MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual – complexity simplified with integrity and beauty

The Legacy Machine Perpetual is one of the most impressive new watches of 2015. Maximilian Büsser and his team have produced a perpetual calendar that deserves the deepest respect. Of the two versions, the red gold is the one I prefer, for its warmer colour combination.

The official text from MB&F follows.

Beginning with a blank sheet of paper, MB&F and independent Irish watchmaker Stephen McDonnell have completely reinvented that most traditional of horological complications: the perpetual calendar. The result is Legacy Machine Perpetual, featuring a visually stunning in-house movement, which was developed from the ground up to eliminate the drawbacks of conventional perpetual calendars.

The fact that the new complication looks sensational and can be fully appreciated dial-side is just one of the many benefits offered by the new movement, controlled by a “mechanical processor” (patent pending).

The perpetual calendar is one of the great traditional complications, calculating the apparently random complexity of the varying numbers of days in each month – including the 29 days in February during leap years. But traditional perpetual calendars do have a few drawbacks: dates can skip; they are relatively easy to damage if adjusted while the date is changing; and the complications are usually compromises of modules powered by base movements.

The 581-component, fully integrated and purpose-built movement of Legacy Machine Perpetual has been designed from scratch for trouble-free use: no more skipping dates or jamming gears, and the adjuster pushers automatically deactivate when the calendar changes, so no problems there either.

Legacy Machine Perpetual: complexity simplified with integrity and beauty.

Legacy Machine Perpetual launches with a limited edition of 25 pieces in 18K 5N+ red gold and 25 pieces in platinum 950.

Video and text by MB&F.