MB&F’s connection to cars runs deep, starting in 2012 with the HM5, followed by the HMX in 2015, and the HM8 in 2016. A decade after the first automotive-inspired MB&F Machines, get ready for the reveal of the latest HM8 Mark 2, the most technologically evolved model to date. The HM8 Mark 2 finds inspiration in different sources, such as the iconic Porsche 918 Spyder for the shape of the body, and the Zagato double bubble for the sapphire crystal.
The HM5 and HM8 Mark 2 are built from an independent water-resistant chassis to which the body panels of the watch are added, while the HMX and HM8 favoured a monobloc construction. For the new HM8 Mark 2, this coachwork comes in a choice of white or British racing green CarbonMacrolon® that has a matt finish on the top and a high polish on the sides. The white version is paired with a green CVD rotor and light green minute markers, while the British racing green version comes with a red gold rotor and balance wheel and turquoise minute markers and is limited to 33 pieces.
Developed specifically for MB&F, CarbonMacrolon® is a composite material composed of a polymer matrix injected with carbon nanotubes, which add strength, rigidity and weighs eight times less than steel. In addition, the creation of this double-curved sapphire has reached a complexity that is 30 to 40 times more expensive than a dome sapphire. The battle axe rotor that powers the movement is incredibly complex to make as one of the 22-carat gold blades is only two-tenths of a millimetre thick. The timepiece also features a brand-new type of crown that has a sort of “double de-clutch” system that works by pushing the crown in and turning it three-quarters of a turn to release it.
