MB&F — When Watchmaking Becomes Mechanical Art
Inside Max Büsser’s collaborative vision for MB&F, where sculptural Horological Machines and tradition-inspired Legacy Machines turn watchmaking into mechanical art.
In the traditional world of luxury watchmaking, many brands follow familiar paths. Round cases, classic dials, and designs that respect decades—sometimes centuries—of heritage. But every so often, a brand comes along that completely challenges the rules of what a watch can be.
That brand is MB&F watch brand.
MB&F doesn’t simply make watches. It creates mechanical art watches for the wrist—machines that combine engineering, imagination, and artistry in ways few brands have ever attempted.
Photo Credits: MB&F
The Vision of Max Büsser
At the center of MB&F’s story is its founder, Max Büsser.
Before creating MB&F, Büsser spent years working in the traditional Swiss watch industry. But he always had a different vision for what watchmaking could become.
Instead of building another conventional brand, he wanted to create something collaborative—something that would bring together talented watchmakers, designers, and engineers to build extraordinary luxury mechanical watches.
In 2005, that vision became reality with the creation of MB&F.
The name itself tells the story: Max Büsser & Friends.
Horological Machines
MB&F describes many of its creations as “Horological Machines” in modern horology.
These are not watches in the traditional sense. They are three-dimensional mechanical timepieces that happen to tell time.
Some look like spacecraft. Some resemble futuristic engines. Others feel like miniature mechanical sculptures.
One of the most fascinating aspects of MB&F watches is how the movement often becomes the centerpiece of the design. Instead of hiding the mechanics beneath the dial, MB&F places them front and center, allowing collectors to appreciate the complexity of the machine itself and its watch movement design. It’s watchmaking turned inside out.
Photo Credits: MB&F
Challenging the Traditional Idea of a Watch
In the luxury watch industry, innovation often moves slowly. Heritage brands rely heavily on their past, which can sometimes make experimentation difficult.
MB&F operates differently.
Because the brand is independent, it has the freedom to explore ideas that other companies might consider too unconventional in independent watchmaking.
MB&F watches often feature:
- Suspended balance wheels floating above the dial
- • Sapphire domes that reveal the entire movement
- • Time displays that rotate or move in unexpected ways
- • Case shapes that challenge traditional watch design language
These ideas are not created simply to be different—they are created to explore new ways of experiencing mechanical timekeeping.
A Collaboration of Masters
Another defining aspect of MB&F is collaboration.
The brand works with some of the most talented independent watchmakers and craftsmen in the industry. Each project brings together specialists—from movement designers to case makers to dial artisans.
This collaborative approach has helped MB&F produce some of the most technically fascinating watches of the modern era in the world of high-end watches.
And because every piece is produced in limited numbers, each watch feels like a small chapter in a much larger creative story.
Photo Credits: MB&F
The Legacy Machines
While MB&F is famous for its futuristic designs, the brand also introduced another remarkable collection: the Legacy Machines.
These watches reinterpret traditional Swiss watchmaking with a twist.
The movements appear classical, yet they feature dramatic elements like a large suspended balance wheel placed above the dial. The result is a beautiful fusion of past and future—traditional watchmaking reimagined through a modern lens of luxury watch design.
The Legacy Machines remind collectors that MB&F is not only capable of radical experimentation but also deeply respectful of horological tradition.
Why Collectors Admire MB&F
Collectors often describe MB&F watches as emotional objects.
They are not purchased simply for their mechanics or brand recognition. They are purchased because they spark imagination and stand out among luxury watch collectors.
MB&F watches are:
- Bold
- • Creative
- • Technically fascinating
- • Visually unforgettable
They remind collectors that watches can be playful, artistic, and expressive—not just functional.
In many ways, MB&F represents the idea that watchmaking is still an evolving art of horology.
Photo Credits: MB&F
Our Perspective at Bangladesh Watch Club
At Bangladesh Watch Club, we admire brands that challenge the industry.
MB&F does exactly that.
In a world where many watches begin to look similar, MB&F stands as a reminder that creativity still exists in modern horology. Their machines are not just timepieces—they are expressions of imagination and mechanical artistry.
For collectors who appreciate originality and engineering brilliance, MB&F offers something truly special in the world of luxury watches.
Photo Credits: MB&F
Final Thoughts
MB&F has redefined what a watch can be.
By combining engineering, design, and artistic vision, the brand has created a new category of luxury mechanical timepieces—machines that inspire curiosity and admiration.
In doing so, MB&F has proven that watchmaking is not only about preserving tradition. It is also about daring to explore new ideas.
And in that exploration lies the future of horology.
