Most watchmakers are dreamers’ pushing the boundaries of horology to the brink & Maximilian Büsser is no exception. Apparently the birth of Legacy Machine N°1 was conceived by a fantasy where Büsser imagined himself being born in 1867 rather than 1967. Looking at the final product I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d actually manage to travel back in time. This level of creativity encapsulates the heart of MB & F design. Like most true artist’s masterpieces this marvel is created from a combination of madness & genius. I could definitely visualize the protagonist in a Terry Gilliam film wearing this splendid creation.
The Legacy I had the fortune to wear was the 18k Red Gold version. The rich tones are vibrant & definitely give the watch a luxurious feel. Aesthetically this is a beautiful watch in every way. Like most MB & F creations there is a certain magic that emanates from being in physical contact with one of these machines. The watch feels great to wear sitting very comfortably on my wrist. At 44mm x 16mm the legacy is of delicate proportions compared to previous models. Normally I favor large watches but I feel the design would have been compromised if the scale were different on this piece. Personally I feel this watch would be best suited to special occasions rather than as an everyday piece. I can envisage the lucky recipient wearing it to a ball or cocktail party under a dinner suit.
The Legacy N°1 bears testament to the skills of two chief talents: Jean-François Mojon (Chronode) responsible for the mechanical expertise & Kari Voutilainen for the visualization of the design. To mark this achievement both their names are engraved on the movement & can be view through the exhibition display on the reverse of the case. The dial is a three – dimensional masterpiece enclosed in high domed sapphire crystal. In my opinion what makes the design of this watch pretty amazing is the vertical power reserve (rising like a Cobra) & the 14mm balance wheel suspended above the two dials. The finishing is also handcrafted & honors many (19th Century) traditional techniques.
MB & F have created the worlds first vertical power reserve & have achieved the amazing feat of controlling two dials by the same regulator. This means the hours & minutes on each dial operate independently of each other. Using two crowns positioned at 4 & 8 o’clock the user is able to adjust these dials. The very powerful engine hiding under the amazing chassis controls all this ingenuity. The Legacy N°1 uses a bespoke manual winding 23 Jewel movement with a 45 hour power reserve comprising 279 parts. Drawing inspiration from the traditional 19th Century Pocketwatch technology the machine operates at a slower oscillating speed of 2.5 Hz / 18,000 beats per hour.
As you would expect a watch of this caliber is partnered with a hand – stitched black/brown Alligator strap & matching gold tang buckle. The presentation box also looks pretty awesome like a Time Capsule that has just landed on earth. The Legacy N°1 is also available in White gold. The price for all this luxury is: $92,000
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