MB&F HM9 Sapphire Vision Offers a Distinctive Silhouette

The first version of MB&F‘s Horological Machine No. 9 (HM9) dropped in 2018 and evoked a certain moment in time as Max Busser’s outlandish, collaborative creations are wont to do.

The haute horology sculpture’s streamlined coachwork suggested the dawn of the jet engine, the hull of a submarine, even motorcycle sidecars. It was essentially Donald Campbell’s Bluebird scaled down for the wrist.

Now, two years later, we get a version encased in milled sapphire crystal and all of that powerful, historic imagery has been stripped away, completely transforming the piece and creating what must surely be the most phallic bit of watchmaking of the 21st Century.

The central conceit is a vertical dial, a configuration often referred to as a driver’s watch as it allows for easier reading when your hands are on the wheel. This is mounted at the head of a Y-shaped movement with twin balance wheels beating at 2.5Hz at the opposite ends. Where the original watch contained this movement in a precious metal case with three conjoined ‘pods’, the sapphire case (which is incredibly difficult to machine without breaking) is far more amorphous in form and obviously reveals much more of the watch’s movement.

Four editions of the MB&F HM9 Sapphire Vision are being produced, each in runs of just five piece; two in 18kt 5N+ red gold alloy with either NAC-coated black or PVD-coated blue movement and two in 18kt white gold with either PVD-coated purple or red gold plated movement with each priced at $440,000 USD. Head over to MB&F for more details.

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