Fifteen years after Max Büsser and his team stunned the horological world by stepping away from futuristic design to re-imagine 19th-century watchmaking, the avant-garde Swiss brand has officially expanded its rugged "EVO" philosophy to the timepiece that started it all. The new MB&F LM1 EVO breathes fresh life into the original Legacy Machine, translating its unmistakable dual-time architecture and suspended balance wheel into a smaller, more robust, and distinctly sportier everyday package.
By marrying high-end traditional finishing with modern material science and enhanced daily wearability, MB&F has transformed its foundational platform. The LM1 EVO follows a well-established blueprint within the brand’s contemporary catalog, becoming the fifth major MB&F collection to receive the EVO treatment following the LM Split Escapement, the LM 101, the LM Perpetual, and the LM Sequential in both regular and flyback configurations.
Initial Thoughts and Evolution of a Modern Classic
Reflecting on the debut of the original Legacy Machine 1 back in 2011, long-time observers of independent watchmaking recall a profound sense of surprise. Up to that point, MB&F had spent its formative six years cementing a futuristic identity built around the space-age Horological Machine series. The LM1 shattered those expectations by serving as a playful, imaginative thought experiment: asking what kind of wristwatch founder Max Büsser might have conceptualized had he been born a century earlier during the golden age of classical pocket watches.
The latest iteration adheres closely to the winning script of its EVO predecessors. It features a lightweight case crafted from polished titanium or 18k rose gold, a supple proprietary rubber strap, and the brand’s patented FlexRing shock-absorbing system, which is engineered to insulate the delicate movement from severe physical impacts. Practicality has also been aggressively prioritized. The EVO case boasts an increased water resistance rating of 80 meters, bolstered by twin screw-down crowns. Because the LM1 EVO relies on a manually wound calibre, those screw-down crowns will see plenty of rotation during regular ownership. To mitigate this minor inconvenience, MB&F has successfully increased the power reserve by 33 percent compared to the original LM1, significantly lengthening the interval between winds.
Sport-oriented timepieces frequently suffer from a penchant for oversized dimensions, a trend that dominated the industry when the original LM1 first emerged in 2011. Recognizing that modern taste has shifted decisively toward more refined wrist profiles, MB&F scaled down the architecture. Measuring 42 mm across, the LM1 EVO is a full 2 mm smaller than its dressier ancestor, sitting comfortably on a wider variety of wrists despite its robust engineering.
Nevertheless, beneath the sporty rubber strap and rugged shock protection lies an elite, six-figure luxury timepiece. Few owners will genuinely choose to push the absolute limits of its high-performance capabilities in extreme sporting scenarios. Instead, the more casual aesthetic, integrated wipe-clean strap, and enhanced structural resilience make it an extraordinarily capable companion for the unpredictable hassles of daily wear.
In terms of market positioning, MB&F continues to occupy a category entirely of its own. Priced at CHF 82,000 for the titanium edition and CHF 102,000 for the limited 18k rose gold version, the LM1 EVO competes in a rarefied echelon alongside avant-garde peers like Urwerk’s space-age creations and De Bethune’s DB28GS series, both of which similarly bridge the chasm between classical horology and futuristic engineering.
Two Distinct Configurations
When it comes to aesthetics, the LM1 EVO launches in two distinct variations. The titanium model is paired with a rhodium-plated dial plate, while the 18k rose gold edition features a striking green dial plate and is strictly limited to 33 pieces. Both variants share a case diameter of 42 mm and a height of 16.8 mm. Yet, much like every Legacy Machine that has preceded them, they wear considerably slimmer than their technical specifications suggest, as a vast portion of that vertical height is consumed by the dramatic, heavily domed sapphire crystal.
The titanium variant’s color palette bears a fascinating, unmistakable resemblance to the legendary LM1 Longhorn prototype from 2009. That historic concept arose during the early developmental phases of the LM1, when designers grappled with the precise positioning of the spring bar holes within the extended lugs. While shorter "horns" ultimately triumphed for mass production, the original Longhorn prototype resurfaced during the LM1’s tenth anniversary in 2021, commanding a staggering price of more than CHF 277,000 at a Phillips auction. The production titanium LM1 EVO channels that coveted aesthetic with its silver background, contrasting black sub-dials, and vibrant blue hands, lending the familiar layout a sharper, unmistakably contemporary edge compared to the classic white lacquer dials of 2011.
Conversely, the rose gold execution offers a warmer, more vibrant visual dynamic. It pairs a rich green background with matching black sub-dials and glowing rose gold hands. Both models steadfastly preserve the remarkable visual symmetry that defined the original generation, though they incorporate broader, luminous hands and baton indices that better align with the EVO family’s athletic mandate.
In a subtle yet sophisticated touch shared with other recent releases from the brand, the hands are further refined by sculpted, polished central bosses. This minor detail imparts a tangible, three-dimensional depth, elevating the finishing of the hands so that it harmonizes seamlessly with the peerless artistry visible through the display case back.
Furthermore, both iterations are fitted with an integrated rubber strap secured by a matching folding buckle equipped with a brand-new push-button release mechanism. This quick-release system vastly simplifies the process of swapping straps while keeping owners securely within MB&F’s proprietary ecosystem. The clasp itself also features the same quick-release functionality, allowing collectors to effortlessly transfer the precious buckle from one strap to another depending on their daily style preferences.
An EVO-lved Calibre
At the mechanical heart of the LM1 EVO beats a heavily revised and upgraded evolution of the original LM1 movement, which was initially engineered in collaboration with Chronode founder Jean-François Mojon. Over the intervening fifteen years, subsequent development and refinement have been brought entirely in-house at MB&F, serving as a testament to the brand’s immense growth in technical capability.
The mechanical updates introduced in the EVO calibre are both functional and aesthetic. Among the most noticeable changes are a newly redesigned power reserve indicator and a pair of opposed Straumann hairsprings, both of which are fully visible from the dial side. Abandoning the literal "up/down" interpretation of the original LM1, the revised power reserve indicator adopts a cleaner, highly legible gauge-like readout.
More significant from a chronometric perspective is the introduction of twin opposed hairsprings, which replace the sweeping overcoil found in the original calibre. MB&F remains one of the very few high-end watchmakers utilizing this technically demanding yet performance-enhancing configuration, a geometry originally pioneered by H. Moser & Cie. and occasionally utilized by elite houses like Audemars Piguet and Laurent Ferrier.
The architecture is brought to life through superlative hand-finishing executed by longtime brand partner Charles-Louis Rochat SA, adhering strictly to the uncompromising decorative specifications laid down by master watchmaker Kari Voutilainen. This meticulous handwork explains the breathtaking aesthetic of the bridges, which boast sharp inward angles and immaculate bevelling. A dark-grey plating replaces the bright rhodium finish of the older movement, creating a stark, modern backdrop that makes the mirror-polished gold chatons pop with vibrant brilliance.
Additional subtle mechanical upgrades span across MB&F’s broader portfolio, including a proprietary escape wheel featuring the brand’s stylized logo integrated seamlessly into its spokes.
MB&F LM1 EVO
Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 16.8 mm
Material: Titanium or 18k rose gold
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 80 meters
Movement: LM1 EVO
Functions: Hours, minutes, independent second time zone, and power reserve indicator
Winding: Hand-wound
Frequency: 18,000 beats per hour (2.5 Hz)
Power reserve: 60 hours
Strap: Rubber strap with matching folding buckle
Limited edition: 33 pieces (rose gold)
Availability: Available through authorized MB&F retailers and MAD Galleries
Price: CHF 82,000 for titanium, CHF 102,000 for rose gold (excluding local taxes)
