WEDNESDAY AUGUST 04 2010
WEDNESDAY JULY 14 2010
A traditional wristwatch has a relatively straightforward role: to tell the time. All that is needed is a hand for the hours, another for the minutes and perhaps a power reserve indicator to keep track of running time. Horological Machine No4 Thunderbolt has a hand for the hours, another for the minutes and a power reserve indicator. HM4 Thunderbolt tells the time.
HM4 Thunderbolt is not a traditional wristwatch.
The aviation-inspired case and engine of the Thunderbolt are one. Neither would, nor could, exist without the other, yet each is so transcendental as to be able to stand alone as a work of art in its own right.
The Thunderbolt's engine is the culmination of three long years of development. Each of the 300-plus components – including the regulator and even the screws – was developed specifically for this anarchistic calibre. Horizontally configured dual mainspring barrels drive two vertical gear trains, transferring power to the twin pods indicating hours/minutes and power reserve.
But describing HM4's engine through its mechanical functionality is like describing Renoir's work through the chemical composition of his paint. Only careful contemplation enables full appreciation, and the sapphire case section and display panels top and bottom allow full access to the flawless fine finishing of HM4's intricate and vibrant micro-mechanics.
The sleek aerodynamic form of the Thunderbolt's titanium and sapphire envelope has its roots in Maximilian Büsser's childhood passion for assembling model plane kits, though none looked remotely as futuristic as this. The striking transparent sapphire section of the case requires over 100 hours of machining and polishing to transform an opaque solid block of crystal into a complex, exquisitely curved panel allowing the light to come in and the beauty of Thunderbolt's engine to stand out. Every component and form has a technical purpose; nothing is superfluous and every line and curve is in poetic harmony. Articulated lugs ensure supreme comfort. Highly legible time is a fringe benefit.
To download the full press release, please click hm4_english.zip and for more photos and information, please check out the HM4 Thunderbolt section of our website
Read the full article
SUNDAY JUNE 06 2010
Every new creation at MB&F is an occasion for celebration and the HM3 “Frog” serves to emphasise that rule! But we have many other reasons than the highly successful launch of the Frog to celebrate this month, including our presence in the Financial Times and the opening of our 16th retail partner, Manfredi in Greenwich (Connecticut).
HM3 Frog Unveiled
I have just returned from a hectic but incredibly successful 2-week world tour presenting the HM3 Frog and was humbled by the positive reaction and appreciation for this highly unusual piece. While this may be hard to believe, in early 2008 when I first held the prototype of the original HM3 in my hand, I truly thought it a very elegant timepiece and then and there I had a strong urge to morph it into a “wacky” version. HM3 Frog is pure fun, pure haute horlogerie, and pure Horological Machine.
The bulging eyes of the (amphibian) frog enable it to see in many directions without having to turn its head. In a similar, but opposite, way, the HM3 Frog's bulbous domes enables the wearer to be easily see the time from many angles without having to turn the wrist. The Frog differs substantially from HM3 in that it is the aluminum domes that rotate under the sapphire crystals in the Frog, whereas on HM3 it is the hour and minute hands that rotate around their stationary cones.
The Frog's unusual method of indicating time necessitated the development of a new gear train for the HM3 engine. This was for example because the aluminum hour dome of the Frog rotates in 12 hours compared to the 24 hour revolution of the HM3 hour hand. And as the oversized date wheel is driven from the hours, the gearing driving the date had to be reworked as well.
HM3 Frog is available in Grade 5 titanium with blued rotor and a limited edition of 12 featuring black-coated titanium with green rotor. For more about the HM3 Frog
MB&F in The Financial Times
The FT is one of the world's most respected and influential newspapers so it was a very important day for our niche Concept Lab when the Financial Times devoted a full page article on MB&F. Haig Simonian, a seasoned economics journalist, who has interviewed hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEO’s, appeared genuinely impressed and I highly recommend reading his article. Read the article (PDF 102 Ko)
MB&F at Manfredi
Roberto Chappeloni, the owner of Manfredi, is known as one of the most important retailers in the USA and as one of the nicest men in our Industry.
We are therefore extremely honoured and very pleased to have MB&F featured in his Greenwich (Connecticut) store from this week onwards. Manfredi becomes our 16th retail partner in the world. www.manfredijewels.com
5.300+ Fans on Facebook
For those who are interested in more informal information on a regular basis and becoming part of our vibrant circle of international Friends, please do not hesitate to join us on Facebook. There you can keep up with and discuss the latest news and see what others think and feel about our Horological Machines. Join MB&F on Facebook
While the first six months of the year will soon be over and has already seen MB&F present the HM2-SV, HM4 Engine and HM3 Frog, we intend to make 2010 a seminal year for our Horological Concept Lab, so please stay tuned for many more surprises to come!
With our very best regards,
TUESDAY MARCH 23 2010
MB&F is please to be presenting at Baselworldat the Palace hall in "The Dream Factory", with URWERK, Speake-Marin and Christophe Claret.
The full collection is on display, including HM2 SV and . . .
. . . the movement of HM4 is there also.
The team at MB&F hope to see you at Baselworld.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 24 2010
Dear Friends,
2010 is already in full swing and is shaping up to be a seminal year for MB&F. January began strongly with the launch of the amazing HM2-SV at our Geneva exhibition and we are busy preparing for our exhibition at Baselworld 2010 in March. In this newsletter we are very pleased to welcome Lussori as our 14th retail partner and Friend of MB&F; we introduce Horolobot, our new mascot; and our Blog - A Parallel World - features the incredible NASA Puffin.
Click to read the full newsletter
HM2-SV
During the Geneva Watch Fair we unveiled the incredible HM2-SV ! SV for Sapphire Vision. HM2-SV is a very limited edition of just 25 pieces, with a transparent sapphire case that allows the owner to discover the intricacies and subtleties of the hand-finished movement and the construction of the titanium case. Honestly, when you have the piece in your hand it is simply astounding. Revealed in its naked three dimensionality, the movement looks just like a futuristic city suspended in space.
Why did we take so long to develop HM2-SV, and why only 25 pieces? Well the major difficulty lay in creating the 3.6mm thick sapphire top plate. This was a true technical achievement and only one sapphire manufacturer, Stettler in Lyss (Switzerland), was brave enough to attempt the challenge … and actually managed to do it! Each sapphire base plate takes at least 55 hours to machine and polish . . . even then, three out of four pieces break during the process! The rejects are mainly due to the drilling of the holes for the screws (near the edge) which induces tension and cracks.
The bright blue water resistance gaskets were developed specifically for the HM2-SV and match the hue of the blue disks and the 22k winding rotor on the back.
New Retail Partner, Lussori
It is our great pleasure to have Lawrence Kosick and his store, Lussori, as Friends of MB&F. Our Horological Machines are currently available at their beautiful location on the main street of Carmel, California, and soon to be at their new store opening in Los Altos, Silicon Valley.
Horolobot
Might 2010 see the Rise of the Machines? At MB&F the answer is a resounding yes! Alban Thomas from GVA Studio in Geneva surprised us with this amazing Robot created with our first three Horological Machines. He immediately became our official mascot and was named HoroloBot! You can download him (yes he is a him) in high-resolution or as a wallpaper.
MB&F on Facebook and Twitter
To stay up-to-date with everything happening in the world of MB&F, we invite you to join our nearly 4,000 friends and become a Fan of MB&F on Facebook and you can also follow us on Twitter.
MB&F is pleased to announce that we will be exhibiting at Baselworld 2010 March 18-25 with 'The Dream Factory' - a collaboration of MB&F, URWERK, Speake-Marin and Christophe Claret - at the Baselworld Palace (opposite the Ramada hotel). To arrange an appointment please contact Estelle Tonelli.
We hinted in the last newsletter that 2010 would be the most creatively exhilarating year to date. So please stay tuned as we will be unveiling one amazing project after the other.
Thank you so much for following us and till next time, all the very best,
With our warmest regards,
MB&F celebrates its 5th birthday!
In July, MB&F celebrated its 5th anniversary !
5 years of unbridled creativity. A fantastic human adventure with 4 amazing Horological Machines to prove to date what teamwork, passion and craftsmanship can do.
So here is a very cool logo created by GVA Studio to celebrate the occasion.
When you reach for the stars, the sky is the limit !
5 years of unbridled creativity. A fantastic human adventure with 4 amazing Horological Machines to prove to date what teamwork, passion and craftsmanship can do.
So here is a very cool logo created by GVA Studio to celebrate the occasion.
When you reach for the stars, the sky is the limit !
WEDNESDAY JULY 14 2010
Presenting Horological Machine No. 4 Thunderbolt
A traditional wristwatch has a relatively straightforward role: to tell the time. All that is needed is a hand for the hours, another for the minutes and perhaps a power reserve indicator to keep track of running time. Horological Machine No4 Thunderbolt has a hand for the hours, another for the minutes and a power reserve indicator. HM4 Thunderbolt tells the time.
HM4 Thunderbolt is not a traditional wristwatch.
The aviation-inspired case and engine of the Thunderbolt are one. Neither would, nor could, exist without the other, yet each is so transcendental as to be able to stand alone as a work of art in its own right.
The Thunderbolt's engine is the culmination of three long years of development. Each of the 300-plus components – including the regulator and even the screws – was developed specifically for this anarchistic calibre. Horizontally configured dual mainspring barrels drive two vertical gear trains, transferring power to the twin pods indicating hours/minutes and power reserve.
But describing HM4's engine through its mechanical functionality is like describing Renoir's work through the chemical composition of his paint. Only careful contemplation enables full appreciation, and the sapphire case section and display panels top and bottom allow full access to the flawless fine finishing of HM4's intricate and vibrant micro-mechanics.
The sleek aerodynamic form of the Thunderbolt's titanium and sapphire envelope has its roots in Maximilian Büsser's childhood passion for assembling model plane kits, though none looked remotely as futuristic as this. The striking transparent sapphire section of the case requires over 100 hours of machining and polishing to transform an opaque solid block of crystal into a complex, exquisitely curved panel allowing the light to come in and the beauty of Thunderbolt's engine to stand out. Every component and form has a technical purpose; nothing is superfluous and every line and curve is in poetic harmony. Articulated lugs ensure supreme comfort. Highly legible time is a fringe benefit.
To download the full press release, please click hm4_english.zip and for more photos and information, please check out the HM4 Thunderbolt section of our website
Read the full article
SUNDAY JUNE 06 2010
MB&F June 2010 Newsletter
Every new creation at MB&F is an occasion for celebration and the HM3 “Frog” serves to emphasise that rule! But we have many other reasons than the highly successful launch of the Frog to celebrate this month, including our presence in the Financial Times and the opening of our 16th retail partner, Manfredi in Greenwich (Connecticut).
HM3 Frog Unveiled
I have just returned from a hectic but incredibly successful 2-week world tour presenting the HM3 Frog and was humbled by the positive reaction and appreciation for this highly unusual piece. While this may be hard to believe, in early 2008 when I first held the prototype of the original HM3 in my hand, I truly thought it a very elegant timepiece and then and there I had a strong urge to morph it into a “wacky” version. HM3 Frog is pure fun, pure haute horlogerie, and pure Horological Machine.
The bulging eyes of the (amphibian) frog enable it to see in many directions without having to turn its head. In a similar, but opposite, way, the HM3 Frog's bulbous domes enables the wearer to be easily see the time from many angles without having to turn the wrist. The Frog differs substantially from HM3 in that it is the aluminum domes that rotate under the sapphire crystals in the Frog, whereas on HM3 it is the hour and minute hands that rotate around their stationary cones.
The Frog's unusual method of indicating time necessitated the development of a new gear train for the HM3 engine. This was for example because the aluminum hour dome of the Frog rotates in 12 hours compared to the 24 hour revolution of the HM3 hour hand. And as the oversized date wheel is driven from the hours, the gearing driving the date had to be reworked as well.
HM3 Frog is available in Grade 5 titanium with blued rotor and a limited edition of 12 featuring black-coated titanium with green rotor. For more about the HM3 Frog
MB&F in The Financial Times
The FT is one of the world's most respected and influential newspapers so it was a very important day for our niche Concept Lab when the Financial Times devoted a full page article on MB&F. Haig Simonian, a seasoned economics journalist, who has interviewed hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEO’s, appeared genuinely impressed and I highly recommend reading his article. Read the article (PDF 102 Ko)
MB&F at Manfredi
Roberto Chappeloni, the owner of Manfredi, is known as one of the most important retailers in the USA and as one of the nicest men in our Industry.
We are therefore extremely honoured and very pleased to have MB&F featured in his Greenwich (Connecticut) store from this week onwards. Manfredi becomes our 16th retail partner in the world. www.manfredijewels.com
5.300+ Fans on Facebook
For those who are interested in more informal information on a regular basis and becoming part of our vibrant circle of international Friends, please do not hesitate to join us on Facebook. There you can keep up with and discuss the latest news and see what others think and feel about our Horological Machines. Join MB&F on Facebook
While the first six months of the year will soon be over and has already seen MB&F present the HM2-SV, HM4 Engine and HM3 Frog, we intend to make 2010 a seminal year for our Horological Concept Lab, so please stay tuned for many more surprises to come!
With our very best regards,
TUESDAY MARCH 23 2010
MB&F at Baselworld 2010
Baselworld - in Basel, Switzerland - is the world's largest watch and jewellry fair and runs from the 18th of March to the 25th of March 2010 (that's right, it is on now).MB&F is please to be presenting at Baselworldat the Palace hall in "The Dream Factory", with URWERK, Speake-Marin and Christophe Claret.
The full collection is on display, including HM2 SV and . . .
. . . the movement of HM4 is there also.
The team at MB&F hope to see you at Baselworld.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 24 2010
MB&F February 2010 Newsletter
Dear Friends,
2010 is already in full swing and is shaping up to be a seminal year for MB&F. January began strongly with the launch of the amazing HM2-SV at our Geneva exhibition and we are busy preparing for our exhibition at Baselworld 2010 in March. In this newsletter we are very pleased to welcome Lussori as our 14th retail partner and Friend of MB&F; we introduce Horolobot, our new mascot; and our Blog - A Parallel World - features the incredible NASA Puffin.
Click to read the full newsletter
HM2-SV
During the Geneva Watch Fair we unveiled the incredible HM2-SV ! SV for Sapphire Vision. HM2-SV is a very limited edition of just 25 pieces, with a transparent sapphire case that allows the owner to discover the intricacies and subtleties of the hand-finished movement and the construction of the titanium case. Honestly, when you have the piece in your hand it is simply astounding. Revealed in its naked three dimensionality, the movement looks just like a futuristic city suspended in space.
Why did we take so long to develop HM2-SV, and why only 25 pieces? Well the major difficulty lay in creating the 3.6mm thick sapphire top plate. This was a true technical achievement and only one sapphire manufacturer, Stettler in Lyss (Switzerland), was brave enough to attempt the challenge … and actually managed to do it! Each sapphire base plate takes at least 55 hours to machine and polish . . . even then, three out of four pieces break during the process! The rejects are mainly due to the drilling of the holes for the screws (near the edge) which induces tension and cracks.
The bright blue water resistance gaskets were developed specifically for the HM2-SV and match the hue of the blue disks and the 22k winding rotor on the back.
New Retail Partner, Lussori
It is our great pleasure to have Lawrence Kosick and his store, Lussori, as Friends of MB&F. Our Horological Machines are currently available at their beautiful location on the main street of Carmel, California, and soon to be at their new store opening in Los Altos, Silicon Valley.
Horolobot
Might 2010 see the Rise of the Machines? At MB&F the answer is a resounding yes! Alban Thomas from GVA Studio in Geneva surprised us with this amazing Robot created with our first three Horological Machines. He immediately became our official mascot and was named HoroloBot! You can download him (yes he is a him) in high-resolution or as a wallpaper.
MB&F on Facebook and Twitter
To stay up-to-date with everything happening in the world of MB&F, we invite you to join our nearly 4,000 friends and become a Fan of MB&F on Facebook and you can also follow us on Twitter.
MB&F is pleased to announce that we will be exhibiting at Baselworld 2010 March 18-25 with 'The Dream Factory' - a collaboration of MB&F, URWERK, Speake-Marin and Christophe Claret - at the Baselworld Palace (opposite the Ramada hotel). To arrange an appointment please contact Estelle Tonelli.
We hinted in the last newsletter that 2010 would be the most creatively exhilarating year to date. So please stay tuned as we will be unveiling one amazing project after the other.
Thank you so much for following us and till next time, all the very best,
With our warmest regards,
