Introducing the MB&F Horological Machine N°9 ‘Sapphire Vision’

The latest in MB&F’s series of celebratory, colourful releases is the mighty Horological Machine N°9 ‘Sapphire Vision’. First released in 2018, this watch, commonly called the HM9 ‘Flow’ is a watch that, by Max Busser’s own estimation, is powered by the brand’s most beautiful movement to date. Inspired by the aerodynamic lines that dominated plane and automobile design in the 1940s and 50s.

Before we talk about the stunning and complex assembly that is this Sapphire Vision, take a moment or three to indulge the beauty of the HM9 engine. MB&F’s 18th movement is conceived and assembled in house. There are double balances, located in the uppermost hemispheres, operating independently for a stable chronometric rate. At the heart of the movement is the iconic battle-axe, and a single barrel that can hold up to 45 hours of power, and the time display is in the form of a single vertical dial.

Horological Machine N°9 ‘Sapphire Vision’

The working and polishing of the sapphire components take around 350 hours per watch.

The HM9-SV uses a patented three-dimensional rubber gasket in its tripartite case where the sapphire crystal is fused with the metallic frame with the help of a high-tech bonding compound. This makes the watch water resistant up to 30 meters.

The good news is that, with this new version, every millimetre, and most of the 301 components are on full display, thanks to the structurally complex sapphire case, which, at 52 parts is plenty complex on its own. Each of the sapphire components is attached, thanks to an in-house high-tech bonding compound to the metallic ‘frame’ of the case, made from either white or red gold. This bonding process allows for practically invisible joins between metal and sapphire, and water resistance of 3ATM. The working and polishing of the sapphire components takes around 350 hours per watch, and is, of course, virtually scratch-proof.

HM9 Sapphire Vision comes in four editions, each limited to only five pieces: two editions with 18K red gold frame, combined with a NAC-coated black or a PVD-coated blue engine; and two editions with 18K white gold frame, featuring a PVD-coated purple or a red gold plated engine.

MB&F has created a total of 20 of these new HM9 Sapphire Visions, in four editions of five. Two in red gold frames with a NAC-coated black or blue engine and two in white gold with PVD-coated purple or red-gold plated engines. The effect is, as we’ve come to expect from MB&F, stunning.

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Movement

HM9, manual-winding in-house movement; two fully independent balance wheels with planetary differential; frequency 2.5Hz; 45 hours of power reserve; dual spherical turbines under the movement.

Case

SV editions in sapphire crystal with frame in 18K white or red gold (5N+); 57mm x 47mm x 23mm; assembled with a unique process of the three sapphire crystal case parts with a patented three-dimensional gasket and high-tech bonding compound.