Swiss MB&F just debuted this new limited edition version of the Legacy Machine 1 (LM1) in the collection’s first titanium case and available exclusively in Dubai. It is worth pointing out again that MB&F founder Max Busser recently moved to Dubai from Geneva, so in a sense MB&F is run out of Dubai as well as Switzerland. In partnership with Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons (a watch retailer chain and timepiece distributor that also was the host of the Dubai Watch Week), MB&F also has an additional MB&F M.A.D. Gallery location in Dubai. This is the the third MB&F M.A.D. Gallery location (the second is in Taipei, after Geneva).
At 44mm wide with a striking yet traditional round case, the MB&F Legacy Machine 1 remains the brand’s “conservative watch,” of course. For the first time, MB&F has decided to produce one in titanium, having previously only be available in gold or platinum. Also new is a neat green dial which has been produced using “CVD” (chemical vapor deposition) which sounds like a close cousin of PVD (physical vapor deposition).
Another unique design feature – and clearly intended to appeal to the Dubai local market is use of Arabic-Hindi numerals as the markers on the right subdial. As you can see, the MB&F Legacy Machine 1 watch has two dials for the time, and each can be individually set to the minute. Designed by Jean-Francois Mojon and finished by Kari Voutilainen’s workshop, the movement inside of the MB&F LM1 remains an absolute beauty and pinnacle of modern mechanical movements which have an elegant retro-flair to them.
The movement is manually wound, and offers the time along with a vertical power reserve indicator. The movement is further made noteworthy by having its large 2.5Hz balance wheel suspended over the dial for a great animated visual aesthetic. The combination of green CVD dial and titanium case ought to make for a beautiful looking MB&F LM1 M.A.D. Dubai timepiece.
For more information on the MB&F Legacy Machine 1, you can see my first hands-on report from 2011 here. More recently, we took a hands-on look at the also highly limited MB&F LM1 in platinum with a blue dial here. It is nice to see MB&F extend the LM1 into a cool and more accessibly-priced grade 5 titanium model with the MB&F LM1 M.A.D. Dubai watch. Yes, the Arabic-Hindi numerals are going to make it a bit more niche, but I think there will be enough takers to snatch up the 13 pieces of this new-for-2016 limited edition MB&F LM1 M.A.D. Dubai watch. Price is AED 308,000 (about $84,000 USD) and the watch is exclusively available at the MB&F M.A.D. Gallery in Dubai, UAE. mbandf.com