MB&F: HM3 “FrogX” 10° Anniversary

Horological Machine N°3 was first presented in 2009, and in its six years of production became MB&F’s most popular model with 19 variants. Among these, the most loved by enthusiasts and collectors was the 2010 HM3 “Frog” version.

Two globular “eyes” that rotated to give the hours and minutes. A widely grinning “mouth” revealing the occasional bright flicker of the signature MB&F battle-axe rotor as it swept past a date scale. A glistening “skin” of titanium, red gold or exotic zirconium. 

Now, 10 years after its debut, HM3 “Frog” makes its comeback, in a sapphire crystal case, yet still with a hidden message to be discovered. 

HOROLOGICAL MACHINE N°3 “FrogX” 10° Anniversary

For the first time, the HM3 engine is showcased in all its glory, used here in its MegaWind iteration that trades the date display for an expanded rotor. Two paper-thin domes, milled out of aluminium to be as light as possible, indicate the hours and minutes, rotating under markers designed to resemble the lateral pupils of a frog’s eyes. Super-LumiNova accents, reveal themselves in fluorescing segments under the rotor and on the time-display domes. 

Those looking at the winding and setting crown of HM3 “FrogX”, expecting to see the usual battle-axe insignia, will be slightly baffled to find a smooth, highly polished disc. At just the right angle, with just the right kind of directional light and just the right receiving surface, the final secret of the fully exposed FrogX is revealed. A secret signal, created by sculpting the metal crown at microscopic levels to allow it to reflect light in highly specific ways, is the key to unlocking the MB&F battle-axe. 

HM3 “FrogX” incorporates the distinctive HM3 engine in its MegaWind Final Edition version. Crafted bridges, the oscillating balance wheel, battle-axe automatic winding rotor are all open to view on the dial side. 

The engine of HM3, built by master watchmaker Jean-Marc Wiederrecht, is based on a Girard- Perregauxcalibre, which has been literally turned upside down to allow for an uninterrupted view of the enlarged 22k gold and titanium winding rotor and the oscillations of the balance wheel. The two 22K gold blades of the MB&F battle-axe rotor make what is called a “mystery” rotor because, in appearing to be symmetrically balanced instead of having a visibly off-centred mass, they seem to defy the laws of physics. This is achieved by machining the underside of one of the gold blades to a razor-thin edge, so reducing its mass. 

The new MB&F HM3 “FrogX” 10th anniversary Limited Edition are available in three versions, blue, purple or turquoise, each limited to 10 pieces.