Independents
Bernard Cheong offers a deeply personal owner's view of his MB&F HM1 'See Thru Dial' in rose gold, one of only ten pieces. His reflections go beyond technical specifications, exploring the watch as a piece of art and a personal statement, set against the backdrop of a changing economic climate and the anticipation of Baselworld.
Dear Friends,
After 3 nights of speaking at a private island party for Glashutte Original...I was tired!
To my own amazement, the thirst and desire for high end watches did not wane with the financial storm...probably much less "buyers", but it was great to see just so many people wanting to speand time listening to a talk on classical watchmaking...from a very traditional house of GO.
I hope this post is a light hearted touch to uplift everyne's spirits before Basel.
To remove the dark clouds of the economy..etc etc..
Coming up for air is to be unpredictable.
The MBF HM1 is such an uncommon, rare watch..it is going to be so rare to see pictures of them.
The other thing is that in the open worked version....the last of a total of 100 machines made..we can see the simply meticulous work one normally associates with Kari and Dufour..not in their old classic artisan language of work, but in the MBF's language of art.
Much of what is art is not "of art"..and here..many boundaries are broken..but the value of craft, which is "of art" is retained.
Well...after 5 days with the watch, I wore it to Bali.
Met up with Max, Rolf and also Steve H!!!
Steve..you have a beautiful fiance, a woman who understands art and photography! Cooool!!!
So..it is Bali before Basel!!!
I get to see the INCREDIBLE Ulysse Nardin Moonstruck, which will be an apex piece in my continuing hobby...but that's another story soon.
This is the second piece of a work from Max Busser’s team, and the same movement, an HM1, although in semi open form, that I have bought.
Strictly speaking, if I were to include the Opus works, then 1, 3 and 5 and later Horological Machines may be counted. Then, I have more than 7 pieces either in the box, or on the way...not that I am a great fan of MBF, but that the work and the architecture is so me, and is so much a part of my being...that surely I want my children to have them...and I am not simply looking after them ie I wear them.
This HM1 is special.
In its rose gold form, it is to me, my most beautiful of all the watches I now own.
I will leave it to the (dirty sensor on Canon) lens to demonstrate the beauty and the detailed work of the edges (anglage) and the beautiful and superbly clean finish of this watch. A cross bewteen a Richard Mille and a Dufour.
Next to the IWC Cal 5000 featured in #1, it is not that large a watch, and my wife can wear it well.
In the last picture, I have on my right wrist, a Glashutte Original panoinverse, and the same HM1 on my left wrist.
The buckle is fantastic, and a delight of engineering...I have seen quite a few of these..the same..BUT..not as well put together as MAX's.
Note that the IWC is not much smaller.
Note the bridge of the tourbillon..incredible.
Note the sapphire bridegs and the special attention to the paint.
Note the gold washer on the screw.
The black polished tourbillon "bridge" is an incredible sight.
The tourbillon "cage" is a sharp and beautifully cut and anglaged work.
The dark dial is black glass, and is translucent!
The attention to the paint work on the sapphire bridges!!!
The SIGHT of the GEARS turning coupled with the sharp 3D tourbillon is "something to behold".
The HM1 is NO ordinary HM1, once the dial is removed...
The screw heads are beautifully clean, and cut...Dufour and Kari standard.
The black polish on the tourbillon...superb.
In all, the watch is a cross bewteen a Richard Mille and a Dufour.
Not a racing machine, but a time machine on the wrist.
Historically, this watch will be rarer than the Opus V, which is already a legend.
With its very complex nature, it will be a great partner with Opus V...I will review both in #10.
I now have worn the watch daily for 1 week, and even to the very hot, humid weather of Bali for 3 days.
#3 here
#2 found here:
#1 here
its the total package of your posts that makes one look forward to the remainder of your Coming Up for Air series. The candor of your text as well as the pictures not only of superb watches but of the people who are dear to you and who undoubtedly share your love for horological pieces all combine to make your posts amongst the best written and most read in the forums. Cheers to another feather on your cap. Thanks for sharing Doc!!
I will review both in #10 what comes in between I can hardly wait to see glad that you prepared lot of goodies in days to come for u Best Damian
and the finishing looks fantastic As usual, your review is so passionate and a great read. Always looking forward to your posting Lovesss*CL
Catch up with you soon. - SJX
Bernard, your writing makes one want to look a lot closer. Thanks, looking forward to the next apex of your trajectory, Don
but when you come up for air again please change your Avatar. it doesnt do you justice and makes you look 10 or more years older than you do in the post pics best Graham
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