MB&F Horological Machines: HM1 to HM12, history and official videos

Introduced

2007 (HM1)

Founded

MB&F, Geneva, 2005

Latest machine

HM12 The Guardian (June 2026)

Auction result

CHF 620,000 for the HM10 Panda (2021)

What a Horological Machine is

MB&F stands for Maximilian Büsser and Friends. Büsser left corporate watchmaking and founded the company in Geneva in 2005. Its Horological Machines, abbreviated HM, are the brand's concept watches: unusual three-dimensional cases and movements that are developed together with outside watchmakers and designers and made in small series. The first, HM1, launched in 2007. Büsser describes the pieces as kinetic art, and MB&F shows them in its own M.A.D. Gallery, short for Mechanical Art Devices. The Legacy Machines are a separate collection with round cases, first presented in 2011.

The Horological Machines from HM1 to HM12

Each machine has its own number, and many also carry a name. According to the MB&F milestones page the line developed like this:

• HM1 (2007) and HM2 (2008), the first two machines.
• HM3 (2009), with the Frog version following in 2010 and the re-engineered MegaWind in 2013.
• HM4 Thunderbolt (2010), which won Best Concept and Design Watch at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève.
• HM5 (2012), inspired by 1970s supercars.
• HM6 Space Pirate (2014), with a flying tourbillon under a retractable cover and automatic winding by twin turbines.
• HM8 Can-Am (October 2016) and HM7 Aquapod (2017).
• HM9 Flow (2018), a tribute to automotive and aircraft design of the late 1940s and 1950s.
• HM10 Bulldog (2020), whose power reserve is shown by the opening and closing of the bulldog's jaws.
• HM11 Architect (2023), which introduced an architecture theme.
• HM12 The Guardian (June 2026).

Notable machines

The HM4 Thunderbolt was an early success with the jury in Geneva. The HM6 Space Pirate has a rounded, biomorphic case, with hours and minutes on two separate semi-spherical domes. Its turbine winding system was developed in-house for this model, and it received a Red Dot Best of the Best award in 2015. The HM10 Bulldog sits a high central balance wheel under a domed crystal between the hour and minute domes.

The newest machine, the HM12 The Guardian, has a titanium case and a detachable watch head that snaps onto a robot sculpture. WatchTime reports a movement of 646 components with a flying tourbillon, a microrotor and an 84-hour power reserve. The edition is 12 pieces in each of three colors, at a launch price of USD 384,000 plus tax.

Because the machines look so different from one another, always identify the exact HM number, and the version name if there is one, before you think about value. Model names such as Frog, Thunderbolt or Bulldog are a good start, but the engraved edition number and the box and papers confirm it.

What is an MB&F Horological Machine worth?

Production is very small. Wikipedia lists about 350 MB&F pieces made in 2022, across all collections. Value depends on the machine, the edition and case material, the condition, and whether the original box, papers and any accessories are present. Limited editions and unique pieces made for charity attract the most attention. One documented result: the unique HM10 Panda sold for CHF 620,000 at the Only Watch auction run by Christie's in Geneva on 6 November 2021, according to A Blog To Watch. That price reflects a one-off piece made for charity and is not a guide to a regular HM.

Own a Horological Machine? Upload a few photos and get a free value estimate: estimate my MB&F · How much is my watch worth?

Official MB&F Horological Machine videos

All videos come from the official MB&F YouTube channel. They cover machines from HM4 to HM12, including films, design interviews and the HM10 Only Watch pieces.

• MB&F - HM12 The Guardian Movie2026-06-10
• MB&F - HM12 The Guardian - Design Interview2026-06-10
• MB&F - HM11 Art Deco Movie2025-11-18
• MB&F - HM8 Mark 2 Blue2024-04-25
• MB&F - HM11 Architect2024-01-25
• MB&F HM11 "Architect" Might Be The Coolest Watch Yet2023-12-26
• Hands on With My $230,000 Grail Watch | New MB&F HM11 Architect2023-11-15
• MB&F - HM11 Architect 20232023-11-15
• MB&F HM9 Sapphire Vision 20232023-08-24
• MB&F HM8 Mark 22023-06-13
• MB&F : The HM10 Bulldog transforms into a Panda for Only Watch 20212021-09-20
• MB&F : HM10 Panda - Only Watch 20212021-09-20
• MB&F - HM10 Panda for Only Watch 20212021-07-01
• Spectacular HM9 Sapphire Vision by MB&F2021-01-26
• The crazy Horological Machine n°9 Sapphire Vision - MB&F2021-01-21
• "Today We Talk About" : HM92021-01-12
• “Today We Talk About”: HM82020-12-21
• "Today We Talk About": HM7 Aquapod2020-12-21
• MB&F - FrogX - 10th Anniversary piece2020-11-09
• “Today We Talk About”: HM62020-10-01
• Forget the dog, beware of the owner - HM10 Bulldog - MB&F2020-03-24
• MB&F : HM10 Bulldog - Forget the dog, beware of the owner!2020-03-24
• "Today We Talk About": HM52020-02-10
• "Today We Talk About": HM42020-02-10

More MB&F videos, sorted by model: all official MB&F playlists.

SwissWatchExperts is not affiliated with MB&F. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners; the videos are embedded from the official MB&F YouTube channel.

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