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Mark in Paris
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A hands-on review of the new MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual

Dear forumners,

I've been able to handle the new MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual last week and thought I could share with you my impressions.

It seems from the first posts I could read from you that this novelty makes people be very enthusiastic. After I saw it and played with it, I can conclude that they are right to be!





To begin with, the LM1 was my favorite LM, even if I liked the differential feature in the LM2 too. The LM101 is a great little LM but it is of course not as technical and impressive as the LM1 can be.

I liked them when I tried them in the past; I found they are beautiful, of course original watches and that they are worth considering getting one. As far as I was concerned, I would not have made the final step as I had other watches above it on my "dream" wishlist.





Thus, before the official introduction, I was wondering if this could be another LM101 version or an LM3 one. If it was a LM3, then would it look like the LM1 and 2 or will it be much different and a more significant evolution? Will it still look good? Won't it be too big or too "extreme"?

Well, now I discovered it on our forum and lately in the metal, I’m 100% thrilled as it is even better than I would have imagined and I’m sure I won’t be the only one.


OVERALL LOOK & AESTHETICS

It is funny that the watch looks thinner than the LM1 and 2, though it is not (same diameter but around 1mm thicker). The LM2's dome glass is bigger (i.e. goes higher) than the LM Perpetual's. The watch also looks very technical and complicated: it reminds me of the Melchior robot, I don’t know why… maybe like a mechanic droid without its bodywork.

After I saw the press-kit pictures I hoped it would still look thin in live and that the dials construction showing all these caliber's elements would not look to thick, too crowded and make the dial look heavy. Well, it is 100% not, believe me!

As for the crown, I like the central crown position, even if the crown at 5 or 2 o’clock (from previous LMs) adds this little original MB&F spirit a little more.





The dial and the subdials' ring are lacquered: several layers cooked after each application. This leads to a stretch surface at each new phase. Then the numerals are painted (in between layers) and the final touches of lacquer are then applied. This leaves the impression the numerals and writings levitate.





The balance bridge, as you see is not like the LM1 and 2 anymore but more like the 101. This makes it a little lighter compared to the 2 foils from the first versions.  This balance bridge is made of only one piece and not an assembly of 2 crafted and polished parts put together.

Finally, the case has beautiful lugs. You'll notice their shape on my picture, they are placed quite low to remain comfortable and you can notice the little gap between the lug and the case which is a detail I like a lot too. The bezel is polished (from the LM101 model) on the contrary to the LM1 and 2 which were satin (slightly brushed).





Some wrist shots to show how the watch looks like from further and especially as it is well proportioned on my 6/6.2 inches wrist. I think it looks good and not too big.












This technical look doesn’t trouble the LM spirit which is inspired by 19th century (J. Verne etc…). The design team succeeded in combining this modern look with the original spirit of the Legacy line.


MECHANICS

As mentionned I think in the press-kit, two other brands created their own interpretation of the perpetual Calendar complication. However, the one we have here has been designed by Stephen McDonnell from scratch and without using existing schemes.

In fact, the bridges and different "levels" of the movement are thin and the different springs and cams and levers are very well finished. Most of those parts remain thin, brushed and beveled (very thin beveling).





The wheels show how complicated the movement is as they have nearly all very different shapes: the teeth are so different that it is obvious that each have a different function. This is was of the first elements that I noticed: shapes follow function and they are all so different. You can notice in the pictures close-up (press-kit), here below, 3 different wheel profiles.











The Power Reserve is significant with 75 hours at least (goes even at 100 hours but without the same accuracy, hence the power reserve is set for 75 hours).





Last but not least, the leap year hand is jumping from a year to the next on the contrary to most of QP I know where it is progressive. Two advantages: first, it is more legible (even if we don't really need to read it every day) and, it means it is equipped with a retrograde feature: what about that!





As mentioned in my previous post, the very interesting particularity of this in-house conceived caliber (from scratch, no module, all integrated) is that you can set the date without damaging the caliber. People wreck their watches a lot by misuse of the date setting during the "DeadZone" period (around midnight), whether it is a QP or a simple date ring. Here, the pushers are disconnected when in this DeadZone period.

As in previous references, the movement finishing is fantastic. However, this time, it is more visually impressive on the front side, on the contrary of what we are usually used to having.






Source: Press-kit


SETTING & PUSHERS

On the case's side, you have certainly noticed the unusual small pushers: very nice choice imho as you don't need a stylet and I find they really look good. A detail I like a lot, again.





Let me add something about these pushers: they are one of the best I experienced activating. They are soft and as you keep on pushing them, the "click" is light and metallic (no hard friction at any point, at all) and boom, the hand jumps precisely to its final destination. I LOVED that. It is very similar to a 5170 or Datograph pusher. And I shouldn't say it but... even better.

However, don't forget that they have to be pressed harder because of the smaller surface of the pushers even if it is explained by the fact it should not be pushed accidentally.

By the way, one of the pushers is used to set all calendar hands at once (+1 day). It is something we see in a few other QPs but not very often.







CONCLUSION

If I had the budget (same as LM2), this would really be something I would acquire. I don't have a problem wearing a 44mm watch (not the case of everyone) but the beauty and mechanical achievement are worth the trip in a collection. And I don't say this easily.

It looks stunning and I love it.





Yes, it may be the perfect Perpetual Calendar, mechanically speaking. At least one of the top ones, and I just can congratulate Max Büsser and his friends for the work, with a special mention for the watchmaker in head of the project: Stephen McDonnell.

As a reminder, the LM Perpetual is available in two limited editions: 25 in rose gold and 25 in platinum, with a maximum of 25 movements made each year (i.e. 12 of each, each year)

François-Xavier is also preparing one of his fine reviews about this wonder that he will post later.

Please feel free to express yourself about this new Legacy Machine and, as proposed by Stephen Mc Donnell, do not hesitate to ask your questions about the technical aspects and we can gather them for him.

Cheers, Mark



**EDIT Nov 2016: Awarded GPHG 2016 Calendar Watch Prize. Very well deserved

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