Maximilian Büsser and his Friends present Legacy Machine FlyingT, the first of MB&F’s three-dimensional horological art pieces dedicated to women.
The design of Legacy Machine FlyingT is replete with associations drawn from the feminine and maternal influences in Maximilian Büsser’s life.
Crafted from white gold, the round case, steeply cambered bezel and slender, elongated lugs are fully set with diamonds. The watch features a high, extravagantly convex dome of sapphire crystal glass and beneath it you can discover a subtly curved dial plate, liquidly black with layers of stretched lacquer or glittering with blazing white diamonds.
An asymmetric ventricular opening in the dial plate frames a flying tourbillon movement that beats at a rate of 2.5Hz (18,000vph). The tourbillon projects high above the rest of the engine, a kinetic, dynamic column that stops just short of the apex of the sapphire crystal dome.
Affixed to the top of the upper tourbillon cage is a single large diamond that rotates simultaneously with the flying tourbillon, emitting the fiery brilliance of the very best quality stones.
At the 7 o’clock position is a dial of black or white lacquer that displays the hours and minutes with a pair of elegant serpentine hands in blued gold.
The dial is inclined at a 50° tilt so that the time can be read only by the wearer. On the reverse, the automatic winding rotor takes the shape of a three-dimensional red gold sun with sculpted rays.
The mechanical antecedents of Legacy Machine FlyingT lie mostly in the Horological Machine collection, namely with the HM6 series and HM7 Aquapod.
In a departure from most modern watch movements, which take a radial and co-planar approach to movement construction, the LM FlyingT engine utilises a vertical and co-axial approach. The cinematic flying tourbillon, which boldly projects beyond the dial-plate of LM FlyingT, is a visually stunning example of the rotating escapement and stands in stark contrast to other flying tourbillons, which usually do not venture past the confines of their surrounding watch dials.
Flying tourbillons, as their name suggests, are anchored only at their base, with no stabilising bridge to restrict lateral motion at the top. This increased need for overall rigidity is what causes the conservative placement of most flying tourbillons within their movements. Legacy Machine FlyingT breaks free of this limiting need for movement security and confidently displays its flying tourbillon in all its glory.
An additional distinct challenge which arose in the construction of LM FlyingT was the shape of the upper tourbillon cage, which creates more mass on one side of the tourbillon than the other. In order to compensate and ensure that the mechanism remains balanced, a counterweight was hidden under the tourbillon carriage, on the opposite side of the upper tourbillon cage.
In order to display the time as precisely as possible on the 50° inclined dial, conical gears were employed to optimally transmit torque from one plane to another, a solution first used in HM6 and subsequently in HM9 Flow.
The 280-component engine of Legacy Machine FlyingT has a power reserve of four days (100 hours), which is among the highest within MB&F, a testament to the growth of in-house expertise and experience.
Legacy Machine FlyingT launches in three editions, all in white gold and set with diamonds:
– Black lacquer dial plate with case set with brilliant-cut diamonds;
– Dial plate and case both fully set with brilliant-cut diamonds;
– Dial plate and case both fully set with baguette-cut diamonds.
Technical details
Model: LM Flying T
Launch editions in diamond-set, 18k white gold cases
Movement
Three-dimensional vertical architecture, automatic winding, conceived and developed in-house by MB&F
Central flying 60-second tourbillon
Power reserve: 100 hours
Balance frequency: 2.5 Hz / 18,000 bph
Three-dimensional sun winding rotor in 18k 5N+ red gold, titanium and platinum.
Number of components: 280
Number of jewels: 30
Functions/indications
Hours and minutes displayed on a 50° vertically titled dial with two blued serpentine hands.
Two crowns: winding on left and time-setting on right
Case
Material: launch editions in 18k white gold and diamonds
High domed sapphire crystal on top with anti-reflective coating on both sides, sapphire crystal on back.
Dimensions: 38.5mm x 20mm
Number of components: 17
Water resistance: 30 m / 90’ / 3 atm
Gem setting
- Black Lacquer edition: 168 stones (120 on the case, 21 on the buckle,1 on top of the tourbillon cage and 26 for the crowns). About 1.7ct.
- Paved diamond-set edition: 558 stones (390 on the dial, 120 on the case, 21 on the buckle, 1 on top of the tourbillon cage and 26 for the crowns). About 3.5 ct.
- Baguette diamonds edition: 294-baguette diamonds and 3 stones (134-baguette diamonds on the dial, 124-baguette diamonds on the case, 12-baguette diamonds on the buckle, 24-baguette diamonds and 2 stones for the crowns, 1 stone on top of the tourbillon cage). About 8.2 ct.
Strap
Calf or alligator leather straps available with 18k white gold pin buckle, set with diamonds.