Luxury watches can feel distant, sometimes even unrelatable. Most of us will never own one just like this. But here’s the thing. Watches like this aren’t just about ownership. I like to think that similar to a multi-million dollar supercar, you don’t need to own this to be able to appreciate this. We get up close and personal in the video right below, so do have a look before you continue reading:
The LM101 is a milestone in MB&F’s history. So, first released in 2014, it was their most compact legacy machine at just 40 mm, but still carried that oversized suspended 14 mm balance wheelBalance Wheel The balance wheel is a component of a mechanical watch movement that oscillates at a consistent rate. It receives a small impulse from the pallet fork, which is part of the escapement mechanism. The balance wheel is connected to a hairspring that controls the rate of oscillation of the balance wheel. The balance wheel and hairspring work together to keep accurate time. The oscillations of the balance wheel drive the timekeeping functions of the watch. The balance wheel is a crucial component of a mechanical watch movement. [Learn More], which has become an absolute icon in its own, instantly recognizable, 100% MB&F. It was also the first caliberCaliber The caliber ('movement') is the heart and engine of a watch. It consists of a number of interconnected components that work together. Energy is transmitted through the gear train, to the escapement mechanism. The escapement mechanism releases this energy in a controlled manner. This drives the gear train, which ultimately rotates the hands of the watch and keeps time. [More Info] entirely conceived by MB&F’s own team. Very important, very significant with finishing and design input from none other than the legendary Kari Voutilainen. Over the past decade, it’s been released in every metal and color imaginable, I am thinking here. And this has quietly become one of their most beloved machines. I suspect that is also because it’s arguably one of their most wearable machines.
So anyway, this LM101 receives the EVO treatment. Why? Well, MB&F launched the EVO line to make their wildest watches more wearable: harder wearing, shock absorbing, water resistant, and ready for daily life. You know, when you want to jump from your jet straight into your pool without swapping watches. This LM101 EVO gets 80m of water resistance and a screw down crownCrown The knob on the outside of the watch that you typically use to either wind the mainspring or set the time [Learn More] and MB&F’s patented flex ring shock absorber that sits between movement and case. The case itself is titanium size at 40 mm, but taller at 16.5 mm, of course, thanks to the domed crystal. It comes on an integrated rubber strap. Super nice and suits the theme here.
In short, it is MB&F’s art, but tuned for reality. And I was told by MB&F that this was actually one of the top requests they received from their existing customers. The Evo here launches in two versions or two colors. So, a salmon dial plate and a peacock green dial. The salmon is rare in MB&F’s world, while the green is well rare in of itself, I would say, because honestly, for the first 15 minutes of holding this watch, I was convinced the dial is blue. Super interesting. It goes from blue to purple to green. All kinds of stuff is happening there.
The sub dials hover just above the plate there. Hours and minutes at 2:00 with redesigned white gold hands and the power reserveRéserve de marche Also known as Power Reserve. A watch's power reserve refers to the amount of time a mechanical watch can run without being wound. The power reserve of a mechanical watch can vary depending on the size of the mainspring, the efficiency of the gear train, and the rate at which the mainspring releases energy. If a watch has a Power Reserve 'complication' it simply means that the status of the power reserve can be seen on the watch itself (either on the dial or movement side of the watch). [Learn More] at 6:00. Now upgraded from 45 to a more generous 60 hours. I mean, what else would you want at this point? Floating above it all is, of course, the massive and instantly recognizable 14 mm balance wheel held by those twin polished arches mil from a single block of metal. 100% MB&F. I would say if MB&F had a signature at this point in time, I would say that this is basically it.
Inside you’ll find LM101 EVO caliber manually wound with a Strauman double hair springHairspring The hairspring is a thin spring in a mechanical watch movement that is connected to the balance wheel. The balance wheel oscillates back and forth at a consistent rate, and the hairspring helps regulate these oscillations. The hairspring works by applying a restoring force to the balance wheel, which helps to keep the balance wheel oscillating at a consistent rate. The hairspring is also known as a balance spring. [Learn More] for stability and a slipping main springMainspring The mainspring is a spiral-shaped metal spring that stores energy in a mechanical watch movement. It is located inside the barrel. The mainspring is wound, either manually or automatically. The mainspring unwinds over time, and the watch will stop running when the mainspring is fully unwound. [Learn More] so you can’t over wind it not unimportant. Now on the back the finishing is I’m going to say classic MB&F but it’s absolutely of course gorgeous with a darker Evo twist here, all in the style of 19th century pocket watches. Very magnificent and in a way very unexpected when you look at the watch face first.
This particular release is a 20th anniversary gift to their fans. A gift that you still need to pay for, of course, but also a reminder to the rest of us and the broader watch industry. Watches do not have to be boring. They can inspire, they can excite and reconnect us with the joy of mechanics. So, if you had to choose, which would you take?