My Journey with the MB&F LM101
So, I gotta talk about this watch, the MB&F LM101. It wasn’t something I just stumbled upon easily, you know? It kinda popped up while I was deep-diving online, probably looking at watch stuff way past my bedtime. I remember seeing this picture, and bam! There’s this huge wheel, just spinning away right on the front of the watch. Not tucked away inside like everything else. It just grabbed me. What the heck is that? That was my first thought.
Naturally, I started digging. Found out it was from a company called MB&F – Max Büsser & Friends. Okay, interesting name. And this specific one was the Legacy Machine 101. The more I looked, the more I got sucked in. The whole idea was showing off the engine, the heart of the watch, right there for everyone to see. That big balance wheel, suspended by this cool bridge, floating above the dial. It looked like some kind of tiny, ticking sculpture, not just a watch.
Then came the reality check. I looked up the price. Ouch. Yeah, these things are in a whole different league. We’re talking serious money, the kind you don’t just find lying around. Suddenly, it went from “Wow, cool watch!” to “Okay, maybe something to dream about.” It’s kinda frustrating, you see something so neat, so mechanically interesting, and it’s just way, way out there.
I spent a fair bit of time just looking at pictures and videos online after that. You see the different versions, the metals, the “Frost” finish which looks kinda sparkly. You read what little bits owners share. It seemed smaller than their other crazy creations, maybe something you could actually wear daily, if you had the cash and the guts. I kept thinking about the mechanics of it. How they managed to put that balance wheel front and center like that. It’s impressive, gotta admit.
Did I get to see one in real life? Yeah, once. At a watch event, behind glass mostly, but I did get a closer look later. It’s different when it’s right there. Pictures don’t quite capture the depth, the way the light plays on the surfaces, the slow, steady beat of that big balance wheel. It felt solid, well-made, even if it looks kinda delicate with that bridge. The finishing was pretty amazing, even on the bits you don’t normally see.
- The floating balance wheel is just mesmerizing.
- The power reserve indicator is simple but useful.
- The actual time-telling dial is small, off to the side. Clearly, telling time isn’t the main point here.
Holding it, even briefly, felt significant. It wasn’t overly heavy, and the size felt manageable on the wrist, unlike some other high-end statement pieces that look like you strapped a dinner plate to your arm. It actually felt like a watch, albeit a very, very special one.
So, where does that leave me? Well, I still don’t own one. Probably won’t anytime soon unless I hit the lottery. But my little journey with the LM101, from seeing that first picture to actually handling it for a moment, was pretty cool. It’s one of those pieces that reminds you watchmaking can be more than just telling time. It can be art, it can be engineering, it can be a bit crazy. And seeing that big wheel spinning right there on your wrist? Yeah, that’s something else. It definitely sticks in your mind.
