Amphitheater inside MB&F’s transparent watch SP One

The Swiss watch brand MB&F, whose history began in 2005, very quickly established itself as one of the most significant brands in the independent watch sector. Watches from Max Büsser and company are instantly recognizable, even if they do not have a logo.
Until now, everything that MB&F produces fit into two main lines: Horological Machines (HM) and Legacy Machine (LM). This spring, Max Büsser will present his third collection, Special Projects – watches that promise not to overlap with the models of the other two collections.
MB&F presents the SP One, a transparent watch with an “amphitheater” and a floating dial, enclosed between sapphire glass domes. Originally called “Three Circles”, because the design of the watch consists of three levitating elements: a barrel, a balance wheel and a dial. The transparent case makes it appear to float above the wearer’s wrist.
Turning the watch over, you watch the gears and springs that power it come to life. Around this mechanism is a ring called a flange, slightly raised and shaped like beveled edges. It is because of this that MB&F founder Max Büsser gave it the name amphitheater. Its shape and design are reminiscent of ancient Greco-Roman theaters, where crowds of people sat on circular tiers to watch the action. The craftsmen who make MB&F’s transparent watch, the SP One, tilt each tiny gear by hand so that they can achieve a polished and refined look individually. They also use chatons, which are decorative metal frames that hold the jewels in place, as a nod to the brand’s homage to traditional watchmaking.
MB&F’s transparent SP One is the brand’s thinnest and smallest design to date, and a new collection called Special Projects (hence the SP abbreviation) is also on display.
Key facts and price
MB&F SP One
Diameter: 38 mm
Height: 12 mm
Material: Platinum or 18k rose gold
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 30 m
Movement: SP One
Functions: Hours and minutes
Winding: Hand-wound
Frequency: 18,000 beats per hour (2.5 Hz)
Power reserve: 72 hours
Strap: Leather strap with 18k white or rose gold pin buckle
Limited edition: No
Availability: At MB&F retailers and MAD Galleries
Price: CHF63,000 in 950 platinum) and CHF58,000 in 18k rose gold (excluding taxes)
Source of information: www.designboom.com
Photo: watchesbysjx.com