MB&F has announced the release of the M.A.D.1 GREEN: a third edition of the M.A.D.1 wristwatch.
First disclosed in June 2021, M.A.D. Editions is a side project by MB&F to thank those supporters who have played a major role in the success of the brand.
Named after mechanical art universe of the brand’s M.A.D.Galleries and affordably priced, this series does not carry the MB&F name. The engineering, complexity and finishing are also not in the same league as MB&F’s Horological and Legacy Machines.
M.A.D.1 Blue: Friends and Tribe Edition
This first edition of M.A.D.1 watches was proposed to two well-defined groups of people: first, MB&F’s network of suppliers, also known as Friends.
It included dial & hand makers, those who craft the brand’s cases, escapements, movement components and sapphire crystals as well as the photographers, writers, designers, and other professionals who have been part of the journey.
The second group were the registered members of “The Tribe”, the MB&F watch owners who had supported the brand from the very beginning by acquiring its Horological and Legacy Machines. Incidentally, the team would decide later that Tribe members retain a permanent access to future M.A.D.Editions.
The M.A.D.1 was conceived with the same amount of creativity as an MB&F Machine. In order to keep it in the affordable price range of CHF 1,900 (approximately $2,000), the brand selected an existing movement instead of developing a new one.
The Japanese Miyota 821A automatic movement was chosen for its unidirectional winding system – essential for easy and high-speed rotation of the winding rotor, a key element of the M.A.D.1 design.
The case structure and time display were particularly innovative with the movement encased upside-down, allowing the watchmakers to place the specially-developed triple-blade, titanium and tungsten rotor on the dial side of the watch – a feature typical of several MB&F timepieces.
The revolving hours and minutes were positioned on aluminium cylinders visible on the case band, another nod to the much-loved lateral displays seen on many MB&F Machines.
Housed in a 42mm stainless steel case, combined with large sections in mineral glass and sapphire crystal, the M.A.D.1 was enhanced with blue touches and generous Super-LumiNova, also around the rotor.
M.A.D.1 RED
The M.A.D.1 RED was unveiled in March 2022 to the public, featuring a vibrant cherry red design. It also had its own special features, including a slimmer bezel and a more traditional round winding crown, instead of the key-like crown on the previous version.
The team manufactured a first batch of 1,500 M.A.D.1 REDs. To keep things as equitable as possible, those who had previously taken the trouble to send an email to the brand, clearly expressing their interest in purchasing a possible future version, were given priority.
For the rest, a raffle was opened on the brand’s e-shop where those interested could register for a free raffle ticket, to win the right to purchase one of the remaining pieces available.
The lucky winners were chosen at random via a draw – under the supervision of a bailiff – and the M.A.D.1 REDs were delivered between March and December 2022.
The M.A.D.1 RED also won the Challenge Prize at the famous GPHG/Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, rewarding the year’s best watch under CHF 3,500.
Recognising the gap between supply and demand, MB&F decided to manufacture a second batch of M.A.D.1 REDs, which were made available again via a raffle in February 2023. This time, the raffle attracted over 22,000 fans – and the lucky winners snapped up the 1,500 pieces available.
M.A.D.1 GREEN
After the original M.A.D.1 Blue (“Friends and Tribe Edition”) and the M.A.D.1 RED, the M.A.D.1 GREEN joins M.A.D.Editions’ colourful series in September 2023.
The new batch of 1,500 pieces with the green colourway will be available via the usual M.A.D.Editions’ raffle system where watch lovers can sign up for a ticket on the M.A.D.Gallery e-shop.
The raffle is open for registrations from September 12th, for two weeks, and after filtering and cleaning of the list, the tickets will go into a draw supervised by a bailiff, with the lucky winners being chosen at random.
Results will be announced in early October and deliveries scheduled between October 2023 and April 2024.
For more details, please visit the M.A.D.Gallery e-shop.
Technical details
Model: M.A.D.1 GREEN
Movement
Inverted Miyota 8315 automatic movement with winding rotor on top and lateral time display system
Revolving hour and minute rings in aluminium alloy, engraved numbers with Super-LumiNova
Winding rotor in titanium and tungsten, Super-LumiNova highlights.
Power reserve: 60 hours.
Frequency: 3 Hz / 21’600 a/h.
Case
Frame material: Stainless steel
Sapphire crystal on top, main section in mineral glass
Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 18.8 mm
Water resistance: 30 m / 90 ft / 3 ATM
Strap
Black calfskin leather with green stitching
Folding buckle in stainless steel
Price
3‘125 CHF
