MB&F Moonmachine Max Büsser Sydney Dinner

sidneyc · 2012-05-20T05:31:12Z

Discover an intimate dinner with MB&F founder Max Büsser in Sydney, featuring insights into his personality and a look at the Moonmachine.

sidneyc

WPS member · Independents forum

6 replies1773 views20 photos

Sidneyc recounts an extraordinary evening in Sydney, hosting MB&F founder Max Büsser for a private dinner. This post offers a rare, intimate look into Büsser's personality beyond his horological genius, highlighting his charming, modest, and philosophical nature, alongside a showcase of MB&F's innovative timepieces like the Moonmachine.

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This is one of the most fortunate things to happen in my life... Early this year, I heard the news that Max Busser is coming to Australia as part of his world tour in May. What an excitement! A place called Down Under actually have the fortune of such an amazing visitor?!!! It can't be true!

What even more can't be true is that in April, I was very kindly put in touch with Max, and being such a great gentleman he is, he generously agreed to share some private dinner time with me and some of my friends! What? You're kidding me? I get to meet Max and have dinner with him? That is a dream come true! I almost couldn't sleep that night, thinking about how to plan the evening!

With the helpful suggestion of our great food guru aptronym, we've decided on Cara & Co Restaurant - very nice ambience and great food. It's location is a little tricky as it's inside a concept store, inside the biggest shopping mall in the Sydney CBD. RJW have put up some great photos outside and inside the store in his thread. It seem to be a very fitting place to dine with Max, as the concept store brings together creations that are both functional and artistic, a somewhat similar philosophy to Max's "Performance Art".

It was an unbelievable evening, getting to know Max. Not only is he the passionate and ingenious watchmaker that we all know, he is actually a very charming, modest, honest, and philosophical man! A gentleman of high standards!

I apologise for the photo quality, as shooting at ISO1600 with an entry level DSLR produce results that are noisier than a V12 engine.

Here's our VIP guest of the evening... generously sharing his views and stories. We learn about his childhood, his family, his career, life and journey as a watchmaker, his friendship with other watchmakers, the MAD Gallery, his racing hobby, his views on the world, his passions in life. Before knowing Max in person, you would admire his watch making talent, his artistic inventiveness and respect his amazing achievement. Aftering meeting Max in person, you would be touched by and have great respect in his genuinity.

A great conversation is to be accompanied by great food... A couple of the appetisers...

Apart from sharing meaningful conversations and fine food, of course, he's happy to share his babies as well! And out they come.....

Let's see those babies... The Moon is here! It's the Moonmachine... Max's most recent collaboration, with Stepan Sarpaneva. Look at the fine detail on the watch. The rotor with the starry sky is a clever touch as the stars move when the rotor spins.

The frog eye... is a genius touch...

Next up... the black titanium version... Look at the light reflection from the beautiful dark blue night sky....

Gotta love those frog eyes!

Beautiful, beautiful Moon-face....

And finally, the Eiffel Tower is here - LM1, a collaboration with Jean-François Mojon and Kari Voutilainen. I hope I've managed to show how three dimensional it is.

What a phenomenal night! We finish off with some petit fours.

Now what should we do? We need an MB&F watch!!! Let's chip in for one...... ok.... is that all we managed? We can start with perhaps the straps.

I would like to thank Max for his generosity in sharing his precious time with us that evening! Max had a full schedule during his short stay in Australia and yet agreed to meet up with us. We're all glad that his tour Down Under have already been a smashing success! Thank you Max for sharing your insights, wisdom and Machines with us, we enjoyed your company immensely! We hope you've had a great time in Australia and are looking forward to your next visit already!

I would also like to thank especially Darren Tan from MB&F's AD in Perth for introducing me to Max and putting us in touch! Without him, this memorable dinner would not be possible at all! Thanks to all my horological friends that was part of such a fantastic evening! This message has been edited by sidneyc on 2012-05-20 05:44:35

About the De Bethune DB28 Ref. DB28

De Bethune DB28 Reference DB28

The DB28 represents De Bethune's approach to contemporary haute horlogerie, featuring the brand's distinctive floating lug design within a 42.6mm case format. This reference showcases the manufacture's technical capabilities through its extended power reserve specification and proprietary movement caliber.

The 42.6mm titanium case houses the manual-winding caliber DB2115, delivering a 120-hour power reserve. The silver dial is protected by sapphire crystal, while the characteristic floating lugs define the case architecture. Water resistance extends to 30 meters, and the watch is completed with a leather strap.

This reference appeals to collectors focused on independent Swiss manufacture capabilities and contemporary case design. The DB28 represents De Bethune's technical approach to manual-winding movements, particularly notable for collectors interested in extended power reserve complications. Production commenced in 2010, positioning this reference within the brand's modern catalog offerings.

Specifications

Caliber: DB2115

Case: Titanium

Diameter: 42.6 mm

Dial: Silver

Water Resist.: 30m

Crystal: Sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

The Moonmachine was noted to be much more intriguing in person than in photos, especially the titanium version.
Max Büsser's passion was described as palpable, and the evening was considered a fortunate and memorable experience for all attendees.
The gathering was praised as an ideal way to share a passion for watches, vision, and life among a small group of friends.

The Discussion

aptronym

May 20, 2012

heh ...

...did we have enough for a strap at the end?!? Love the Moonmachine photos. I found it a most interesting experience seeing it, as I really hadn't taken to it in photos, but seeing it in the flesh, the titanium version was really very intriguing indeed... Many thanks Sidney, for making a memorable evening possible, and for inviting me along.

sidneyc

May 23, 2012

I think so...

.... just barely enough for the straps I would guess hehe! Again... it's my pleasure! I enjoy spending time with my horological buddies, and we had the best guest! Just wished I have time to do this more often

RJW

May 20, 2012

Max's passion is palpable

We really were fortunate to have him in Australia and particularly with us for an evening. Thanks for your organisational skills Sidney. I know there some hiccoughs and nerves along the way but everything fell into place. We all enjoyed ourselves and we were all thrilled to be there. Looking forward to the time. Regards, Richard.

sidneyc

May 23, 2012

I had a lot of help!

Must give credit to aptronym! So glad it turned out well!

mark_third

May 20, 2012

Small group of friends and nice watches

This is how you share a passion for watches, vision and life.

sidneyc

May 23, 2012

Indeed! Couldn't ask for a better night!

We're all looking forward to Max coming to Australia again!

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