Total transparency: I have always been a big fan of these watches even before they were launched. Attentive readers know that I have a strong weakness for MB&F: the brand, its products and its employees. I don’t think it’s possible to discuss contemporary watchmaking in a relevant way without mentioning MB&F, and I’m sure I’m not alone in this opinion. Legacy Machine Split Escapement EVO is part of the sporty EVO sub-collection that belongs to the extended LM family, launched in 2020 with the LM Perpetual EVO (the Legacy Machine collection itself was introduced in 2011).
We first saw the LM SE EVO last year, in limited edition form commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). MB&F and Max Büsser had enjoyed a special relationship with this region since the brand’s earliest days, with Dubai’s Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons among the first five retailers to support MB&F’s first-ever creation (Horological Machine No 1). Obviously, in the eyes of the brand, the fiftieth anniversary of the UAE was a good occasion to commemorate.
This year, the LM SE EVO makes its official entry into the MB&F catalogue, featuring a titanium case and a pastel blue dial plate with dark gray dials. The LM SE EVO differs from the non-EVO version in several important ways, and one of them is the motion orientation. Instead of having the crown at two o’clock, the LM SE EVO has it at four o’clock, a clockwise rotation of 30° which gives the watch an asymmetrical look similar to that of the LM 101 (in my opinion a seriously underrated piece that I hope will soon be given due recognition).
LM IS HERE ©MB&F
In keeping with the EVO philosophy, the LM SE EVO is also equipped with a FlexRing shock absorber, capable of protecting the movement against shocks in more than one direction. The screw-down crown, the integrated rubber strap and the water resistance to 80 meters make the watch a real partner in active life. And speaking of active lifestyles, there was another version of the LM SE EVO launched at Geneva Watch Days (GWD) 2022, linked to the fitness and lifestyle capital of the world: Los Angeles.
LM IS HERE © MB&F
The Beverly Hills edition, presented in partnership with influential Los Angeles retailer Westime, features a black dial plate with metallic blue dials, a nod to Westime’s corporate colors. Remember how I mentioned at the start that I’m a big fan of these launches? I’m particularly excited about this one, because I really like Westime and the people who work there. I have known them for over 10 years now and have seen what they have done for modern independent watchmaking in the United States.
LM SE WESTIME © MB&F
This year, 2022, is the year of MB&F LAB, a concept similar to that of the MAD Galleries we know well, but with a stronger focus on sales and MB&F creations. There are LABs planned in Singapore, Paris and Los Angeles, and the Legacy Machine Split Escapement EVO is exclusively for the MB&F LAB run by Westime as part of Rodeo Drive, its retail space group.
Greg Simonian, Managing Director of Westime: “Westime is proud to partner with MB&F to bring the first MB&F LAB to America. We’ve supported Max since day one of his incredible journey and as the second generation of the Simonian family to continue that relationship, I couldn’t be happier to see the Legacy Machine Split Escapement EVO Beverly Hills Edition take its place at Rodeo Drive. »