444 articles · 15 videos found · page 9 of 16
Monochrome
With summer just around the corner, many of us switch our more formal dress watches for something more suitable for warmer temperatures, travelling and outdoor activities. The ideal summer wrist companion combines water-resistance with robustness and, why not, a splash of colour. The Certina DS Action Diver fits the bill to a tee, and the […]
Monochrome
Originally intended as a way to thank 500 of the brand’s suppliers and clients who couldn’t afford an MB&F; watch, Max Büsser came up with the M.A.D.1, an accessible one-off project. Inevitably, the news leaked, and requests from the watch community escalated into a frenzy, prompting the annual release of M.A.D. Editions via a raffle […]
Fratello
With its latest release, Awake has returned to the silver screen for inspiration. The new Sơn Mài The Deadly Watch takes its cues from a film by one of my favorite directors. Quentin Tarantino’s 2003 movie Kill Bill arrives in wrist form, complete with the legendary colors worn by the star character, Beatrix Kiddo, played by […] Visit Hands-On: The New Awake Sơn Mài The Deadly Watch to read the full article.
Fratello
You’re familiar with Max Büsser and his friends. The creations MB&F; produces are incredible, wondrous, and imaginative, but they’re also out of reach for the majority of watch enthusiasts. Let me introduce you to Schaefer & Companions, a brand recently founded in Le Locle that positions itself as an artistic platform. Christophe Schaefer, the brand’s […] Visit Introducing: Schaefer & Companions Solune Grand Art Marqueterie - Straw You Can Actually Clutch At to read the full article.
Worn & Wound
Well, dare I say, we’ve moved past the sticker shock of the “new” Bremont. Two and a half years on from Davide Cerrato taking the helm at the British brand, the discourse around direction seems to have died down, and the new vision for the brand - founded by Nick and Giles English and now owned principally by hedge fund manager and activist investor Bill Ackman - is increasingly clear. If I’m being honest, I’m still not sure what to make of this new Bremont, but one thing that’s for sure is that seeing new releases sporting the Bremont “Wayfinder” logo is no longer the jarring experience it was in March of 2024. And it means I can say that Bremont’s latest releases, a pair of 50-piece limited editions unveiled for Dubai Watch Week, each make a tremendous amount of sense in the context of the current Bremont collection. It’s a big step for the brand, which has had to do a tremendous amount of work over the last few years to make the latest interpretation of Bremont make sense. If I’m being wholly honest, I’m still not sure that the new Bremont is really for me (I’m not sure it’s meant to be), but I do know that when I see their new releases, they are unquestionably Bremont watches. What we have today are two reinterpretations of watches initially released earlier this year at Watches & Wonders, each differentiated by notable aesthetic changes. The first of these is a new iteration of the Terra Nova Jumping Hour, introduced for the first time ...
Monochrome
It might seem like aeons ago, but MB&F;’s Legacy Machine dynasty is still a teenager in watchmaking terms. Launched in 2011, the LM family turned our perceptions of MB&F;’s galactic design language inside out and upside down. Flying back to 19th-century watchmaking for inspiration, Max Büsser’s vision of a monumental balance wheel suspended on the […]
Monochrome
Launched as a side project next to his main brand MB&F;, Max Busser created M.A.D.Editions first as a way to reward friends of the brand, long collectors and suppliers for their continuous support. There was no intention for it to become a brand on its own, but what followed saw an unprecedented momentum beyond the […]
SJX Watches
It’s difficult to picture what the independent watchmaking landscape would look like without MB&F;. In some ways, it feels like the brand has always been around, perhaps because for me, it has. I first discovered MB&F; in 2008 when the HM2 was launched, but even back then the brand had an aura of polish that belied its short history. With the benefit of hindsight, Max Büsser’s decision to step away from corporate life, and leave the top job at Harry Winston Rare Timepieces to build his own brand rooted in collaboration, transparency, and imagination, seems obvious. But at the time, it was seen as a risky move that would never work. To understand why it did, we need to go back to the early 2000s. Max Büsser during the launch of the HM1 It’s called what? Let’s rewind. In the early 2000s the watch community was obsessed with the topic of in-house movements. The internet was slowly helping collectors find one another and share insider knowledge, which revealed how many watches were powered by the same handful of movements. If a new brand wanted to be taken seriously, it was increasingly important to be a manufacture and do as much as possible in-house. It was a simpler time, and we had yet to see such widespread misuse of the term. So when Mr Büsser explained that MB&F; stood for ‘Maximilian Büsser & Friends,’ and that he would actively celebrate the friends and collaborators that he was working with, people told him he was crazy. But he understood that the coll...
SJX Watches
One of Bremont’s best known pilot’s watches is undoubtedly the “MB”, now in its latest iteration as the Altitude MB Meteor. Now led by Davide Cerrato and controlled by hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, Bremont has focused on aviator’s watch since its founding. The MB was one of its earliest models – “MB” is short for Martin-Baker, the British company that produces ejection seats, primarily for jet fighter aircraft, including the Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin F-35. The original MBI was produced exclusively for pilots who successfully ejected with a Martin-Baker ejection seat, and that spawned a line of commercially available MB models. The MB Meteor continues the collection with a redesigned case in titanium, now with a striking orange “barrel”, a knurled case middle that gets its colour from a ceramic coating. Initial thoughts I’ve always liked the MB series because of the ejection seat connection. Admittedly, the link is a good dose of marketing, but it’s good storytelling that makes for a cool watch. The fact that the MB models in general are robust, no-frills, and relatively affordable also add to their appeal. The MB Meteor is the latest generation in the series. The model was already launched some months ago, but with a case “barrel” in plain colours. The new orange barrel is a standout feature, because it is the closest thing to the red barrel of the model that is available only to pilots who have ejected from a Martin-Baker seat. ...
Monochrome
Max Büsser’s childhood dream was to become a car designer. Although he ultimately studied engineering and founded MB&F;, one of the most successful indie watch brands, his passion for cars has permeated his design language, resulting in driver’s watches like the 1970s-inspired HM5, featuring a lateral speedometer-style display. The HM8 Mark 2, released in 2023, is a true […]
Worn & Wound
Would you expect anything less from MB&F; on their 20th anniversary than the launch of an entirely new collection? The independent brand founded by Max Büsser has spent the last two decades confounding expectations, delighting enthusiasts and collectors along the way with some of the brazen and creative watch designs of the modern era. The brand’s influence and importance on the modern independent watch scene really can’t be overstated. To date, MB&F; releases have existed on two distinct tracks: the LM or “Legacy Machine” collection, which represents Max Büsser’s idea of a classical watchmaking style (think circular cases, classical complications, and a generally traditional if sometimes highly complex readout of the time), and the HM, or “Horological Machine” collection, which can be described as pure, maximalist creativity. This is where you see watches shaped like dogs, and spaceships, with time read in unusual and unexpected ways. While you’d think that working within two collections in this manner (particularly where one is seemingly unbound by traditional watchmaking rules) Max and his team would have the freedom to create just about anything they set their mind to. In reality, of course, there are always projects that don’t reach the finish line for one reason or another. The SP One (SP is short for “Special Projects”) represents an entirely new product category for MB&F; with the promise of reviving these projects and creating entirely new one...
Hodinkee
The brand's smallest-ever watch is Max Busser's take on what a dress watch could be.
Monochrome
In the past two years, many things have changed at Bremont, one of the most important watch brands active on British soil. First, the founding brothers, Nick and Giles English, are not actively part of the company anymore. Second, there’s a new owner – American investor Bill Ackman – and a new CEO – industry […]
SJX Watches
With Phillips’ Geneva auction in May selling several watches to benefit the Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour Foundation, Philippe Dufour himself will be in Singapore during the preview exhibition for the sale. On April 18, 2025, the noted independent watchmaker will be the guest at a fireside chat alongside Thomas Perazzi, Phillips’ head of watches for Asia, moderated by myself. *Registrations are closed as venue is at max capacity. Thank you for the interest.* Mr Dufour will be speaking about his life and work, as well as the foundation’s mission and the upcoming charity auction where several watches will be sold to benefit the foundation. The highlight of the sale is the unique Philippe Dufour Simplicity with a 37 mm pink gold case with a dial inlaid with butterfly wings (pictured above). Registration and preview Seats are limited due to venue capacity and registration is required to attend the panel. Please RSVP on Phillips.com. *Registrations are closed as venue is at max capacity. Thank you for the interest.* The preview exhibition for the Phillips’ spring auction season, including lots from the Geneva, Hong Kong, and New York sales, takes place on April 18 and 19, 2025, 11 am-6 pm daily, at the Singapore Edition hotel.
Monochrome
It’s almost “Lights out, and away we go!” for the 2025 Formula 1 season, as this weekend it all kicks off Down Under. The 20 best drivers in the world will be chasing glory once more over the course of 24 races. Will Max Verstappen make it five in a row? Will Lando Norris clinch […]
Time+Tide
If you've ever wondered what Usain Bolt wears on a daily basis, or the car that Max Büsser drives, we've got the answer!The post NOW Magazine Issue 10 brings you fast folks, faster cars, and more than 180 of the best watches to buy appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
A couple of big questions are at the top of my mind ahead of the upcoming Formula 1 season. Will Max Verstappen once again become world champion? Can Lewis Hamilton fight for his eighth world title in a Ferrari? And also, will Mercedes-AMG Petronas be back on top after a few difficult years? One thing […] Visit Introducing: The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL Toto Wolff × Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team Watch to read the full article.
Monochrome
Incredible things can happen when you put Bulgari’s designer extraordinaire and director of watchmaking, Fabrizio Buonamassa, and MB&F;’s visionary founder and creator, Max Büsser, in the same room. Joining forces for the second time, the dynamic duo has envisioned a new habitat for Bulgari’s iconic Serpenti that sheds its familiar feminine universe and takes possession […]
Time+Tide
If you need a watch to keep up with an active, tough lifestyle, then any of these tactical timepieces should fit the bill.The post The 6 best tactical watches for those in need of some military inspiration appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
This weekend, Max Verstappen will vie for victory in the Formula 1 World Championship in Las Vegas. The Dutchman won his first F1 title in 2021 and could now win his fourth consecutive title to become the sixth driver to achieve that milestone. As most of you know, TAG Heuer is a proud partner of […] Visit Hands-On With The Latest Vibrant TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph to read the full article.
Deployant
For watch collectors who are looking for something different, we are introducing six unique watches that we reckon should fit the bill.
Monochrome
Inspiration at MB&F; comes from all sorts of places, including hypothetical musings like Max Büsser’s question: “What would have happened if I was born in 1867, one hundred years before my actual birth? What watch would I have conceived with the help of my friends?” The answer, as we know, was the motor behind the […]
Quill & Pad
Once upon a time, there was a watch enthusiast (GaryG) who admired the work of Max Büsser and his watchmaking enterprise MB&F; and who dearly wanted to own one of his watches. But which one? Well, it took years, but Gary eventually decided on the eye-catching 2021 LM101 in white gold and here he explains why.
Quill & Pad
MB&F; make fantastic watches but unfortunately, they are expensive. Fortunately for those of us with dreams bigger than out budgets, Max Büsser launched the M.A.D.1 Editions. And here's the new slimmer M.A.D.1S.
Worn & Wound
News broke this morning that Chanel has invested a 25% stake in MB&F;, one of our favorite independent brands. The investment comes on the eve of MB&F;’s 20th anniversary year, and is being framed by the brand as future-proofing the company. “It was our responsibility,” according to a statement from founder Max Büsser, “in today’s very favourable context and with our management team in its prime, to take this major step to ensure our long-term future.” MB&F; founder Max Büsser Büsser retains a majority stake in the company (60%) while his partner and Head of R&D; & Production Serge Kriknoff owns 15%. According to the statement released by MB&F;, the brand will continue to be run independently by the current leadership team, which also includes Charris Yadigaroglou (Head of Marketing Communications) and Thibault Verdonckt (Head of Sales). Brands taking on investment is of course nothing new, and the decision of a niche independent that has displayed over multiple decades that it’s capable of not only sustaining itself but growing feels like a smart business decision. It plays directly into a topic that comes up a lot in the world of independent watchmaking: What happens when a founder moves on? While there is no indication that Büsser is stepping aside anytime soon, longevity is something always on the mind of watch collectors. This is an industry, after all, where some brands can trace their roots to the 18th century. We covered this very topic in a Q&A; podcas...
Monochrome
Evolution, not revolution. It’s a well-known strategy that has been applied by so many brands, and not just in the watch industry. The idea of gradually updating/upgrading your most emblematic product without drastically changing it is at the heart of the success of icons such as the Porsche 911, the iPhone, the Nike Air Max […]
Quill & Pad
With the MB&F; HM8 Mark 2, Max Büsser returns to his roots to deliver a watch that deftly captures the automotive spirit. It's a hypercar for the wrist.
Hodinkee
Max Büsser and friends on mic, and the first two episodes are available now.
Monochrome
With the appearance of so many niche indie brands, it can be hard to keep track of who’s who. Based in the UK, the Schofield Watch Company was not founded by a watchmaker but by the hip product designer Giles Ellis. Cultivating his British eccentricity to the max, Ellis’ self-described “British coastal styling” is inspired […]
Quill & Pad
With the M.A.D.Editions ✕ Jean Charles de Castelbajac ‘Time to Love’, not for the first time, nor I expect the last time, Max Büsser has surprised me. This time by making all previous editions of the hitherto bonkers looking M.A.D.1 look boring.
Question, suggestion, or just want to say hi? Drop a note.