MB&F – LM1 M.A.D. Dubai

Legacy Machine N^o1 M.A.D. Dubai

The concept of Friends is such an integral part of MB&F that it’s right there in the name: the “F” in MB&F stands for Friends. And few Friends have been as supportive to the creative horological lab as the Seddiqi family in Dubai. Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons was one of the six core retailers that supported – well before the first watch had been produced – Büsser’s vision of a horological laboratory focused on creating kinetic sculptures that give time. And the Seddiqi family’s support has not stopped there; they recently opened an MB&F M.A.D.Gallery in Dubai.

LM1 M.A.D. Dubai celebrates the opening of the M.A.D. Gallery in Dubai. The last addition in the Legacy collection is a limited edition of just 13 pieces in Ti-6Al-4V (grade 5) titanium. It is the first Legacy Machine available in this high-tech aerospace grade alloy.

First launched in 2011, Legacy Machine No.1 (LM1) is a tribute to the great innovators of traditional watchmaking, with its monumental central balance, superlatively finished movement, completely independent dual time zones, unique vertical power reserve indicator and elegant annular case. But above all, it is an authentic three-dimensional MB&F Machine. Gazing down through LM1’s crystal-clear bubble sapphire dome to the micro-mechanical fantasy below, it’s easy to imagine Jules Verne’s Captain Nemo looking upon the mythical underwater city of Atlantis.

The LM1 M.A.D. Dubai edition is easily distinguished from its stable mates by the eye-catching vivid green of its CVD-treated movement main plate, as well as the Arabic-Hindi numerals of the “home time” sub dial. It is also worth emphasising that LM1 is one of very few dual time zone watches offering completely independent setting of both hours and minutes. Green CVD has only recently become an option; the colour has long been considered too unstable for commercial applications. While applying green CVD is a long process, light playing over the verdant surface creates spectacularly contrasting hues of blue and purple.

LM1’s transcendental in-house movement bears testimony to the enormous talent of its creators, Jean-François Mojon of Chronode and Kari Voutilainen.

LM1 M.A.D. Dubai is a limited edition of 13 pieces in grade 5 titanium, available exclusively through the MB&F M.A.D.Gallery in Dubai.

By Jacopo Corvo