MB&F
{{Short description|Swiss watch and clock manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = MB&F
| logo = 140px
| type = Private
| foundation = 2005
| founder= Maximilian Büsser
| location = Geneva, Switzerland
| key_people = {{unbulleted list| Maximilian Büsser | Serge Kriknoff}}
| area_served = Worldwide
| industry = Watchmaking
| production =350 pieces (2022)
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees = 48 (2023)
| parent =
| subsid =
| homepage = {{URL|www.mbandf.com}}
| footnotes =
}}
MB&F (Maximilian Büsser and Friends) is a Swiss luxury watch and clock manufacturer founded by Maximilian Busser in July 2005 in Geneva, Switzerland. MB&F specializes in small series of concept-type watches.{{Cite journal|date=December 2019|url=https://robbreport.com.au/style/watches/two-watch-world-heavyweights-teamed-up-to-create-a-triple-axis-tourbillon-for-mbf/|title=Watchmakers turn to new product ranges|language=en|journal=Robb Report}}{{Cite journal|date=December 2019|url=https://robbreport.com.au/style/watches/two-watch-world-heavyweights-teamed-up-to-create-a-triple-axis-tourbillon-for-mbf/|title=Two Watch-World Heavyweights Teamed Up to Create a Triple-Axis Tourbillon for MB&F|language=en|journal=Robb Report}} MB&F's clocks have a futuristic style, and the company has collaborated with other artists and watchmakers.{{Cite journal|date=March 2014|url=https://www.ft.com/content/812ae350-8f42-11e3-be85-00144feab7de|title=MB&F and H. Moser launch 2 models: a two-way collaboration of latest timepieces|language=en|newspaper=The Financial Times}}
History
MB&F was founded by Maximilian Büsser in July 2005 in Geneva, Switzerland.{{Cite web|date=March 2014|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303795904579431290399398738|title=The Watch World's Risk-Takers
|language=en|website=The Wall Street Journal}} MB&F launched its first watch, Horological Machine No.1 (HM1) in 2007.{{Cite journal|date=March 2014|url=https://www.gearpatrol.com/watches/a589048/watches-you-should-know-mbf-hm1/|title=How This Unconventional Brand Changed the Watch World for the Weirder|language=en|journal=Gear Patrol}} MB&F has since launched more than 10 atypical 'horological machines'.{{Cite web|date=Nov 2012|url=https://www.gphg.org/horlogerie/en/grand-prix-dhorlogerie-de-geneve/2012/LAU|title=2GHHP Prize list 2012|language=en|website=Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève}} In 2011, the brand presented Legacy Machine No.1 (LM1), the first in a collection of more traditional-looking, round-cased watches. In 2012, LM1 was awarded twice at the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG): Best Men's Watch and the Public Prize.
In 2018 MB&F was granted a patent for a perpetual calendar mechanism that automatically corrects at the end of months having less than 31 days.{{Cite patent|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/EP1351104A1/en|title=Device with program wheel for perpetual calendar mechanism, and timepiece provided with such a mechanism|country=EP|number=1351104}}
In 2024, 25% of the company was acquired by Chanel for an undisclosed amount. Despite the new investment, Büsser, retains the majority ownership with 60%, while Serge Kriknoff hold 15%.{{cite web | url=https://revolutionwatch.com/chanel-mbandf-stake/?utm_campaign=557364_23%20Aug%20NL&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Revolution%20Media%20Pte.%20Ltd.&dm_i=7L2H,BY2C,5K9CSO,1NJVM,1 | title=Chanel Acquires 25% Stake in MB&F | date=22 August 2024 }}
Notable models
In 2010 the HM4 Thunderbolt was awarded the Best Concept and Design Watch by the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève.{{Cite journal|date=January 2016|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/19/fashion/maximilian-busser-this-is-my-life.html|title=GPHG Prize List 2010|language=en|journal=GPHG}}
In 2012 the Legacy Machine No.1 was awarded both Best Men’s Watch Prize and the Public prize at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève.{{Cite journal|date=November 2012|url=https://www.gphg.org/horlogerie/en/prize-list-12|title=GPHG Prize List 2012|language=en|journal=GPHG}}
Image : MB%26F_HM6_in_titanium.jpg
The Horological Machine No.6 (HM6) features a rounded biomorphic case, flying tourbillon under a retractable cover, and automatic winding.[http://quillandpad.com/2016/01/19/its-transparently-brilliant-hm6-sv-by-mbf/ Quill & Pad: Horological Machine No.6] It displays hours and minutes on separate semi-spherical aluminum indication domes, crown to open/close a central flying tourbillon shield. It features hour and minute indications on domes, automatic winding regulated by twin turbines developed exclusively for HM6 by MB&F.[https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/introducing-the-mbf-hm6-space-pirate-live-pics Hodinkee Introducing Horological Machine No.6]
In 2015 Horological Machine No.6 received a ‘Red Dot: Best of the Best" award – the top prize at the international Red Dot Awards.[http://www.ablogtowatch.com/mbf-hm6-rt-watch-red-gold/ ABTW: MB&F HM6 RT Watch In Red Gold]
In 2015, MB&F presented Legacy Machine Perpetual featuring a new perpetual calendar architecture.[http://quillandpad.com/2015/11/12/why-legacy-machine-perpetual-catapults-mbf-into-the-big-league/ Quill & Pad Why Legacy Machine Perpetual Catapults MB&F Into The Big League] LM Perpetual has a large-diameter suspended balance with traditional Breguet overcoil suspended over on the dial from twin arches with the complete perpetual calendar complication visible on full display above the movement plate.[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-25/mbf-legacy-machine-perpetual-hands-on-video Bloomberg: Legacy Machine Perpetual Is MB&F’s Most Ambitious Watch Yet] It displays hours, minutes, day, date, month, retrograde leap year and power reserve indicators. It has a fully integrated perpetual calendar developed for MB&F by Stephen McDonnell, featuring dial-side complication and mechanical processor system architecture with inbuilt safety mechanisms.
In 2016 Legacy Machine Perpetual won the Best Calendar Watch Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG).{{Cite journal|date=January 2016|url=https://www.gphg.org/horlogerie/en/prize-list-16|title= GPHG Prize List 2016 |language=en|journal=GPHG}}
In 2018, Maximilian Büsser was awarded an Entrepreneurship prize by the Gaïa Prix.{{Cite journal|date=September 2018|url=https://journal.hautehorlogerie.org/en/max-busser-a-worthy-winner-of-the-2018-prix-gaia/|title=Maximilian: 'This Is My Life'|language=en|journal=FHH Journal}}
Image : MBandF_LM-Sequential_EVO_Orange.jpg
In 2019 MB&F presented the brand's first ladies' watch, the LM FlyingT{{Cite web|date=March 20, 2019|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/20/fashion/watches-mbf-maximilian-busser.html|title=MB&F Creates Its First Watch for Women|language=en|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Ming|last=Liu}} It features a central three-dimensional tourbillon movement, much of which is visible above the dial. The time is displayed on an inclined subdial at 7 o'clock. Hours and minutes are displayed on a 50° vertically tilted dial with two serpentine hands. Its movement is a three-dimensional vertical architecture, with automatic winding, conceived and developed in-house by Maximilian Büsser and Friends, central 60-second flying tourbillon, and 100-hour power reserve. In 2019, LM FlyingT won Best Ladies Complication at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG).{{Cite journal|date=January 2016|url=https://www.gphg.org/horlogerie/en/prize-list-19|title=GPHG Prize List 2019|language=en|journal=GPHG}}
In 2020, MB&F launched HM10 Bulldog,{{Cite journal|date=September 2020|url=https://quillandpad.com/2020/09/20/mbf-hm10-bulldog-forget-the-dog-beware-of-the-owner-video/ |title=MB&F HM10 Bulldog: Forget The Dog, Beware Of The Owner (Video)|language=en|journal=Quill & Pad}} which features an unusual power reserve indication displayed by the opening and closing of the ”bulldog’s” jaws at the bottom of the watch. Under a large domed crystal, a high central balance wheel oscillates between the hour and minute indicator domes.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}
In 2022, MB&F presented LM Sequential EVO, a revolutionary dual chronograph. The movement features two column-wheel chronographs and a “Twinverter” binary pusher that enables multiple timing modes, including independent timing, split-second timing, sequential lap timer, and cumulative “chess match” timing. LM Sequential EVO won the top horological prize of 2022, the GPHG “Aiguille d’Or”.{{Cite journal|date=November 2022|url=https://www.gphg.org/horlogerie/en/prize-list-22 |title=GPHG Prize List 2022|language=en|journal=GPHG}}
M.A.D. Gallery
Büsser created the first MB&F M.A.D. Gallery in 2011 in Geneva,{{cite web|url=https://monochrome-watches.com/video-visiting-mbanf-mad-gallery-by-monochrome-watches/|title= Visiting the MB&F M.A.D Gallery, the crazy artistic universe of Max Busser & Friends|website=Monochrome Watches|year=2016}} Switzerland. "M.A.D." stands for Mechanical Art Devices. Büsser considers his timepieces to be kinetic art{{Cite journal|date=May 2018|url=https://watchjournal.com/all-the-right-moves/|title=Max Büsser's Accidental Art Gallery Empire|language=en|journal=Watch Journal}} and created his own art gallery to display his sculptured Horological Machines in the context of mechanical art by other artists.{{cite web |url=
https://hk.asiatatler.com/style/watch-robots-madgallery-hong-kong |title= 5 Awesome Mechanical Sculptures You Can't Miss At M.A.D.Gallery|website= Asia Tatler |year= 2019}}
In addition to Geneva, there are now M.A.D. Galleries in Dubai{{cite web|url=http://www.designdaysdubai.ae/news/exhibitors/2016/01/design-days-dubai-in-partnership-with-mbf-mad-gallery/|title= Design Days Dubai in partnership with MB&F M.A.D Gallery|website=Gulf news|year=2016}} and Taipei,{{cite web |url=http://www.europastar.com/news/1004087420-mb-f-opens-a-second-m-a-d-gallery-in-taipei.html |title= MB&F – Second M.A.D.Gallery in Taipei |website= Europa Star Dubai |year= 2015}} and smaller ”MB&F Labs” in Singapore and Paris.
See also
References
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