM Sequential EVO, and the LM Split Escapement EVO models, MB&F is introducing a new special edition EVO, dedicated to its MB&F LAB in Taipei.
THE STORY OF THE LM SPLIT ESCAPEMENT
Like all good stories, it is worth starting at the very beginning. The idea behind the LM Split Escapement started life in 2015 with the LM Perpetual. Designed and conceived by Northern Irish master watchmaker Stephen McDonnell, there were two criteria for the perpetual calendar: make it fool-proof; and display MB&F’s signature flying balance wheel in the centre of the dial. McDonnell was soon to realise that there was a problem: there was nowhere to put the escapement. The concept had worked with previous Legacy Machines, where the balance wheel was on the front of the watch along with the escapement, but with the perpetual calendar display of the more complex LM Perpetual, there was simply no room for both.
A man of solutions, McDonnell had the ingenious idea of creating the world’s longest balance staff that would traverse the entire movement, leaving the large balance wheel on its own, on the front of the watch, and moving the remaining parts of the escapement – anchor and escape wheel – to the opposite side of the movement, almost 12 mm below; hence the name ‘Split Escapement’.
When the LM Perpetual was unveiled, there were so many innovations to talk about that the split escapement went largely unnoticed. So, in 2017, MB&F decided to create the LM Split Escapement (LM SE) to highlight McDonnell’s genius idea. The manual-winding, 298-component movement is driven by double barrels providing 72 hours of power reserve, and features a user-friendly, fool proof rapid date-changing system that prevents the user from inadvertently damaging the movement when adjusting the date.
EVO-LUTION
The first editions of the LM Split Escapement were presented in MB&F’s classic Legacy Machine case – but the collection now also features the EVO case, conceived for a more active lifestyle.
This new case design first came to life in 2020 in the form of the LM Perpetual EVO; it features 80 metres of water resistance, a screw-down crown, an integrated rubber strap and a bezel-free design. But the EVO concept goes deeper: inside the case, the movement is suspended thanks to a world-premiere, monobloc shock-absorbing “FlexRing” system, dampening the kind of vertical and horizontal shocks that come with real-life adventures.
After the LM Perpetual EVO, the EVO case worked its way further into the Legacy Machine collection: most recently and with a bang, in the form of MB&F’s first-ever chronograph, the LM Sequential EVO. But previously and more discreetly, with a 10-piece limited edition LM Split Escapement EVO, presented quietly on the occasion of the UAE’s Golden Jubilee.
In addition to the EVO case, that Golden Jubilee edition featured a change that radically modified the design of the LM Split Escapement: the entire mechanism was rotated clockwise by 30 degrees, with the crown at 4:30 instead of 2 o’clock – completely changing the symmetry of the watch, giving it a totally new character.
In 2022, MB&F added two new LM SE EVO editions to the series. The first came in grade 5 titanium with an icy blue base plate and slate grey dial and counters, while the second was a limited edition reserved exclusively for the MB&F LAB in Beverly Hills, operated by retail partner Westime; the 25-piece edition came in Westime’s corporate colours of blue and black with a striking black base plate and metallic blue dial and counters.
Another feature of these editions was the special darkened treatment on the movement side, creating heightened contrast between the wheels, the rhodium-plated barrels and the rose gold details – symbolically echoing the contrast between the active, contemporary nature of the EVO collection and the traditional finishing of the movement. MB&F is one of only a handful of artisanal brands that continue to finish components painstakingly by hand, making the view of the movement as mesmerizing as the dial.
A SOPHISTICATED BLACK AND GREEN EDITION FOR TAIPEI
The relationship between Maximilian Büsser and Swiss Prestige is very special. Indeed, a strong bond links the two, practically since the beginnings of MB&F. Several years later, in 2015, Swiss Prestige opened the MB&F M.A.D.Gallery in Taiwan – the second in the world and the first in Asia.
It was an impressive challenge for Lori Shen (CEO of Swiss Prestige) and her team as the company had been operating for many years as a distributor, but had no background in running an actual retail store. If people doubted the reasons why someone would take such a risk, Lori Shen had the perfect answer; “The reasons are simple. First, I love what Max does. Second, if you want to stand out, you need to be different. It hasn’t been an easy path but I am extremely proud of this decision.”
Travelling back to 2023, MB&F’s Taipei M.A.D.Gallery gets its own limited edition of 20 pieces with a stunning LM Split Escapement EVO. This new addition bears a titanium case, a beautiful black base plate, as well as a multi-reflective green dial and open counters.
It comes with a choice of two rubber straps; a contrasting fresh white strap, or a lovely dark grey which compliments the piece’s base plate perfectly.
