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Lot Essay
The stunning Legacy Machine Perpetual is a horological masterpiece that in true MB&F style presents an entirely new concept for one of the most traditional watch complications, the perpetual calendar. A collaboration between MB&F and independent watchmaker Stephen McDonnell, together they rethought the perpetual calendar complication from the ground up in order to develop a system that is both more user friendly and more reliable in operation. The result is not only highly impressive in appearance but it also seamlessly integrates the new perpetual calendar system into MB&F’s Legacy Machine family as a creation of breathtaking three-dimensional beauty. Furthermore, because this new system is constructed in an entirely different way to a conventional perpetual calendar mechanism, it provided the opportunity for MB&F to construct a movement with an aesthetic that was not technically possible before.
The present 18K red gold version is number 14 of a limited edition of 25 pieces, it is offered in extremely fine condition together with the full set of accessories.
The Legacy Machine Perpetual
Other than the standard hours and minutes, the functions of the Legacy Machine Perpetual are: the days of the week, retrograde date, months, retrograde leap-year and power reserve indicators. The real game changer is the entirely in-house manual winding movement powered by two mainspring barrels providing a power reserve of 72 hours. It features 41 jewels and is skeletonized in order to fully appreciate the incredible hand-finishing and to contemplate its fascinating construction. However, the most exciting innovation developed especially for this model is a completely revolutionary ‘mechanical processor’ for the perpetual calendar that uses a totally new system to calculate the number of days in the month based on a 28-day month as its default number of days, it then ‘adds’ extra days for either 30 or 31 as required. The result is a fool-proof system that self-protects itself from incorrect manipulation by automatically deactivating the adjuster pushers when the calendar is changing. The concept of this new perpetual calendar is based upon a series of superimposed discs and a planetary cam which has the added advantage of enabling the inclusion of a quick-set feature for the year so that it can be easily adjusted to display correctly in the four-year cycle. It is this new mechanical system for the perpetual calendar that for the first time allows for the complete skeletonisation of a perpetual calendar movement, never possible before because the construction of a conventional perpetual calendar mechanism would obstruct the available space. Naturally, MB&F have taken full advantage of this new aesthetic freedom so that the chapter rings for the calendar functions of the Legacy Machine Perpetual appear to be ‘floating’ unsupported, an effect that is heightened by the company’s ‘signature’ 14 mm. diameter ‘flying’ balance wheel placed centrally on the top of the movement.
The Legacy Machine Perpetual is another amazing horological first for MB&F and an extremely important watch in the wider technical development of the wristwatch perpetual calendar.
The present 18K red gold version is number 14 of a limited edition of 25 pieces, it is offered in extremely fine condition together with the full set of accessories.
The Legacy Machine Perpetual
Other than the standard hours and minutes, the functions of the Legacy Machine Perpetual are: the days of the week, retrograde date, months, retrograde leap-year and power reserve indicators. The real game changer is the entirely in-house manual winding movement powered by two mainspring barrels providing a power reserve of 72 hours. It features 41 jewels and is skeletonized in order to fully appreciate the incredible hand-finishing and to contemplate its fascinating construction. However, the most exciting innovation developed especially for this model is a completely revolutionary ‘mechanical processor’ for the perpetual calendar that uses a totally new system to calculate the number of days in the month based on a 28-day month as its default number of days, it then ‘adds’ extra days for either 30 or 31 as required. The result is a fool-proof system that self-protects itself from incorrect manipulation by automatically deactivating the adjuster pushers when the calendar is changing. The concept of this new perpetual calendar is based upon a series of superimposed discs and a planetary cam which has the added advantage of enabling the inclusion of a quick-set feature for the year so that it can be easily adjusted to display correctly in the four-year cycle. It is this new mechanical system for the perpetual calendar that for the first time allows for the complete skeletonisation of a perpetual calendar movement, never possible before because the construction of a conventional perpetual calendar mechanism would obstruct the available space. Naturally, MB&F have taken full advantage of this new aesthetic freedom so that the chapter rings for the calendar functions of the Legacy Machine Perpetual appear to be ‘floating’ unsupported, an effect that is heightened by the company’s ‘signature’ 14 mm. diameter ‘flying’ balance wheel placed centrally on the top of the movement.
The Legacy Machine Perpetual is another amazing horological first for MB&F and an extremely important watch in the wider technical development of the wristwatch perpetual calendar.