MB&F Launches Legacy Machine 1 EVO in Titanium and Rose Gold

MB&F has revived its original Legacy Machine 1 in a new form, launching the LM1 EVO in both titanium and 18k rose gold. The release, marking the 15th anniversary of the LM1, brings the brand’s foundational dual-time design into the EVO line, known for its sportier and more robust construction. The titanium model is available without limitation, while the rose gold version is limited to 33 pieces. Both are available now, with prices set at $109,000 for titanium and $137,000 for rose gold.

The Legacy Machine 1 was first introduced in 2011 as MB&F’s response to requests for more classically styled timepieces, a departure from the brand’s earlier, more futuristic Horological Machines. Max Büsser, founder of MB&F, acknowledged that while his personal passion lay with the avant-garde, the market and retailers wanted watches that were easier to explain and appreciate. The LM1’s round case and dual time displays quickly became a signature, and the model is credited with establishing a new direction for the brand.

The EVO case, first launched in 2021, was designed to bridge MB&F’s classical and modern tendencies. It offers a round, ergonomic form with increased durability, including a screw-down crown, 80 meters of water resistance, and a FlexRing shock absorption system. The LM1 EVO case measures 42mm in diameter and 16.8mm thick, slightly smaller and more practical than the original’s 44mm case. The case also introduces a quick-release system for the integrated rubber strap, a first for the EVO series. That allows for tool-free strap changes.

At the heart of the LM1 EVO is the original movement co-developed by Jean-François Mojon and Kari Voutilainen. The manually wound caliber retains its three-dimensional architecture, featuring a large 14mm balance wheel suspended above the dial. Two independent sub-dials allow for dual time zone display, each adjustable via its own crown. That makes it possible to set unusual time offsets. The power reserve indicator, previously a vertical scale, has been redesigned as an inclined arc for greater legibility and now tracks an increased 60-hour reserve, up from 45 hours in the original LM1.

The movement has been subtly upgraded for the EVO edition. It now includes a Straumann double hairspring, which is intended to improve accuracy and isochronism. The finishing, specified by Kari Voutilainen, features Geneva waves, anglage, gold chatons, and NAC-finished bridges visible through the sapphire caseback. The signatures on the movement have been refined, now showing only the last names of Mojon and Voutilainen.

The titanium LM1 EVO is paired with a rhodium dial plate and blue arrow-tipped hands, while the rose gold version is matched with a green dial plate and gold-toned hands. Both models use black sub-dials and Super-LumiNova for legibility. The integrated rubber strap is available in grey or black, with a matching folding buckle.

Max Büsser has described the original LM1 as a tribute to the great horological minds of the nineteenth century, reinterpreted with MB&F’s kinetic flair. The LM1 EVO continues this ethos, offering a more wearable and resilient package without sacrificing the visual drama of the floating balance or the practicality of dual time zones. The magazine has also looked at the house’s earlier sport watches.

MB&F is producing 33 pieces of the 18k rose gold LM1 EVO with green dial at $137,000. The titanium model with rhodium dial plate isn’t limited and is priced at $109,000.