MB&F enters new territory: SP One and the dawn of Special Projects



With the SP One high quality watches replica, MB&F enters uncharted territory. A departure from its futuristic and radical styling, this latest creation is for the first time infused with classic elegance. Not only does this watch herald the launch of a new watch collection called “Special Projects”, it also raises the question: what does “special” really mean to MB&F? And how does it fit into the DNA of such a unique watchmaking brand? This article takes a closer look at this new creation and attempts to answer this question.

Old ideas reborn: MB&F launches the Special Projects collection
Since Max Büsser founded MB&F in 2005, the brand has created watches that are deeply rooted in childhood fantasies, aviation, science fiction and even the animal kingdom. The brand is built around two creative pillars: the Horological Machines collection, created in 2007, and the Legacy Machines collection, launched in 2011. The two collections represent very different concepts. The Horological Machines collection incorporates three-dimensional cases to create futuristic watches, while the Legacy Machines collection pays homage to 19th century watchmaking with round cases. From the jet-engine-inspired HM N°9 to perhaps its most complicated chronograph, the LM Sequential EVO, MB&F has built a brand known for innovative and avant-garde independent watchmaking. replica Richard Mille Rafael Nadal

Now, with the launch of the MB&F SP One, the brand has introduced a third watch category to the existing Horological and Legacy Machines collections. This new collection breathes new life into the Special Projects, an unfinished idea from the company's past two decades. MB&F says that the timepieces in the Special Projects collection will be positioned between the aesthetic worlds of the Legacy and Horological Machines collections, transforming dormant concepts into exquisite watches that, as the name suggests, are extraordinary "special".

However, as the first work in the series, the SP One is surprisingly restrained. This makes it, at first glance, very different from what one would expect from a first “Special Project”. While the SP One remains an iconic MB&F piece, its overall classic elegance does not deviate from the unconventional, almost futuristic aesthetic of MB&F’s earlier creations.

SP One design: classic, elegant – but still MB&F?
This is largely due to the fact that the SP One design sketch was first conceived in 2018, with the clear goal of creating an elegant and classic timepiece. Originally codenamed “Triple Rings”, the MB&F SP One’s core design concept also reflects the three key elements of a mechanical watch: barrel, balance wheel and dial, and the three core elements of the SP One share the same circumference. This construction also shows the charm of the SP One: its hollow design allows the wearer to clearly observe the power transmission of the movement through the sapphire crystal mirror. Patek Philippe replica watches

The energy stored in the barrel is slowly released, driving the gear train, and finally reaching the escapement and balance wheel, which regulate the constant rate of the watch. The front and back of the watch are made of two layers of sapphire crystal mirrors, so even if the watch is turned over, the movement can be clearly seen. In addition to the movement with a 72-hour power reserve, you can also admire the hand-chamfered and polished gears and bridges, which are treated with ruthenium coating to present a smoky gray beauty. It is worth mentioning that the movement consists of 191 independent parts and is manually wound.

From an aesthetic point of view, the innovation of this watch undoubtedly draws on the classic design of the LM series. The iconic features of this series mainly include the round case, the inclined dial with Roman numerals, the low-frequency movement of 2.5 Hz, and the equally important round bridge, on which the flying balance wheel unique to each Legacy Machine watch is mounted. MB&F SP One inherits the elements such as the round case, the 2.5 Hz vibration frequency (18,000 times per hour) and the inclined dial with black DLC coating, but the main difference from the design concept of the LM series is that it uses an open barrel instead of a hidden barrel. replica luxury watches

MB&F's thinnest case yet
To provide a delicate frame for the complex mechanism and the sapphire crystals on both sides, the case (available in platinum or 18k rose gold, depending on the model) almost completely disappears into the background. At just 12mm thick, the SP One is the thinnest watch MB&F has ever produced, and its 38mm diameter makes it look discreet on the wrist. Although the SP One case has no bezel, the inner ring is a different color depending on the case version: light blue for the platinum model and gray for the rose gold model. In addition, the case, which is composed of 19 individual parts, is water-resistant to 3 bar (30 meters).

Criticism of the MB&F SP One
However, this new product, which is so different from the brand's previous works, can't help but raise questions: when did MB&F start to care about elegance? So it's no surprise that criticism has emerged on social media - both for the watch itself and the concept behind it. At the heart of the discussion was the suggestion that the watch was perhaps deliberately created to promote accessibility and lower the bar for design, which could lead to an increase in production and thus weaken the brand's image. replica Porsche Design 1919 watches

In addition, some have pointed out that the SP One could mark a turning point in MB&F's design direction - an attempt to appeal to a wider target audience. This criticism was highlighted in particular by the watch blog ScrewDownCrown. MB&F responded explicitly by stating that the new model will not lead to a significant increase in production between 2024 and 2026, with the stated goal of achieving "same turnover as in 2023". According to ScrewDownCrown, the planned annual production of the SP One is around 60 units.

At the same time, some have countered that the SP One - despite being the first watch in the new Special Projects collection - is not intended to define style, nor to set the blueprint for future models in the collection, according to MB&F. Instead, Special Projects is about launching watches that deliberately do not fit into existing collections, while at the same time reflecting an open attitude towards form and fantasy. Ultimately, the impression remains: even if the SP One is not a repositioning of MB&F’s creative vision, its form and design seem an attempt to broaden the brand’s appeal beyond existing collector circles without expanding production.



The MB&F SP One watch is paired with a calfskin strap and a buckle in either platinum or rose gold. replica Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59