Let's talk about making a statement like "thank you, dear friends"! Offering your magnificent creative potential in a watch that costs much less than anything else you do, and making it available only to your brand's suppliers and tribe members (officially registered collectors). That's exactly what MB&F founder Max Büsser has just done, and it has caused quite a stir! So, what's up, Max? Are you going to leave us in the dark? Or is there more to expect from these obviously very cool but affordable M.A.D EDITION watches?
Essentially, the clue lies in the brand's name: Max Büsser & Friends. The "& Friends" part is very important to the MB&F team, as well as to Max himself, the company's founder. Over the years of our collaboration with MB&F, one thing stands out, and that is the close friendships he builds with people important to him. Friendships without which he wouldn't be able to do what he does best. And that is unprecedented high horological art with an extravagant creative approach.
And so, earlier this week, we stumbled upon a new project that caused a storm on social media. First spotted on Instagram thanks to collector @Watchinery, we were amazed by the images we saw. It looks very much like Max Büsser's style, yet very different in execution. Sitting somewhere between the classic style of Legacy Machines and the wildly creative and unpredictable Horological Machines, it was something none of us expected. Nonetheless, the M.A.D.1 from the new project called M.A.D. EDITION (a nod to another Max Büsser project, M.A.D.Galleries, for Mechanical Art Devices) is a reality and a breakthrough.
Naturally, we had to get in touch with them, but we were both disappointed and intrigued at the same time. MB&F staff were quick to inform us of the bad news: no, these watches will not be for sale. They are intended exclusively as a "thank you" to the brand's friends, namely the suppliers and tribe members (collectors) of MB&F, who have helped shape it over the 16 years of its existence.
But what is it all about? The watch is called M.A.D. 1 and is dedicated to all the years of service provided by the suppliers and the relationships with MB&F watch collectors. But with a serious twist! Where MB&F watches usually cost more than 50,000 euros, the M.A.D. 1 costs only 1,900 Swiss francs excluding VAT. This simply amazed us because what we have here looks much more than a watch costing less than 2,000 euros.
In typical Büsser style, the M.A.D. 1 model is extravagant, creative, and offers a unique time indication. It's a nod to several other MB&F models, as the movement is turned upside down, as seen in the HM3 and HM8 models. There is also a lateral time indication - another element MB&F has played with in the past, as evidenced (to some extent) by the HM7 Aquapod and HM3 FrogX models. To keep the price relatively (or extremely) affordable compared to Horological or Legacy Machines, the movement is made by Miyota. Quite unexpectedly, this opens the M.A.D. 1 to a whole new audience. That is, if it were for sale, which it is not.
At the top of the inverted movement is a three-blade winding rotor, reminiscent of the battle-axe rotor in various MB&F watches. It's adorned with a strip of Super LumiNova on each blade - another nod to the brand's past works (in collaboration with Mr. Glow himself; James Thompson, also known as Black Badger). The rotor, by the way, is made of titanium and tungsten... Time is displayed by two aluminum cylinders, blue for hours and gray for minutes. The cylinders are engraved and filled with luminescent Super LumiNova.
All this is housed in an unusual, striking 42 mm steel case. On top, it features a domed sapphire crystal, revealing the spinning three-blade rotor, and mineral glass surrounding the case provides a full view of the hour and minute cylinders. The mounting of the hour and minute cylinders is visible from below. All of this is placed in a cradle-like structure for wearing on the wrist, with a light gray leather strap with blue stitching, on a folding clasp.
It's now clear that we are more than curious to learn more about this piece. But the chances of us ever seeing it in person are slim. That is, unless Max Büsser remains firm in his decision to offer it only to the brand's inner circle. Apparently, MB&F teams have been flooded with requests, which we can fully understand. Nonetheless, we have mixed feelings. On one hand, we applaud Büsser and his team for choosing this bold path, and we believe they should stick to it. On the other hand, just build and sell the darn thing!
Naturally, this article is dedicated to the fun in watchmaking in general and MB&F in particular. We thank you, MB&F and everyone else who helps shape this community and make watchmaking a little better every day.
We cannot emphasize enough the fact that these are not commercial watches. There's a slight chance that the situation might change in the near future, as we learned from people at MB&F, but nothing can be guaranteed. But for now, there's no need to ask us, MB&F or anyone else if you can get such a watch.
SPECIFICATIONS – M.A.D. EDITION 1
Case: diameter 42 mm – stainless steel case – dome-shaped polished steel bezel with domed sapphire crystal – cylindrical lower half of the case made of mineral glass – cradle-like structure with large polished lugs – X-shaped cradle running under the movement container – alternating polished and matte surfaces – winding and setting crown at 12 o'clock
Display: lateral time indication – blue aluminum hour cylinder – gray aluminum minute cylinder – indicator between the lower lugs – engraved and filled Super LumiNova numbers
Movement: Miyota 821A – automatic movement mounted upside down – three-blade rotor with top-mounted winding barrel with Super LumiNova strip on each blade – 21 jewels – 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz) – 42-hour power reserve – lateral hour and minute indication
Strap: light gray leather – contrasting blue stitching – folding clasp
Availability: Sorry... not for sale
Price: Quite irrelevant, but 1,900 Swiss francs (excluding taxes).