MB&F has brought back its original Legacy Machine 1 with the launch of the Legacy Machine N°1 EVO, aka LM1 EVO. The brand has redesigned the timepiece for everyday wear, with enhanced shock protection, improved water resistance, and an extended power reserve. First introduced in 2011 and discontinued in 2017, the LM1 has been reintroduced in a more compact 42 mm case, available in Grade 5 titanium or 18K rose gold.

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The original Legacy Machine 1 stood apart from MB&F’s usual futuristic Horological Machines with its round case, classical Roman numerals, and 19th-century-inspired design. It featured two independent time displays, a prominent 14 mm flying balance wheel suspended beneath an arched bridge, and a vertical power reserve indicator. Separate crowns allowed the two time displays to be adjusted independently, including to account for time differences measured to the minute.

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However, it was not technically robust enough for everyday wear. To address this, the brand introduced the EVO concept in 2020, first appearing in the Legacy Machine Perpetual EVO, to make its mechanical watches better suited to active use. The concept incorporates a sturdy construction using materials such as zirconium or Grade 5 titanium, a patented FlexRing shock-absorption system, and two screw-down crowns that contribute to water resistance of up to 80 metres.

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The new watch is available in two versions – titanium and 18K rose gold – measuring 42 mm in diameter, 16.8 mm in thickness, and 52 mm lug-to-lug. The titanium model features a rhodium-plated dial plate, black snailed sub-dials, and blue arrow-tipped hands with luminous treatment. The 18K rose gold model features a green dial plate and black sub-dials, along with gold-toned hands featuring luminous inlays. Both retain the distinctive bezel-less construction, with a steeply domed sapphire crystal fused directly to the case using a thermal bonding process. A box-shaped sapphire crystal protects the movement on the reverse, and both crystals feature anti-reflective coatings on both sides.

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The power reserve indicator has been redesigned as an inclined, semicircular gauge positioned at 6 o’clock, reflecting the increase in running time from 45 hours in the original LM1 to 60 hours in the EVO. The 14 mm balance wheel remains a central feature, but its regulating system now uses a Straumann double hairspring intended to improve accuracy and isochronism. The balance wheel is held beneath a redesigned titanium bridge.

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Powering the watch is a manually wound, three-dimensional calibre developed in-house by MB&F in collaboration with Jean-François Mojon. It operates at 18,000 vibrations per hour, or 2.5 Hz. Finishing and aesthetics were overseen by Kari Voutilainen, with traditional details including gold chatons with polished countersinks, Geneva waves, polished bevels with internal angles, and hand-executed engravings, alongside contemporary black NAC-treated bridges.

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The LM1 EVO also introduces an interchangeable rubber strap system, with quick-release mechanisms on both the case and clasp. The titanium model comes with a black rubber strap, while the rose gold edition is paired with a grey rubber strap and a matching metal folding buckle.

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The titanium LM1 EVO is a non-limited edition priced at approximately INR 93,90,000, while the 18K rose gold version is limited to 33 pieces and priced at approximately INR 1,16,80,000.

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Images: MB&F

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