Four mechanical rarities from MB&F enter the Geneva auction houses
A final collaboration piece with H. Moser, a bejewelled jungle narrative, a perpetual calendar pioneer and a platinum masterwork converge at auction this November, each a singular expression of watchmaking vision.
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Four machines from the MB&F atelier cross the block at Geneva’s auction houses this November, each representing a distinct chapter in the manufacture’s relentless pursuit of mechanical complexity and sculptural audacity.
The LM101 x H. Moser, numbered 15 of 15, closes a Performance Art dialogue between two independent watchmakers with uncommon restraint. The blue fumé dial bears no logo, a deliberate erasure that speaks to the collaborative spirit of the piece. Within the movement, a double hairspring appears for the first time in the collection, a refinement that demanded equal contributions from both houses. The online sale ends Friday 6 November at Marteau & Co.
At Sotheby’s Geneva on Sunday 8 November, the Legacy Machine Perpetual arrives in pink gold as number 3 of 25. This watch represents the genesis of Stephen McDonnell’s rethought perpetual calendar, a mechanism that captured the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie’s recognition for Best Calendar Watch in 2016. The achievement remains singular in its resolve to marry mechanical logic with the constraints of a wrist instrument.
Also at Sotheby’s on Monday 9 November, the Legacy Machine Split Escapement “The Jungle Book” emerges as a pièce unique. Eddy Jaquet’s engraving draws Mowgli, Baloo, Bagheera and Shere Khan in deep relief across white gold, transforming the caseback into a narrative surface. The depth of the carving catches light with each movement of the wrist, a technique that elevates the functional into the poetic.
The final offering, an LM2 in platinum numbered 11 of 18, appears at Christie’s Geneva on Monday 9 November. Two balance wheels and a planetary differential orchestrate the timekeeping, their interaction governed by principles drawn from celestial mechanics. Kari Voutilainen’s finishing work on the movement renders each component a study in proportion and surface refinement.
Collectors wishing to participate may register directly through the auction houses for bidding access.
Imagery courtesy of MB&F (@mbandf).
