Introducing the MB&F LM Perpetual in Steel

March 21, 2023

Since its launch in 2015, MB&F's incredibly three-dimensional Legacy Machine (LM) Perpetual has come in a lot of metals. Red gold, platinum, white gold, titanium, yellow gold, and palladium have all made an appearance. And while it might seem like they worked backward to the most obvious, the brand is announcing today that for the first time, you can now get a taste of LM Perpetual in stainless steel, with a tasty salmon dial to boot. The fully integrated 581-component caliber designed by independent Irish watchmaker Stephen McDonnell remains the same, a selling point for a watch that has been designed to be foolproof and trouble-free, unlike many perpetual calendars that can be finicky and even dangerous to adjust at the wrong time. More impressive, as always, is the visual architecture of the movement, with suspended balance and open dial with much of the gearing hidden under the dial plate. This time it's the combination of that dial plate, in salmon, with the stainless steel case that's going to have a lot of MB&F fans running to grab their wallets. Over the last 18 years, MB&F has rarely crafted cases in stainless steel and only once done a salmon (pink-hued) dial, but they're not oblivious to the cult following of the combination of salmon and steel. Some of the most highly sought-after vintage watches come in that exact dial and case combination and for good reason C it just looks so damn good.? The case measures 44mm wide and due to the three-dimensional architecture and domed-sapphire crystal, a whopping 17.5mm thick. But that's never stopped buyers before. Even better for collectors, the watch won't be a limited edition, just limited by production constraints. So if you have $180,000 handy, get in line. What We Think It's always difficult to say much about a watch that's been around for a while that is both incredibly successful and has gotten what amounts to a minor facelift. But it's even harder when the whole thing is just such an obvious success and hit as this release. Steel and salmon, what more could you want? For fans of MB&F, this is one of those "run, don't walk" watches. I'm much more inclined to MB&F's LM line than their Horological Machines and while basically every other LM Perpetual has seemed perfectly great to me in the past, this feels like a release I didn't know I've been waiting for. Well, that and winning the lottery so I could buy one. For all the eye-rolling people might have at the thickness of this watch on paper, if you take a look at the watch's relatively thin midcase from the side you can understand how it would still wear comfortably on the wrist. And while steel might have made more sense on paper in the brand's EVO "sports" line, the play of the enamel dials against the salmon and steel looks so much better. The fact that this isn't a limited-edition release is the ultimate way to thank fans of the brand. No one needs to fight for an allocation. If you have the cash, all you have to do is wait your turn. I just hope that they'll still be making it in 30 years when I've saved up enough money to buy one. The Basics Brand: MB&FModel: Legacy Machine PerpetualDiameter: 44mmThickness: 17.5mmCase Material: SteelDial Color: SalmonIndexes: Ring-shaped enamel subdials with black numeralsLume: NoneWater Resistance: 30m Strap/Bracelet: Black, grey, brown, or blue hand-stitched alligator strap with stainless steel folding buckle matching case material. The Movement Caliber: Fully integrated perpetual calendar developed for MB&F by Stephen McDonnellFunctions: Hours, minutes, day, date, month, retrograde leap year and power reserve indicatorPower Reserve: 72 hoursWinding: ManualFrequency: 18,000 beats/hourJewels: 41Additional Details: 581 components. Dial-side complication and mechanical processor system architecture with inbuilt safety mechanism. Manual winding with double mainspring barrels. Bespoke 14 mm balance wheel with traditional regulating screws visible on top of the movement. Finishing throughout respecting 19th-century style; internal bevel angles; polished bevels; Geneva waves; hand-made engravings. Pricing & Availability Price: $180,000Availability: ImmediatelyLimited Edition: No but limited production Shop this story To learn more visit MB&F.