Another stunning watch from the creatives at MB&F. Although the Legacy Machine Perpetual Calendar was launched back in 2015 already in red gold and platinum editions. Followed by two white gold editions. They now present the MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual Calendar Titanium.. Beginning with a blank sheet of paper, MB&F and independent Irish watchmaker Stephen McDonnell have completely reinvented that most traditional of horological complications: the perpetual calendar. The result is Legacy Machine Perpetual, featuring a visually stunning in-house movement. Developed from the ground up to eliminate the drawbacks of conventional perpetual calendars.
Legacy Machine Perpetual Titanium
The Legacy Machine Perpetual features a fully integrated 581-component calibre which means no additional modules are used. By placing the full complication on dial-free display underneath a spectacular suspended balance it shows the full aesthetics of the perpetual calendar
The perpetual calendar is one of the great traditional complications. Calculating the varying numbers of days in each month. Leap years with the 29 days in February included. But traditional perpetual calendars do have a few drawbacks. Dates can skip and they are relatively easy to damage if adjusted while the date is changing. The purpose-built movement of Legacy Machine Perpetual has been designed from scratch for trouble-free use. No skipping dates or jamming gears. The adjuster pushers automatically deactivate when the calendar changes, so no problems there either!
Mechanical processor precision
Traditional perpetual calendar mechanisms use a 31-day month as the default. They basically “delete” dates for the months with fewer days by fast-forwarding through the redundant dates during changeover. A traditional perpetual calendar changing from February 28 to March 1 scrolls quickly through the 29th, 30th and 31st to arrive at the 1st.
LM Perpetual turns the traditional perpetual calendar system on its head by using a “mechanical processor” instead of the conventional space-consuming grand levier (big lever) system architecture. The mechanical processor utilises a default 28-day month and adds extra days as required. This means that each month always has the exact number of days required; there is no fast-forwarding or skipping redundant days. And while the leap year can only be set on traditional perpetual calendars by scrolling through up to 47 months, LM Perpetual has a dedicated quickset pusher to adjust the year.
With its open dial revealing the full complication and suspended balance, it’s the harmonious mechanical beauty of LM Perpetual that really steals the show. And in an interesting technical twist, that eye-catching balance hovering on high is connected to the escapement on the back of the movement by what is likely to be the world’s longest balance staff.
Floating dials
Using an innovative system developed especially for Legacy Machine Perpetual, the subdials appear to “float” above the movement with no visible attachments. The skeletonised subdials rest on hidden studs, which is technically impossible with traditional perpetual calendar mechanisms because they would block the movement of the grand levier.
Taking a clockwise tour of the dial, at 12 o’clock we see the hours and minutes nestled between the elegant arches of the balance; day of the week at 3 o’clock, power reserve indicator at 4 o’clock, month at 6 o’clock, retrograde leap year indicator at 7 o’clock, and date at 9 o’clock.
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Technical Specifications
Case material: Grade 5 titanium
Dimension: 44mm x 17,5mm
Movement: handwound or automatic
Power: 72 Hours from manual winding
Water resistance: 30meter / 3ATM
Dial: Black luminescent
Strap: Hand-stitched alligator strap with titanium folding buckle
Special Note: Limited edition of 50 pieces
Legacy Machine Perpetual Calendar Titanium price is 148.000 CHF/USD (MSRP excl. VAT, prices may vary depending on location.)
Gallery
