Our Take

Max Büsser and MB&F have miraculously found a way to catch lightning in a bottle over and over again. With every Horological Machine, the brand pushes the limits of creativity to surprise collectors with avant-garde designs and ultra-complicated watchmaking. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to present one of these timepieces, the Horological Machine 6 “Space Pirate” in titanium.

Coined “Space Pirate” for good reason, this is a timepiece that feels more like a miniature spaceship than anything else. Every aspect of HM6 defies conventions in watchmaking – the rectangular case with five apertures on the dial-side, the separate presentation of hours, minutes, and tourbillon, as well as the unusual turbine rotors for the automatic movement. The telltale of this timepiece’s design innovation (as is the case with many MB&F timepieces) is that it is very difficult to describe to someone without visual reference. Eyes grasp what words struggle to convey.

While the design of the HM6 is what draws us in, its amazing case in particular, the most spectacular aspect of this timepiece is the mechanical movement. A huge engineering feat for MB&F, this is one of MB&F’s most complicated calibers with 475 components and the first flying tourbillon for the brand. With such complexity, there’s immense attention to detail and ultra-tight tolerances on manufacturing of every component. The hour and minute hemispheres are paper-thin to ensure there’s enough torque from the mainspring barrels to see them move. Conical gears are required to properly transfer energy vertically given the three-dimensionality of the movement. Even the turbines are crafted in such a way that the curved fins create enough air resistance to ensure that they do not spin with excessive force in wear.

This is a spaceship on the wrist, not merely for its aesthetics, but because it feels closer in complexity to rocket science than traditional timekeeping. Produced between 2014 and 2016, this version of the HM6 is limited to 50 pieces.

The Details

Case: Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5) titanium

Dimensions: 49.5 x 52.3 x 20.4 mm

Engine

• Three-dimensional horological engine developed exclusively for HM6 by MB&F with David Candaux
• Flying Tourbillon with retractable shield and twin aluminium turbines driven by winding rotor
• Power reserve: 72h
• 475 components / 68 jewels (Alien Nation 496 components / 68 jewels) / 72h power reserve

Functions / Indications

• Hours and minutes on separate semi-spherical aluminium indications
• Crown to open/close tourbillon shield

Sapphire Crystals

• 10 sapphire crystals: 9 domed (4 for the hour and minute indications, 4 for the turbines, 1 for the tourbillon) and one flat (display back); 2 additional sapphire crystal plates for the SV and Alien Nation editions; and additional case band in sapphire crystal for the Alien Nation.