Comments:
If I could afford one MBF, it would be this one.
Not that I am insensible to others MBF creations, but I don't have the style of life nor the wrist for them.
But this one is something.
Less exuberant than the others, more conventional, certainly, the concept does sing to me, as well as the whole watch.
If I got it well, Kari was involved in the design, not in the finishings of the movement, hence the fact that it is below your expectations, Oliver.
A kind of classical concept watch, which sounds paradoxal, as a concept watch is not conventional, by definition.
As for the volumes, it sits quite well on my wrist, but I didn't try it under the sleeve of a suit...
I will try to take some pics, next time I see Max.
Last time was as terrific as funny: I lost my camera at the Salon Des Belles Montres, I found it under a chair, and when I came back to try to take some pictures, i realized that I let the battery in the charger...
There are days where it is better to not leave the house.
Best,
Nicolas.
PS: I agree wth your last words: Watches which make you durably smile is something important.
Any solid reductions for us?
Best,
Nicolas
But it is all the nicer because of that i think. I really like MB&F designs, but many are 'in your face'. This is a pleasant change without being boring.
I am very interested as to how they managed to have 2 dials with totally seperate time capability whilst using just one movement. Perhaps its easy and i just dont know enough.
Thank you for showing us this piece in detail Oliver.
Graham
MB&F the LM1 ... some views ...thoughts ...
Let me start with a picture that came to my mind when I saw it for the first time ...
... one from the World Exhibition - Paris 1889. Maybe I spent too much time with reading about that time, recently
The watch was presented in 2011 and caught my attention from the beginning. A few month ago I had the pleasure to see and to try it.
I was lucky enough to see my prefered version, WG. The whole watch is very appealing and for sure a so called conversation piece.
Part of the charm is the 14mm (!) balance wheel on top of the dial and the way it is presented under a dome. The stage given makes the watch big - 44mm diameter and 16mm high.
The most difficult part to do was probably to design the back of the movement. Just because if there is nothing like a balance wheel ... something is missing, isn´t it? The solutions chosen are very classical bridges and painstaking finishing - even when the finishing shown is not what I would expect from a bespoke Voutilainen watch. The general approach to solve the "problem" of attention & beauty is no surprise when Kari Voutilainen is involved in the project.
A feature that I really appreciate is the balance frequency of 18.000 A/h. The complication shown in this watch is a GMT function and one that is adjustable to the minute and second - not only hour, half hour or quarter hour
Conclusion:
The whole concept is more than interesting and the product is a marvel. Even when it represents the "classical" watch in the MB&F world it is not boring at all. With (smaller/normal) wrists like mine I would not be comfortable to wear it with a business suit. Which is bad, because it could be a great travel companion with the GMT function and maybe some kind of dreaming while travelling
The only thing I asked myself: Will it last? Would it make me smile for a long time?
The latter get´s more and more important to me, for several reasons.
Oliver
... one from the World Exhibition - Paris 1889. Maybe I spent too much time with reading about that time, recently
The watch was presented in 2011 and caught my attention from the beginning. A few month ago I had the pleasure to see and to try it.
I was lucky enough to see my prefered version, WG. The whole watch is very appealing and for sure a so called conversation piece.
Part of the charm is the 14mm (!) balance wheel on top of the dial and the way it is presented under a dome. The stage given makes the watch big - 44mm diameter and 16mm high.
The most difficult part to do was probably to design the back of the movement. Just because if there is nothing like a balance wheel ... something is missing, isn´t it? The solutions chosen are very classical bridges and painstaking finishing - even when the finishing shown is not what I would expect from a bespoke Voutilainen watch. The general approach to solve the "problem" of attention & beauty is no surprise when Kari Voutilainen is involved in the project.
A feature that I really appreciate is the balance frequency of 18.000 A/h. The complication shown in this watch is a GMT function and one that is adjustable to the minute and second - not only hour, half hour or quarter hour
Conclusion:
The whole concept is more than interesting and the product is a marvel. Even when it represents the "classical" watch in the MB&F world it is not boring at all. With (smaller/normal) wrists like mine I would not be comfortable to wear it with a business suit. Which is bad, because it could be a great travel companion with the GMT function and maybe some kind of dreaming while travelling
The only thing I asked myself: Will it last? Would it make me smile for a long time?
The latter get´s more and more important to me, for several reasons.
Oliver
Love at first sight.
If I could afford one MBF, it would be this one.
Not that I am insensible to others MBF creations, but I don't have the style of life nor the wrist for them.
But this one is something.
Less exuberant than the others, more conventional, certainly, the concept does sing to me, as well as the whole watch.
If I got it well, Kari was involved in the design, not in the finishings of the movement, hence the fact that it is below your expectations, Oliver.
A kind of classical concept watch, which sounds paradoxal, as a concept watch is not conventional, by definition.
As for the volumes, it sits quite well on my wrist, but I didn't try it under the sleeve of a suit...
I will try to take some pics, next time I see Max.
Last time was as terrific as funny: I lost my camera at the Salon Des Belles Montres, I found it under a chair, and when I came back to try to take some pictures, i realized that I let the battery in the charger...
There are days where it is better to not leave the house.
Best,
Nicolas.
PS: I agree wth your last words: Watches which make you durably smile is something important.
So it makes two MBFs? One for me, one for you. Max...
Any solid reductions for us?
Best,
Nicolas
My fav version is the PG one.
I find it very luminous.
The LM1 is what I call a retro-neo watch and not a neo-retro. It is an innovative watch which could have been created in the past.
When we analyse it, we can find a lot of common points with the HM4. Yes, yes!
Thanks for your post.
Fx
The LM1 is what I call a retro-neo watch and not a neo-retro. It is an innovative watch which could have been created in the past.
When we analyse it, we can find a lot of common points with the HM4. Yes, yes!
Thanks for your post.
Fx
Sunny side up eggs for me too!
Well Oliver, you made a very nice encounter there.
The balance wheel structure is indeed inspired from Eiffel creations.
I saw it last year during the Belles montres in Paris (and hope to see it again this year).
The WG version is my favorite too. As you said in spite of the fact it is a more classical looking and shaped watch from MB&F it is easier to wear in everyday life. But yet, it remains quite important on the wrist and not that easy to wear finally.
But I think that one should "pull it off" when it comes to bigger watches. Important size watches may be similar to having thick or very original glasses frame, or an original tie etc ...
This can be really well integrated to your clothing and accepted if you cross a psychological hurdle.
Thanks for your thoughts about this important watch and for the pictures Oliver.
Cheers,
Mark
PS: Some of my (crappy) pictures.
This message has been edited by Boréale on 2012-11-12 02:52:39
The balance wheel structure is indeed inspired from Eiffel creations.
I saw it last year during the Belles montres in Paris (and hope to see it again this year).
The WG version is my favorite too. As you said in spite of the fact it is a more classical looking and shaped watch from MB&F it is easier to wear in everyday life. But yet, it remains quite important on the wrist and not that easy to wear finally.
But I think that one should "pull it off" when it comes to bigger watches. Important size watches may be similar to having thick or very original glasses frame, or an original tie etc ...
This can be really well integrated to your clothing and accepted if you cross a psychological hurdle.
Thanks for your thoughts about this important watch and for the pictures Oliver.
Cheers,
Mark
PS: Some of my (crappy) pictures.
This message has been edited by Boréale on 2012-11-12 02:52:39
Feels like yesterday...
hard to believe it's almost been a year since we checked out the Mad Gallery. Thanks again for showing me around Geneva, and I hope all is well with you, Oliver!
Best,
Chris
Best,
Chris
Hey Chris ...
it was my pleasure and I hope you are fine as well. You did an addictive trip, you spent lots of time at PuristS ... still fine?
Oliver
Oliver
Still doing fine
You are right, it was an addictive trip... can't wait to visit Europe again one day! Let me know if you ever visit Vancouver, maybe I can return the favour
All the best,
Chris
All the best,
Chris
this is the first watch I bought in 2012, and I am still very much in love with it
i can say with confidence that I wouldn't tire of it, and the watch has longevity in affection and thrill.
It bridges the traditional movement finishing with modernity in concept, marrying it with a art-deco 1920s adventurism(like you pointed out in reference to the feeling it evokes)
i struggled to decide between the WG and the more popular RG, and decided in the latter. I imagine the WG wold fit right at home with my other MBFs, and look more avant garde, but to me...truer to the concept of the design brief of the watch...its should be YG, and RG is close alternative. i just hope Max doesn't do one in titanium or PVD coated etc.
thanks for the pictures and your thoughts.
best,
Horo
the design could be considered restrained compared to other models
But it is all the nicer because of that i think. I really like MB&F designs, but many are 'in your face'. This is a pleasant change without being boring.
I am very interested as to how they managed to have 2 dials with totally seperate time capability whilst using just one movement. Perhaps its easy and i just dont know enough.
Thank you for showing us this piece in detail Oliver.
Graham