Geneva Watch Days has become one of the most important events on the watchmaking calendar, and Revolution has all the latest news and releases. Find our expert coverage and more here on the site, on Instagram and Youtube.
The Low-Down
MB&F has just unveiled the brand-new Legacy Machine Split Escapement EVO. The Legacy Machine Split Escapement that was first designed and conceived by master watchmaker Stephen McDonnell in 2015 was warmly welcomed by MB&F fans as one of the Legacy Machine collection’s most eye-catching and technically intriguing additions.
As he wanted to display both the flying balance wheel and the escapement prominently at the center of the dial, McDonnell devised an ingenious solution – a balance staff.
The Legacy Machine’s balance staff is the longest one ever made, and traverses the entire movement. It takes its middle name, ‘Split Escapement’, from McDonnell’s witty idea of moving the anchor and escape wheel to the back of the movement. Indeed, McDonnell had split the escapement and left his large balance wheel fleeting alone on the top of the movement.
The movement in question is the manual-winding, 298-component movement invented by McDonnell that stores 72 hours of power reserve in double barrels.
What’s ‘EVO’, you might ask? Fans of MB&F might be familiar with the EVO case that has been used in the Legacy Machine Perpetual EVO; in the Legacy Machine Sequential EVO, which is the first-ever chronograph; and also in the UAE Golden Jubilee Legacy Machine Split Escapement EVO, which was limited to 10 pieces.
IMHO
My favourite innovation of this beautiful timepiece is its date-setting push button, which McDonnell engineered as an idiot-proof way for anyone to set the date without any possibility of accidentally damaging the movement.
This latest evolution of the Legacy Machine is similar to the preceding LM Split Escapement, albeit rotated 60 degrees clockwise and relaunched with a pastel blue or black dial. Pastel blue is a dial color that is growing increasingly popular with watch collectors.
The curved ergonomic lugs of this new timepiece fit the wrist better than the lugs of its predecessor. It also has a minimally thin bezel, so that we can admire its dial from more angles.
The Legacy Machine Split Escapement EVO is available in two versions. Besides this grade 5 titanium case with a pastel blue baseplate and dark grey dials version, it also comes in a Beverly Hills edition that has a black baseplate and blue dials instead, and is limited to 25 pieces.
If you’d like to see the brand-new MB&F LM Split Escapement Evo in action, keep an eye on Revolution’s Instagram profile as we’ll be posting videos today!
As if that wasn’t enough, MB&F will be opening an MB&F Lab in Raffles Hotel in Singapore in mid-September. Themed on a new experiential concept that immerses visitors in the technicality and beauty of MB&F creations, the first-ever MB&F Labs boutiques will open in Raffles Hotel, Singapore and Beverly Hills, California.
Tech Specs
Movement: Movement developed for MB&F by Stephen McDonnell; 298 components; 35 jewels; 72- hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, date, flying balance wheel, power reserve display, push-button next to the date dial for quick adjustment of the date
Case: 44mm; Grade 5 Titanium; water resistant to 80m
Dial: Pastel blue or black
Strap: Integrated rubber
