Anything related to watches is like a serious game, isn’t it? But what if some fun is sprinkled into this serious affair? Well, leave it to the Swiss to do just that. The watchmaker that takes it mechanics seriously, MB&F, has stepped into a unique direction for their latest watch game, bringing something exuberant and heart-touching.
Back in 2021, Max Büsser introduced the affordable M.A.D.1 model. Now, this is still an MB&F product but developed by M.A.D. Editions. Initially, it was designed as a token of appreciation priced at a fraction of the usual tag. But in 2022, the second M.A.D.1 Red hit the markets, this time reaching a wider audience.
Fast forward to today, M.A.D. Editions has collaborated with the legendary French fashion designer, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, to create the first-ever limited-edition M.A.D.1 ‘Time to Love’ model, which is limited to 999 pieces.
Just like its predecessors, M.A.D.1 ‘Time to Love’ comes in a sleek 42mm stainless steel case. It’s powered by the same modified Miyota 821A automatic movement, flipping the traditional watch design upside down, just like MB&F loves to do.
Mr. Castelbajac, however, infused the watch with his animatable spirit, adding splashes of vibrant colors that are a signature of this designer – red for passion, blue for hope, and yellow for warmth. He, in fact, wrote the numbers on the hour and minute rings of the watch by hand.
The newly-engineered rotor features angel wings, where one of the wings is heavier than the other two to optimize spinning. Other details include a quote from the artist in French on the dial: “Ce trésor rare et précieux, c’est ta vie. Le temps vole de ses ailes blanches. Tu es le gardien de ton temps” (“This rare and precious treasure is your life. Time flies with its white wings. You are the guardian of your time”). The crown features an engraving of an angel talking to the moon, a recurring theme in his art creations. Each timepiece comes with two straps – black and white – embroidered with ‘Time to Love’.
MB&F founder Maximilian Büsser has been an admirer of the artist’s pop designs for many years: “Jean-Charles de Castelbajac represents five decades of creativity. Very early on, he was able to create a unique voice and style, then over the years pivot, reinvent himself, and challenge the status quo. Today, at the age of 74, his message of love and life is more than ever an example for the new generation.”
A portion of the M.A.D.1 watches will be reserved for MB&F’s Tribe members and Friends, while half of the production will be available to the public through a raffle which is ending on April 17, 2024. The watch will retail at a very affordable pre-tax price of CHF 3,200 (approx. US$ 3,600). Deliveries will take place from April to September 2024.
