Introducing the Unique MB&F HM12 'The Guardian'

MB&F has never released just ordinary watches.

Since 2005, Max Büsser and his ever-changing circle of collaborators have created more mechanical sculptures with a time display function - objects filled with individuality and vibrant energy. The Horological Machines series has always been the boldest and most expressive embodiment of this brand philosophy. Two decades later, the HM12 'The Guardian' emerges - both a culmination and a new stage of development.

Creation Context

The project was initially conceived as an anniversary piece for MB&F's 20th anniversary, but its realization took longer than planned. The scale grew, the complexity increased. The celebratory model transformed into a carefully considered object that opens the third decade of the brand and marks a significant turning point (or at least its beginning). And it's not just a watch. Not quite. The HM12 is the 'brain' of a robot. 'The Guardian' - a 38-centimeter mechanical figure created in collaboration with long-time partner L’Epée 1839 - is its 'body'. Together they form a single horological concept of nearly 1500 components.

The HM12 also signifies structural changes within MB&F. For the first time in the brand's history, a Horological Machine was developed without the involvement of legendary designer Eric Giroud, who remains a key collaborator on other projects. Instead, Maximilian Büsser and Maximilian Maertens - 'Max and Max', as they are called within the company, worked on the HM12. This project not only opens MB&F's third decade but also begins a gradual transition of creative directorship, with Maertens eventually replacing Büsser.

This is an important event - a clear succession plan reflecting the trust and experience Büsser has accumulated regarding Maertens. A smooth transition is very sensible, as it allows the brand and its loyal clients to prepare for a change in leadership without upheavals.

MB&F HM12 Watch

The HM12 case is made of grade 5 titanium and boasts a significant presence, like most Horological Machines models. However, the case material is lightweight, and the movable lugs are located only on the '12 o'clock' side, providing optimal ergonomics on the wrist. Unlike De Bethune watches with springy lugs on both sides, here the movable lugs are only on one side.

At first, this seemed strange, but for small wrists like mine, this solution works better: the case does not lift when the lugs adjust. The lugs on the '12 o'clock' side simply lower to fit the wrist, maintaining the thinnest possible profile. The case diameter is 43.6 mm, the 'lug-to-lug' distance is 49.3 mm, and the thickness is 13.8 mm.

The time display is located in the 'eye' area: on the left - an instant jumping hour, on the right - running minutes, both read by a fixed point, and the information is displayed on rotating discs beneath. Below the 'eyes' is a battle axe-shaped micro-rotor - like the 'mouth' of the robot. Above them is a flying tourbillon - the 'brain' - specially open, classically finished, visible from the front and through the sapphire glass on the side of the case in the '12 o'clock' position.

The 'skull' of the HM12 is mostly made of sapphire, allowing light to penetrate from different angles and illuminate the tourbillon. The watch literally demands attentive observation. The visual references that Büsser and Maertens relied on are multilayered and span different generations. For Büsser, these are sci-fi images of the 70s-80s - machines as characters, explorers, defenders. For Maertens, it's a later era, shaped by transformers, cartoons, and movies like 'I, Robot'. The HM12 stands at the intersection of these worlds.

Features of the Mechanism and Design

One of the most impressive elements of the HM12 is the 'protective shield' system on the robot's 'face'. Controlled by the left crown, two shields move linearly across the dial - the owner can adjust the degree of openness of the robot's face in three colors: purple, green, and blue - from fully open to fully closed. The crown automatically disengages when it reaches the extreme position, preventing mechanism damage.

This system is managed by more than 200 components - more than some complete mechanical watches. The mechanism is completely independent of the main watch caliber, developed in parallel by a separate engineer who synchronized with the movement team to avoid conflicts in space and kinematics. Throughout the mechanism, chatons, polished wheels, and internal angles are visible - the level of finish usually associated with traditional watchmaking art is applied here to an element that serves not only function but also narrative.

The front of the HM12 is theatrical, while the back is restrained. The internal caliber with an instant jumping hour, running minutes, and a flying tourbillon contains 646 components, 86 jewels, and provides an 84-hour power reserve. The bridges are smoothly curved and hand-finished, the main plate has a granular texture. The guilloche on the micro-rotor was executed by Kari Voutilainen and his team on a convex surface, which is technically more challenging than on a flat one, even for a master of this level.

Thus, the HM12 consciously combines two MB&F identities: the expressive futurism of Horological Machines and the classic elegance of Legacy Machines. Surprisingly, after such painstaking work, this caliber will be used only in 36 pieces and will not be repeated in this form. According to the MB&F team, if the company had a financial director, the project would have been closed long ago.

Robot 'The Guardian'

'The Guardian' is not just a watch stand or showcase. It is the body of a robot built around the HM12, completing the artistic concept. The watch detaches from the strap using a quick-release mechanism and is mounted directly on the robot's head, securely fixed and remaining easy to handle. The strap is stored in a hidden sliding drawer in the base.

Maximilian Maertens, in collaboration with L’Epée 1839, designed the robot from 755 components. In the center of the chest is a mechanical thermometer - the 'heart' of the machine. On each arm is a tool: on one side, a shield with a magnifying glass for a detailed examination of the nearly 1500 components that make up the creation; on the other, a removable ultraviolet flashlight to activate the Super-LumiNova luminescence on the watch and the robot itself.

Conclusion

For a brand that always operates on the principle that a creative adult is a child who survived, the HM12 'The Guardian' is the most complete expression of this philosophy. It is both a wristwatch, a robot, and a horological conceptual piece. This is MB&F in its purest form, entering its third decade on its own terms. Only 36 pieces have been released - 12 in each color - priced at 280,000 Swiss francs. The project is incredibly ambitious for the brand, especially given its uniqueness. But fortunately, there is a brand bold enough to realize it.

As mentioned, the creative and artistic focus of MB&F sometimes worries financial advisors. However, after the presentation of the HM12 among VIP clients and the media, there is no doubt that all 36 pieces will sell quickly. Perhaps the only regret is not that MB&F dared to create these watches, but that there will be no more HM12 models in the future. This is the magic and mystery of MB&F and the reason for collectors', press, and industry colleagues' respect for this brand.

Technical Specifications and Price of MB&F HM12 'The Guardian'