3 Reasons to Love the New MB&F Legacy Machine: LM1 Silberstein, Made with Alain Silberstein (prices)

A few months ago in Basel, we met with MB&F and got a sneak peek at the all-new Legacy Machine LM1 Silberstein – but the watch was under embargo – until now. The reasons we love this watch are multi-fold and run the gamut from admiring the work of Alain Silberstein and MB&F for years to just simply loving the Legacy Machine in general. However, there are three important facts that stand out about this watch and this Performance Art collaboration – making it quite special and undeniably loveable (not to mention collectible).

1 – Alain  Silberstein. First of all, while Alain Silberstein currently designs timepieces for brands – and this is not his first collaboration with MB&F – he used to have his own eponymous brand. In fact, an interior designer by trade, the French artist fell in love with watchmaking while living in famed French watchmaking region of Besancon in the 1980’s. He started his own brand in 1990 and brought an incredible touch of bright, bold beauty to the dial of a timepiece.

In fact, I have known Silberstein since he started his brand, and his Silberstein watches – much like the LM1 Silberstein – are a deft reflection of his personality: fun, different, and somewhat spiritual. His signature look comes in the form of geometric shapes and primary colors – and his dials are immediately recognizable from across any crowded room.

“In all  my creations, I search for the radical, which is finding the very essence of what should be highlighted,” says Silberstein.

This collaboration to bring his art and style to life on the LM1 is a testament to his work and to the work of Max Busser and Friends.

2 – The LM1 Silberstein watch itself. The watch has many great aspects to it and underscores both Silberstein’s rich style and MB&F’s extraordinary watchmaking DNA. The new LM1 Silberstein dual time zone watch plays on dimension and color for the power reserve indicator, using cones, cubes and sphere in signature Silberstein red, blue and yellow hues. Additionally, the hours and minutes of the two time zones feature red hour hands and blue minute hands with geometric triangles and rectangles.   Adding incredible drama to the piece is the barely visible sapphire bridge that was two years in the making. The watch is a study in contrast of finishes and colors. It is offered in three versions: 18-karat 5N rose gold, titanium, or black PVD titanium.

Says Silberstein, “I like playing with materials and finishes. The more matte there is, the more the high polish pops.”

3- MB&F. Let’s face it, since Maximilian Busser founded the brand; MB&F has captured hearts and minds of collectors around the world. The brand is definitely unique in its portrayal of time – offering space-age designs, aliens and other likenesses that keep us in rapt anticipation of the next unveiling. While MB&F joins forces with Silberstein in this watch for unique design touches, it nonetheless remains true to its watchmaking prowess.

The movement is the same caliber that was developed from Büsser’s sketches by Jean-François Mojon and Chronode team, together with independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen. The Legacy Machine 1 features a relocated balance wheel, which beats at 18,000 vph (compared to 28,800 in most watches), on the dial, and a vertical power reserve indicator. The movement is finely finished in typical MB&F style, and just to keep collectors’ wishes of rarity in mind, the new MB&F LM1 Silberstein watch is naturally being made in a limited edition. In fact, just 12 pieces of each of the three versions will be made, with the titanium and black PVD titanium models retailing for $83,000, and the rose gold version selling for $92,000.

Below are the tech specs on the LM1 Silberstein watch:

ENGINE
Three-dimensional horological movement developed exclusively for MB&F by Jean-François Mojon/Chronode and Kari Voutilainen
Manual winding with single mainspring barrel

Power reserve: 45 hours

Balance bridge: transparent sapphire crystal

Balance wheel: bespoke 14mm balance wheel with four traditional regulating screws floating above the movement and dials

Balance spring: traditional Breguet overcoil terminating in mobile stud holder
Balance frequency: 18,000bph/2.5Hz

Number of components: 279

Number of jewels: 23

Chatons: gold chatons with polished countersinks

Fine finishing: superlative hand finishing throughout respecting 19th-century style; internal bevel angles highlighting hand craft; polished bevels; hand-made engravings; frosted finish

FUNCTIONS
Hours and minutes; completely independent dual time zones displayed on two dials; unique vertical power reserve indicator
Crown at 8 o’clock for setting time of left dial; crown at 4 o’clock for setting time of right dial and winding

CASE
Available in 18k red gold, grade 5 titanium or grade 5 titanium treated with black PVD Dimensions: 42.5mm wide × 17mm high
Number of components: 41
Water resistance: 30m / 3atm / 90’

SAPPHIRE CRYSTALS
High domed sapphire crystal on top and sapphire crystal on back with anti-reflective coating on both sides; balance wheel bridge in sapphire crystal.

STRAP & BUCKLE
Black hand-stitched calfskin strap with black topstitched seams with red gold case, or red topstitched seams with both titanium cases.