Artist editions
MB&F Legacy Machine N°1 Xia Hang
In 2014 MB&F gave its Legacy Machine N°1 a tiny figure by Chinese sculptor Xia Hang as power reserve indicator. Only 24 pieces were made.
- Year
- 2014
- Artist
- Xia Hang
- Brand
- MB&F
- Edition size
- 24 pieces (12 red gold, 12 white gold)
- Reference
- 52.RL.W, 52.WL.W
MB&F LM1 Xia Hang at a glance
The LM1 Xia Hang is a version of MB&F's Legacy Machine N°1, presented in early 2014. On the regular LM1, a small vertical gauge shows the power reserve. On this edition, a 4 mm figure called "Mr. Up / Mr. Down" does the job. It sits upright when the watch is fully wound and slumps forward as the power runs down.
The artist
Xia Hang was born in 1978 in Shenyang, China. He studied at the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts and earned a master's degree from the sculpture department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. He works mainly in polished stainless steel and is known for his playful "comma men". His sculptures are shown at the M.A.D.Gallery, MB&F's art space in Geneva, which is how the collaboration began. MB&F lists the watch in its "Performance Art" category.
Design and details
- Case: 18k red gold or 18k white gold, 44 mm wide and 16 mm high, with a high-domed sapphire crystal.
- Dials: two white lacquered sub-dials with Roman numerals and blued gold hands, each showing its own time zone.
- Balance: a 14 mm balance wheel floating above the dial.
- Figure: polished aluminium with a hidden hinge, designed by Xia Hang.
- Movement: hand-wound, 274 parts, 45-hour power reserve, developed by Jean-François Mojon and Chronode, with finishing defined by Kari Voutilainen.
- Extras: each watch came with a pair of signed stainless steel Mr. Up and Mr. Down sculptures, about 15 cm tall.
Edition size and release
The LM1 Xia Hang is limited to 24 pieces: 12 in red gold and 12 in white gold. It was announced in February 2014.
MB&F LM1 Xia Hang on the secondary market
With 24 pieces, this is one of the rarer Legacy Machines. A big part of the value is the full set: the two signed steel sculptures, the MB&F box and papers. A watch without the sculptures is clearly less attractive to collectors. The fragile figure and the lacquered dials should be in perfect order.
How to check an LM1 Xia Hang
- The figure must move between upright and slumped as you wind and the reserve runs down.
- Check the case metal and serial number against the MB&F papers.
- Ask for the two signed Mr. Up and Mr. Down sculptures and check the signatures.
- MB&F can confirm whether a serial number belongs to this edition.
Our guide on how to spot a fake watch explains more checks.
What is your LM1 Xia Hang worth?
Send photos of the watch, the sculptures and the papers for a free watch value estimate. For an estate, a sale or insurance, a written appraisal puts the details and value on record.
Frequently asked questions
How many MB&F LM1 Xia Hang watches were made?
24 pieces: 12 in 18k red gold and 12 in 18k white gold.
What does the Xia Hang figure do?
It is the power reserve indicator. The figure sits upright when the watch is fully wound and slumps as the power reserve runs down.
What comes with an LM1 Xia Hang?
Each watch came with a pair of signed stainless steel Mr. Up and Mr. Down sculptures by Xia Hang, about 15 cm tall.
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