Independent watchmaker MB&F has unveiled three vibrant new versions of its award-winning Legacy Machine Perpetual, introducing the limited-edition LM Perpetual Chromatic Editions. Combining the technical brilliance of one of modern watchmaking’s most innovative perpetual calendars with the elegance of coloured gemstones, the new collection brings a fresh and striking visual identity to one of the brand’s most celebrated creations.
First introduced in 2015, the Legacy Machine Perpetual redefined how perpetual calendars could be designed and experienced. More than a decade later, MB&F is revisiting the model with three highly exclusive editions featuring hand-set gemstone bezels in blue sapphire, purple sapphire and ruby.
The new Chromatic Editions are available in three distinct configurations. Two models are crafted in 18K white gold and paired with bezels set with either blue sapphires or purple sapphires, while the third version is housed in an 18K red gold case accented by a bezel adorned with red rubies. Each bezel is meticulously set with 48 baguette-cut gemstones by Geneva-based specialist STG Creation, a long-standing partner of the brand.
Despite the addition of the gemstone setting, MB&F has preserved the watch’s original proportions, maintaining the same case diameter while creating a colourful frame around the intricate perpetual calendar movement. Matching the gemstones are specially treated hands finished in blue, purple or 5N PVD gold, creating a harmonious visual connection between the dial and case.
Each version is limited to just eight pieces worldwide, making them among the rarest LM Perpetual watches ever produced.
While the new editions draw attention through their luxurious appearance, the heart of the watch remains the groundbreaking perpetual calendar movement developed by Irish watchmaker Stephen McDonnell. More than ten years ago, McDonnell and MB&F founder Maximilian Büsser set out to completely rethink one of watchmaking’s most traditional complications.
Rather than modifying an existing perpetual calendar design, they began with a blank sheet of paper and created an entirely new mechanism centred around a proprietary mechanical processor.
This innovative architecture eliminated many of the common drawbacks associated with conventional perpetual calendars, including the risk of damage when adjusting the calendar and the complexity of traditional date calculation systems.
The result was a movement that not only improved functionality but also transformed the aesthetics of the perpetual calendar itself.
Unlike traditional perpetual calendars, where much of the mechanism remains hidden beneath the dial, the LM Perpetual proudly displays its complication on the front of the watch. The fully integrated movement allows the perpetual calendar mechanism to sit atop the movement plate, making its intricate operation visible at all times.
Floating subdials displaying the date, day, month, and leap-year indications appear suspended above the movement without any obvious support structures. This open architecture enhances both visual appeal and legibility, allowing wearers to fully appreciate the complexity of the mechanism.
One of the watch’s most distinctive features remains the oversized balance wheel suspended above the dial. Hovering beneath the domed sapphire crystal, the balance wheel appears to float in mid-air while being connected to the escapement on the reverse side through what MB&F describes as one of the longest balance wheel pinions ever used in a wristwatch.
Turning the watch over reveals another spectacle. The movement’s hand-finished bridges and plates showcase the artisanal craftsmanship that defines haute horlogerie, with meticulous polishing, anglage and decorative finishing visible through the sapphire crystal caseback.
The LM Perpetual itself traces its roots to the broader Legacy Machine collection, which was born from Maximilian Büsser’s fascination with an alternate vision of watchmaking history. Imagining how he might have designed watches if he had lived in the late 19th century rather than the modern era, Büsser created a collection inspired by pocket watches, classical architecture and the mechanical imagination of Jules Verne rather than contemporary science fiction and aerospace design.
The result was a series of three-dimensional mechanical sculptures for the wrist that blend traditional craftsmanship with unconventional engineering. The LM Perpetual remains one of the purest expressions of that philosophy.
With the introduction of the Chromatic Editions, MB&F adds a new layer of artistic expression to one of its most technically significant watches. The combination of bold gemstone colours, precious metals and innovative watchmaking reinforces the brand’s reputation for challenging conventions while remaining firmly rooted in traditional horological craftsmanship.
The MB&F LM Perpetual Chromatic Editions retail for S$398,000, including tax.
