If there’s one thing that connects many of us in the watch world, apart from our obsession with watches, it is the beautiful pieces of machinery we know as cars. The watch and automotive industries often go hand in hand, whether it be in our appreciation for the artistic creations made in independent watchmaking or our marvel over the design of luxury sports cars and hypercars. Many watch brands produce their Porsche or Ferrari (in watch terms); some brands create their Koenigsegg or Pagani–stunning pieces of powerful equipment with so much intricate detail and complexity you can’t help but stare at the mechanical marvel sitting in front of you.
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In watchmaking, the brand designing its hypercar is MB&F. With countless releases pushing the boundaries of mechanical engineering and defying what’s possible in “traditional” watchmaking, it’s no surprise that MB&F has released yet another beautiful watch which pulls inspiration from the Amida Digitrend (a watch from 1976) and 1970s sports cars (Lamborghini Miura, Lotus Esprit, Lancia Stratos)–the new MB&F HM8 Mark 2.
The connection between MB&F and cars goes back to the brand’s founder, Max Büsser. While many know Max as a watchmaker/engineer, the watch industry wasn’t originally part of his plan. When the Pasadena Art Center College of Design opened a European location in Max’s hometown of Lausanne, he was set to become an automotive designer. However, that plan never made it to fruition, as Max’s first career steps were in the watch industry. Max would bring his passion for all things automotive into MB&F by creating the HM5, HMX, HM8 and now the HM8 Mark 2, all featuring the Amida and 70s sports car aesthetic.
Like any supercar or hypercar, the HM8 Mark 2 features complex technologies to bring it to life. The titanium chassis put the MB&F technicians to the test, as the structure was complex to manufacture, but the team would succeed. The CarbonMacrolon (a dense black polycarbonate resin reinforced with carbon nanotubes) body panels proved challenging. They could only be produced using one block of material, hence the lower production quantities, adding another layer of complexity to the HM8 Mark 2. The finished product gives us a beautiful titanium case with a selection of green or white CarbonMacrolon body panels.
Opening the hood is another story with the HM8 mark 2. Bringing the watch to life is a 33-jewel three-dimensional horological engine featuring a jumping hour and trailing minutes module developed in-house by MB&F, powered by a Girard-Perregaux base movement. The dual reflective sapphire prisms with integrated magnifying glasses make the jumping hour and trailing minutes easily legible and look similar to the dashboard of a 70s sports car and, again, the Amida Digitrend. The movement is comprised of 247 components and holds a 42-hour power reserve. Both green and white variants retail for $78,000.
The HM8 Mark 2 is available now; the green variant is limited to 33 pieces. For more information, feel free to check out the MB&F M.A.D. Gallery website.
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About the Author
Born into a family obsessed with motorsport, Tyler Frederick became enamoured with speed and beautiful cars at a young age. His love of Formula 1–and all things mechanical–eventually lead him to horology. You can follow him on Instagram.
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