What We Know
If there’s a brand known to constantly exist in a state of one-upping itself when it comes to new designs, it’s most certainly MB&F. And, just as expected, following a slew of radical Horological Machine designs, this new Horological Machine 12 manages to go in a completely new direction. No, your eyes aren’t fooling you. This new creation is a robot and a watch combined, in three editions of 12 pieces each: blue, green, and purple.
If the Horological Machine 11 drew upon the architecture of the 1960s, the HM12 “The Guardian” looks a decade or two later, when a massive pop-culture obsession with science fiction and robotics would lead to generations of kids obsessed with properties like Transformers, Gundam, and the resulting toys that followed. If there’s ever criticism of some of Max Busser’s more playful ideas coming across as much too toy-like, the HM12 completely doubles down on that idea with this new design that takes the idea of a robotic action figure to the horological extreme. Here, Max’s vision is implemented by another Max, Maximilian Maertens. A name familiar to collectors of the brand, Maertens has been responsible for many of the clock and music box creations for MB&F, as well as the little Minimilian figures given to owners of MB&F watches.
There’s a lot to break down here, so let’s start with the watch itself. It is, ever so purposefully, designed to resemble a face, but its construction reveals so much jam-packed into the futuristic, spaceship-like case. The eyes of The Guardian consist of two discs, one for the instantaneously jumping hours and one for the trailing minutes. The mouth here, revealing the recognizable MB&F-battle-axe-shaped front of a double-sided microrotor, spins around while the watch is worn on the wrist. But most important is the brain, exposed here to reveal a flying tourbillon. An extra panel of sapphire on the side of the case at 12 o’clock shows the flying tourbillon’s cross-section for your entertainment.
Shields withdrawn.
Shields fully activated.
The most novel part, however, is an extremely complex system here that has nothing to do with time-telling complications. Rather, it’s the new face shield mechanism, extremely appropriate for a transforming robotic figure, yet hilariously and unnecessarily complicated for a watch. As the crown on the left side of the case turns, colored panels gradually appear, with the level of the panels varying depending on how far you turn the crown. MB&F says there are over 200 components for this functionality alone, and that this mechanism is isolated from the caliber’s timekeeping elements.
While many elements of the HM12’s new in-house automatic movement are on full display on the front through the oversized, custom-shaped sapphire crystal sections, the back is no slouch either. Interestingly, the caseback feels more reminiscent of the finishing found on the brand’s more classically inspired Legacy Machine series, with a beautiful frosted finish for the mainplate and plenty of hand-done anglage with sharp angles. A dramatic contrast to the front micro-rotor is the one on the back, with a curved gold medallion engine-turned by hand via Kari Voutilainen’s Broadbeck Guillochage workshop.
In watch mode, the Grade 5 titanium case is certainly unique, with articulating lugs at 12 o’clock, fixed lugs at 6 o’clock, and 84 components in the case construction. The length measures 49.3mm, the width is 43.6mm, and the height is 13.8mm, but let’s be honest—this is something you’ll need to 100% see in person. My colleague Mark just spent some time with the HM12, so stay tuned for more of his thoughts. The strap is secured via a quick-release system that is crucial on the HM12, allowing the watch case to be mounted on the Guardian robot using a clip. When not in use, the strap can be stored in a hidden drawer at the base of the robot.
Maertens’ experience with designing MB&F’s L’Epée-built creations is very useful here, as his vision of the Guardian’s robot body is also executed by the clockmaker. If we’re just chuckling at parts counts at this point, the body itself contains another 755 components. In the chest is a mechanical thermometer (thankfully, there are both Fahrenheit and Celsius scales for the Americans). The left arm of the robot contains a detachable UV torch, so you can light up the generous lume applications throughout the watch and the robot’s body itself. The right of the robot contains a loupe tucked away in a shield. It stands at 38.2cm tall (don’t you dare ask me for the lug-to-lug).
As mentioned above, the new HM12 will be made in a total of 36 units, split across three limited editions in purple, blue, or green. The brand is very certain that this is the beginning and the end of the road for the HM12, with no more ever to be produced. Pricing for the HM12, as you probably imagine, is not for the faint of heart, at $384,000. But if you’ve got almost half a million dollars (after tax) to burn and find yourself at the cross-section of haute horlogerie and action figure enthusiasm, this might just very well be the creation for you.
What We Think
Putting the “Max” in maximalist watchmaking, the new HM12 is, with lack of a better word, nuts. I mean, come on. Surely even the most cynical of watch enthusiasts will find themselves seeing this thing with a mild smirk at least? The very polarizing (to put it lightly) nature of Horological Machine designs means that there have always been some winners and some losers in the public eye. But to me, this one’s certainly a winner. While the idea itself is somewhat silly, the execution is anything but. It’s a great way to merge the forms of MB&F’s music box and sculptural clock creations into something that’s actually wearable, and you’re really getting the best of both worlds here.
With only 36 out there in the world, and at a price that puts it out of reach for most, the HM12 is something that I feel comfortable appreciating completely from afar, and I’m really finding myself more delighted than I might have expected about this robot. The complexity of the panel mechanism alone, purely for the sake of one visual effect, is a great highlight of what I interpret as what makes MB&F watches special—a no-holds-barred approach to the zaniest of ideas. This might not be one to “Add To Cart” so easily, but boy am I glad such a creation exists. Now we’ll just have to see what adventurous collector might bring the whole damn setup to the next RedBar meetup.
The Basics
Brand: MB&F
Model: HM12
Diameter: 49.3mm (length); 43.6mm (width)
Thickness: 13.8mm
Case Material: Grade 5 titanium
Dial Color: Blue, Green, or Purple
Lume: Super-LumiNova
Water Resistance: None
Strap/Bracelet: Detachable Velcro strap
The Movement
Caliber: HM12
Functions: Jumping hours, trailing minutes, flying tourbillon, adjustable shield function
Power Reserve: 84 hours
Winding: Automatic (double micro-rotor)
Jewels: 86
Chronometer Certified: No
Pricing & Availability
Price: $384,000
Availability: MB&F retailers
Limited Edition: Yes, 12 pieces each of Green, Blue, and Purple editions
For more, click here.
