A new Guardian for MB&F
Revisiting the sci-fi vibe of MB&F’s earlier Horological Machines, HM12 The Guardian is a mechanical duo combining the highly complex HM12 wristwatch – featuring a novel “face shield” complication, a flying tourbillon, a double-sided micro-rotor, jumping hours and traditional fine finishing – with ‘The Guardian’, a towering 38cm-tall robot equipped with a mechanical thermometer and integrated tools.
Each combined unit comprises nearly 1,500 components.
Only three limited editions of 12 pieces will ever be crafted.
What's so special about this machine?
A transformer wristwatch and robot, a face shield complication, jumping hour and flying tourbillon.
TRANSFORMER WRISTWATCH & ROBOT
HM12 The Guardian brings together many of the elements that have shaped MB&F over the past twenty years: a sci-fi inspired Horological Machine, an entirely in-house calibre, traditional high-end finishing, an unconventional display, and a mechanical companion designed to be handled and explored. What first appears as a playful sculpture is in fact the result of years of development and nearly 1,500 components working as one.
A DETACHABLE WATCH WITH AN EASY CLIPPING SYSTEM
HM12 is delivered with The Guardian, the rest of the robot’s body – the two are one. The watch detaches from its strap via a quick-release system and mounts directly onto the head via a clipping system designed to secure it firmly while allowing repeated handling. The strap is stored in a hidden drawer integrated into the robot’s base. This is not a base or a stand. It is a body built around the watch.
FACE SHIELD COMPLICATION
One of HM12’s defining features is its face shield system, treated as both a complication and a functional element tied to the object’s narrative. Actuated via the left crown, the shields move in a continuous, linear way. The wearer controls how exposed the face remains and can stop at any point, from fully visible to concealed. The crown is declutching: once the shields reach their stop, it disengages.
JUMPING HOUR & FLYING TOURBILLON
HM12 is conceived as a face, the entire watch forming the robot’s head. The time display occupies the position of the eyes. Instantaneous jumping hours on the left and trailing minutes on the right are read at a fixed point, while the information moves on rotating discs. Below, one side of the micro-rotor – shaped like the MB&F battle-axe – sits where the mouth would be. Above, the flying tourbillon functions as the brain, deliberately exposed, with a classical aesthetic grounded in high-end watchmaking rather than futuristic design.
TRADITIONAL HOROLOGICAL LANGUAGE
From the back, HM12 reveals a more classical horological character. In contrast to the futuristic front, the movement follows the shape of the case, resulting in an open, balanced and symmetrical architecture reminiscent of a human face. The finishing underscores this duality, with softly curved hand-finished bridges, a grained mainplate and a guilloché rear rotor crafted with the involvement of Kari Voutilainen and his team—a particularly challenging feat, as the guillochage is executed on a curved spherical surface rather than a flat plane.
Machine in action
What if a robot’s head were a watch?
The Guardian
Part Horological Machine, part Legacy Machine, part Co-Creation, HM12 brings together narrative design, high-end watchmaking, mechanical experimentation and a playful relationship with the object.
HM12 is crafted in three editions of 12 pieces each: Green, Blue and Purple
Grade 5 titanium
84 components
Super-LumiNova highlights
Mobile lugs at 12 o’clock
Fixed lugs at 6 o’clock
Three sapphire crystals, top, bottom, and at 12 o’clock with view on the tourbillon
Dimensions: Length 49,3 mm, Width 43,6 mm, Height 13,8 mm
In house automatic movement, double winding rotor
Power reserve: 84 hours
646 components
86 jewels
Sapphire crystals on top, back, and on the tourbillon chamber-display, all treated with anti-reflective coating on both faces.
- Flying tourbillon
- Instantaneous jumping hours and trailing minutes
- Shield function
Quick release system to detach the watch and mount it on the Guardian
20 mm lug width
20 mm buckle
Velcro fastening
- Manufacturing by L’Epée 1839
- Mechanical thermometer
- 755 components
- Integrated magnifying glass on right arm (shield)
- Integrated UV torch on left arm
- Strap stored in drawer within the robot base
- Dimensions including base: diameter 22 cm x height 38,2 cm
- Weight including base: approx. 15 kg
Inspiration
HM12 The Guardian brings together many of the elements that have shaped MB&F over the past twenty years: a sci-fi inspired Horological Machine, an entirely in-house calibre, traditional high-end finishing, an unconventional display, and a mechanical companion designed to be handled and explored.
HM12 The Guardian revisits MB&F’s roots – creating mechanical objects with strong personalities, real technical substance and a sense of wonder. It reaffirms those foundations and carries them into the brand’s third decade.
HM12 also marks a pivotal moment in MB&F’s creative structure. For the first time, after 20 years of collaboration with renowned designer Eric Giroud – who remains a key partner on other projects – an Horological Machine is conceived and developed entirely by the tandem formed by Maximilian Büsser and Maximilian Maertens. Max and Max have been collaborating for several years, but until now Maertens’ work had been mainly visible in the clocks and music boxes co-created by MB&F with L’Epée and Reuge. Büsser provided the initial impulse for HM12 The Guardian, framing the concept: What if a robot’s head were a watch? He then stepped back and Maertens became the architect and guardian of the project. Over four years, Maertens iterated relentlessly: drawing, modelling in 3D, printing prototypes, testing stability and adjusting proportions.
Discover the models available for this collection
Behind the Design
Our Head of Marketing Communications; Charris Yadigaroglou, sits with HM12's talented designer Maximilan Maertens to talk about the origins of the project, the design process behind it and the years spent to bring both the robot and watch to life.
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Horological Machine N°11
Horological Machine N°10
