MB&F M.A.D.Gallery, Geneva

Location

Geneva, Switzerland

Address

11 Rue Verdaine, 1204 Geneva

Opened

2011

Type

Gallery

Official website ↗

History of the gallery

MB&F, short for Maximilian Büsser and Friends, was founded in Geneva in 2005 by Maximilian Büsser. Before starting his own brand, Büsser worked at Jaeger-LeCoultre from 1991 and then headed Harry Winston Rare Timepieces from 1998 to 2005, where he created the Opus series of complicated watches developed together with independent watchmakers.

In 2011 MB&F opened the first M.A.D.Gallery on Rue Verdaine, in the heart of Geneva's old town. MB&F describes it as its first artistic space. The name stands for "Mechanical Art Devices". The idea reflects the way Büsser views his own watches: in MB&F's words they are made to tell time, but not only to tell time, and are meant as three-dimensional kinetic art. The gallery was created as a platform to show these pieces next to mechanical and kinetic works by creators the company admires. Today MB&F lists two M.A.D.Galleries on its official website: the original in Geneva and a second one in Dubai.

What you can see

The gallery combines several kinds of objects:

• MB&F Machines – the brand's sculptural watches, including the Horological Machines, which grew out of the concept-watch approach Büsser developed during the Harry Winston Opus years.
• MB&F Co-Creations – objects MB&F has developed together with other makers, which the official site lists alongside the Machines.
• Curated mechanical art – works by outside creators selected for their mechanics and movement. MB&F's list of curated artists includes, among others, Frank Buchwald, Quentin Carnaille, Reuge, Utinam, Laikingland, The Swinging Sticks and Wonder Machines by Jeff Lieberman.

The selection on display changes over time, and the official website does not say which artists are shown at which gallery. Because it is a gallery rather than a historical museum, there is no fixed permanent collection with catalogued highlights.

Why it matters for watch collectors

MB&F is one of the best-known independent brands to come out of Geneva since the mid-2000s. The company is deliberately small: Büsser has capped its headcount at around 20 people, and production is counted in the hundreds of watches rather than thousands. As a result, MB&F pieces are rarely seen in ordinary retail, and the M.A.D.Gallery is one of the few places where they can be viewed in person together with the brand's design philosophy.

For owners and collectors, the gallery also shows how MB&F positions its watches: as kinetic objects between horology and art. Seeing the Machines next to non-watch mechanical sculptures, music boxes and kinetic objects makes that idea concrete and helps explain why the brand's designs depart so strongly from traditional cases and dials. It is also useful context for the wider Geneva independent scene, where small brands often work with outside watchmakers and designers on individual projects.

Visiting

The M.A.D.Gallery Geneva is at 11 Rue Verdaine, 1204 Geneva, in the old town on the left bank of the Rhône. It is listed by Switzerland Tourism as a visitor experience. Geneva's city center is well served by trams and buses, and the main railway station is Genève-Cornavin.

Opening hours according to the official MB&F website (as of 2026):

• Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 to 18:30
• Saturday: 10:00 to 17:00

The official page does not list Sunday or Monday hours. Hours can change, so please check the official website before your visit.

Related brands

• MB&F

Opening hours, prices and exhibitions change. Please check the official website before your visit.

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