In the codified world of haute horlogerie, MB&F has imposed its disruptive approach over the past 15 years. A pioneering performance that has been repeatedly praised by critics who were less enthusiastic at the brand’s inception. When Maximilian Büsser founded his own haute horlogerie house in 2005, he launched the world’s very first conceptual watchmaking laboratory. It was a bold gamble for this engineer by training, who over time has become a close friend of our editorial team. With more than 20 extraordinary calibers created to power his now-famous Horological Machines and Legacy Machines, MB&F impresses with its creativity and technical prowess, even drawing the attention of industry giants like the house of Chanel, which recently formalized its investment in MB&F.
“Creating is daring” said the artist Ben. Maximilian Büsser is a perfect example of this; his creativity and audacity are unparalleled. In designing his Horological Machines—machines that symbolize time rather than merely tell the time—he defies conventions, exploring themes as varied as space, science fiction, aviation, supercars, the animal kingdom, and architecture. Meanwhile, his Legacy Machines—rounder, more classic pieces—pay tribute to 19th-century watchmaking excellence, reinterpreting the complications of great pioneering watchmakers as contemporary art objects. Thus, non-conformism dances with history, and Maximilian Büsser surrounds himself with the best minds to bring his ideas to life.
While Maximilian Büsser remains the emblematic figure of his brand, his Friends—hence the “F” in MB&F—play a fundamental role in the conception of his creations. World-renowned artists, watchmakers, designers, and manufacturers are integral to the creative process. Together, they craft technical marvels such as the HM4 Thunderbolt, named in tribute to the A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft. Launched in 2010, it is considered the most daring Horological Machine created by MB&F at the time.
The LM Sequential Flyback is another iconic model from the Maison. Its Sequential caliber surpasses conventional chronographs in terms of energy efficiency and precision, allowing two independent chronographs to coexist within a single watch. This feat enabled MB&F to win the Aiguille d’Or at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) in 2022, the most coveted prize in watchmaking.
This multitude of technical creations can be found in the M.A.D Galleries—M.A.D. meaning Mechanical Art Devices—opened in Geneva and Dubai, along with the MB&F Labs established around the world. From Paris to Taipei and Beverly Hills, MB&F and its “mad lovers,” as Maximilian Büsser fondly calls them, remain in the spotlight, continuing to bring a fresh wave of eccentricity to the watchmaking industry.
This myriad of technical creations finds its stage in the M.A.D. Galleries – M.A.D. standing for Mechanical Art Devices – first inaugurated in Geneva and Dubai, later joined by the MB&F Labs now spread across the globe. From Paris to Taipei, with a stop in Beverly Hills, MB&F and its “mad lovers,” as Maximilian Büsser affectionately calls them, reign under the spotlight and continue to breathe a refreshing breeze of eccentricity into the world of watchmaking.
