MB&F builds a 1960s house for your wrist with its latest debut, the Horological Machine Nº11 Architect.

With four titanium ‘rooms’ radiating from a sapphire-domed central flying tourbillon, the new watch recalls the designs of mid-twentieth century biomorphic-style houses, with four symmetrical parabolic ‘rooms’ emanating from a central atrium.

Each room houses a display, with one showing the time, the next showing the watch’s power reserve, a third indicating temperature and the fourth housing the winding crown. The wearer can choose which display is in direct eyesight when wearing the watch by rotating the entire housing, which will click into place as desired.

The rotation is more than a choice of display: each 45° clockwise turn delivers 72 minutes of power directly to the barrel. After ten complete rotations, the HM11 will reach its maximum 96-hour power reserve.

Also unusual, the massive 10mm crown (used to set the time), protected with eight gaskets, is made of clear sapphire and allows another view of the HM11’s flying tourbillon. In total, nineteen gaskets protect the movement.

At the center of the HM No. 11 Architect is the watch’s flying tourbillon, on display under a dual clear sapphire dome. MB&F has designed an unusual quatrefoil-shaped upper bridge, meant to recall the shape of clerestory windows.

Among the four displays, the thermometer stands out as the most unusual for a high-end watch. This thermometer uses a bimetallic strip to indicate temperature, a method akin to  an analog display amid the many instant electronic thermometers seen on electronic devices and even digital watches. This display is available in Celsius or Fahrenheit variations.

Each of the peripheral ‘rooms’ on the HM11 feature exterior walls of polished grade-5 titanium. Within the sapphire domes, the new movement beats at a stately 2.5Hz (18,000 vph) amid a choice of metallic blue or rose gold PVD plates. 

MB&F will make twenty-five Horological Machine Nº11 Architect watches in each color, each priced at $230,000.

Specifications: MB&F HM No.11 Architect 

Movement:

Three-dimensional horological engine featuring bevel gears, composed of a flying tourbillon, hours and minutes, a power reserve indicator and temperature measurement, developed in-house by MB&F.

Mechanical movement, manual winding (by turning the entire case clockwise).

Power reserve: 96 hours

Balance frequency: 18,000 bph/2.5Hz

Plates: Blue and 5N PVD treatment

Number of movement components: 364 components

Number of jewels: 29 jewels

Functions/indications:

Hour and minutes

Power reserve

Temperature (-20 to 60° Celsius, or 0 to 140° Fahrenheit)

Case:

42mm diameter x 23mm grade 5 titanium, display markers: conical rods in stainless steel (0.50mm to 0.60mm), darker beads in polished titanium and lighter beads in polished aluminum (1.30mm to 2.40mm). Water resistance: 20 meters.

Sapphire crystals:

Sapphire crystals on top, back, and on each chamber-display treated with anti-reflective coating on both faces, sapphire crown

Strap & Buckle:

Rubber strap – white for the blue model and khaki green for the red gold model

Titanium tang buckle.