MB&F LM101 Frost limited editions … 33 pieces in red gold and – for the first time at MB&F – 18 pieces in yellow gold

When I met MB&F in Basel they showed me their two new MB&F LM101 Frost timepieces and they told me to please respect the embargo until today. Let me now after the embargo was lifted show you the watches…

When I met MB&F in Basel I was told: When we at MB&F presented Legacy Machine 101 (LM101) a year ago, we told you Alexander it was the purest, most essential expression of mechanical watchmaking we could conceive. Focusing on just three essential elements – the balance wheel, a power reserve indicator, and the time – LM101 captured the essence in a classic 40mm case.

Now we go a step further on our classic watchmaking journey with our MB&F LM101 Frost limited editions.

‘Frost’ because their dial has been frosted – a traditional finishing technique which goes back to the late 18th century. At the time, pocket watches were absolutely not water-resistant… To protect against oxidation, movement plates and bridges were frosted by treating their surfaces with acid and fire, making them more resistant – and giving them a silvery, frosted look. Nowadays frosting is the craft of a very small number of artisans, who have traded acid and fire for safer – but much more difficult to master – metallic brush processes. Rather than brushing, which would remove material, the technique is to actually compress the metal; this is the secret to making the surface harder… and obtaining the beautiful, visually unmistakable frosted effect.

Thanks to Kari Voutilainen, who has defined and supervised the aesthetics and finishing of our Legacy Machines from Day One, we were fortunate to gain access to one of those very few artisans. Jose Labarga applies frosting to what you might call the dial – but which is in fact the mainplate of the LM101 movement inside: a calibre which was entirely conceived in-house by our own engineers.

And Alexander, please respect the embargo!

Ok, no more embargo today, so let me now show a punch of pictures I took from the new watches…

I took them with my MACRO so please enlarge them if you like to discover all the details… 🙂

The MB&F LM101 Frost in yellow gold:

The MB&F LM101 Frost in red gold:

Enlarge the picture and have a look at the “frosted” surface…

LM101 Frost – Technical Specifications

Engine:

Three-dimensional movement developed in-house by MB&F

Movement aesthetics and finish specifications: Kari Voutilainen

Manual winding with single mainspring barrel

Power reserve: 45 hours

Balance wheel: Bespoke 14mm balance wheel with four traditional regulating screws floating above the movement and dials

Balance spring: traditional Breguet curve terminating in mobile stud holder

Balance frequency: 18,000 bph / 2.5 Hz

Number of components: 229 components

Number of jewels: 23

Chatons: gold chatons with polished countersinks

Fine finishing: frosted mainplate, superlative hand finishing throughout respecting 19th century style; internal bevel angles highlighting hand craft; polished bevels; hand-made engravings

Functions:

Hours, minutes and power reserve indicator.

Large suspended balance wheel over dial

Case:

Available in 18k red gold (33 pieces) or 18k yellow gold (18 pieces)

Dimensions: 40 mm wide x 16 mm high

Number of components: 35

Sapphire crystals:

High domed sapphire crystal on top and box sapphire crystal on back with anti-reflective coating on both sides.

Strap & Buckle:

Dark or light brown hand-stitched alligator strap with gold tang buckle to match case.

MB&F LM101 Frost is a limited edition of 33 pieces in red gold and – for the first time at MB&F – 18 pieces in yellow gold. Each watch will be sold for 58.000 CHF plus taxes that apply.