MB&F Legacy Machine N°2 Palladium
Even today with computer aided design programs (CAD) and ultra-high-precision CNC machines, the sheer complexity of high-end mechanical watch movements requires skilled assembly and regulation to achieve good timekeeping over a range of positions. Whether the watch is laid flat, vertical (on its edge), crown up or crown down, slightly affects the components inside – and the balance in particular – which in turn slightly changes the timing rate.
In the 18th century, higher manufacturing tolerances coupled with low-quality oils meant that it was virtually impossible to regulate a movement to the high precision we have come to expect today. So it should come as no surprise that the greatest horologists of the period experimented with a wide variety of mechanisms to improve timekeeping.
While Ferdinand Berthoud (1727–1807) averaged his two regulators mechanically, Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747–1823) and Antide Janvier (1751–1835) both created double regulator timepieces using the phenomena of resonance to average the rate of the two balances. It should be noted that the majority of dual regulator timepieces, especially those using resonance to couple the two systems, had two complete movements rather than just two regulators
Nearly 100 years later, in the 1930s a few of the very best students at the Watchmaking School of the Vallée de Joux made double regulator pocket watches with the rates of two balances averaged by a planetary differential. The students usually made two pieces each – one for themselves and one for the school – and it is thought that 10 such timepieces exist.
Philippe Dufour, an independent watchmaker based in the Vallée de Joux saw one of these pocket watches and was inspired to create his Duality. Launched in 1996, the Duality was the first known wristwatch to feature two balances joined by a differential. There have been a (very) few other double balance wristwatches coupled via differentials.
The advantage of using a planetary differential is that the two balances beat at their natural rate, with the differential supplying the average of the two completely independent frequencies. Other mechanisms when coupled have one balance slowing down or speeding up the other to achieve an average rate and this induces slight stresses in the system.
While superficially Legacy Machine No.2 may look like a traditional round watch, its three-dimensional architecture offers visual treats on multiple levels. What looks at first glance to be the main dial is actually the top plate of the movement, which has been finely engraved, plated and then hand-engraved with Legacy Machine below the differential.
Independent master watchmaker Kari Voutilainen assumed responsibility for ensuring the historical accuracy of the style and specifying the finishing of the Legacy Machine No.2 movement.
Maximilian Büsser has had a long affinity with pocket watches of the 18th and 19th centuries. Virtually all horological complications we see today were not only imagined in that period, they were developed using just paper and pen (no sophisticated computer programs), components were produced to extremely high precision using – by today’s standards – fairly primitive machines (no electricity) and finely finished, assembled and regulated to an incredibly high quality that we still strive to match today. Their generous size compared with modern wristwatches allowed for uncluttered movement architectures with beautifully shaped bridges and plates.
Technical specifications
MB&F Legacy Machine N°2 Palladium
Limited edition of 18 pieces
Case
- Materials: Palladium
- Diameter: 44mm
- Thickness: 19mm
- Number of components: 41
- Glass: High domed sapphire crystal on top
- Sapphire crystal on back with anti-reflective coating on both sides.
- Water-resistant to 30 meters (3ATM)
Dial and hands
- Aquamarine sun-ray pattern
- Blued hands
Movement
- Three-dimensional horological movement developed exclusively for MB&F by Jean-François Mojon at Chronode and Kari Voutilainen
- Manual winding with single mainspring barrel
- Differential: Planetary differential comprising 3 gears and 5 pinions
- Balance wheels: Two bespoke 11mm balance wheels with four traditional regulating screws floating above the movement and dials
- Balance spring: traditional Breguet curve terminating with stud holder
- Balance frequency: 18,000bph / 2.5Hz
- Number of components: 241
- Number of jewels: 44
- Power reserve: 45 hours
Finishes
- Superlative hand finishing throughout respecting 19th century style; polished internal bevel angles highlighting handcraft; polished bevels
- Geneva waves; gold chatons with polished countersinks; hand-made engravings; NAC finishing for the Palladium edition.
Functions/indications
- Hours and minutes
- Planetary differential transmits the average rate of the two regulators to the single gear train.
Strap and buckle
- Brown alligator strap with a tang buckle matching the case material.
MSRP
- CHF 158'000
- USD 172'000
- EUR 165'000 (excl. tax)
For more information, please visit mbandf.com
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