MB&F HOROLOGICAL MACHINE N°10 « BULLDOG »

Like a man’s relationship with his dog, a man’s relationship with his watch is full of subtleties. Some last for years and even decades, shaping lives and stories. Sometimes the watch chooses its owner as much as vice versa. After all, whether it’s the first time or the hundredth, something special happens when you set eyes on THE one. The same goes for the one we call man’s best friend. Introducing Horological Machine N°10 “Bulldog”.

A chunky, rounded body in titanium, rose gold or bead-blasted stainless steel with black PVD treatment, combined with a healthy dose of sapphire. Two prominent aluminum display “eyes” that turn towards anyone who dares cross their path. A double studded collar for winding the watch or setting the time. Sturdy but bendable “legs” that cling firmly to the wrist. Huge jaws. And above all, a large heart beating steadily at a frequency of 2.5Hz (18,000bph).

Like the creature that gives it its name, the HM10 Bulldog is more complex than it looks. Its articulated jaws open and close according to the amount of energy available in the barrel. A fully closed mouth indicates that the Bulldog is unloaded and ready for a nap. If you can clearly make out the gleaming teeth aligned on the jaws, get ready… the “Bulldog” is full of vitality, with 45 hours of autonomy. This imposing power reserve indicator has been carefully designed and calibrated to consume as little energy as possible, allowing the HM10 Bulldog to direct most of the torque to the suspended balance and the rotating hour and minute domes.

Conceived and developed in-house, the HM10 Bulldog’s manual-winding motor exploits the best of MB&F’s technical know-how acquired over the years: long-standing members of the tribe will recognize elements closely linked to the watchmaking laboratory’s most prized creations. The large suspended balance wheel hovering just below the central sapphire dome derives from the various versions featured in the Legacy Machine collection. The large jaws that indicate the level of winding of the barrel manifest, in a much more extensive way, the mastery of power reserve initially expressed in the 2014 LM1 Xia Hang. The paper-thin aluminum domes were created for the HM3 Frog and perfected for 2014’s HM6. As for the grid patterns visible under the balance wheel, they evoke the automotive aesthetics of the HM8, HMX and HM5. Overall, the message is clear: the HM10 Bulldog is an extremely racy machine.

Despite its large size – 45 mm wide, 54 mm from nose to tail and a maximum thickness of 24 mm – the HM10 Bulldog is surprisingly easy to wear. It fits snugly on the wrist thanks to articulated “lugs” that attach to the calfskin leather strap – closed by a folding buckle or Velcro system – which is as strong as a good-quality dog leash. The HM10 Bulldog is assembled with expert micromechanical know-how. In order to fit the components of the regulating organ and display into such a small three-dimensional space, while preserving the artistic perfection of the finishes, careful attention must be paid to the balance between technology and aesthetics.

MB&F has always enjoyed a loyal clientele, and the HM10 Bulldog gives back in spades: it speaks privately to its owner. The time and power reserve indications are visible only to the wearer.

Finally, on the body of the Horological Machine N°10 “Bulldog”, there’s a message engraved for those who cross its path, a sort of warning like you might find on the collar of a feisty dog. The animal may be intimidating, but in the end, it obeys another. We’d do well to remember this – “Forget the dog, beware of the owner”.

For its launch, MB&F’s Horological Machine N°10 “Bulldog” is available in two editions: a grade 5 titanium body with blue “eyes”, and a titanium and rose gold body with black “eyes”.
In 2022, HM10 Bulldog adds 3 ‘Dark Bulldog’ references, 3 versions limited to 8 pieces each:
– Micro-blasted stainless steel with black PVD coating and black “eyes
– Sand-blasted stainless steel with black PVD coating and blue “eyes
– Bead-blasted stainless steel with black PVD coating and red “eyes

SOURCES OF INSPIRATION FOR THE HM10 BULLDOG

The concept came to Maximilian Büsser while he was traveling in Japan: the idea of the HM10 Bulldog emerged like a faithful puppy greeting its master’s return.

Maximilian Büsser explains: “What you see in front of you is pretty much what I saw at the time. And it was the first time I really visualized a watch, just like that.”

The HM10 Bulldog brings together several themes and influences that fans of the brand will recognize immediately. It’s clear that the watch is both a reflection of MB&F and a tribute to the loyalty of its followers. The expression “stubborn as a bulldog” reflects MB&F’s determination to follow an unconventional path, far removed from the usual concepts, with creations that sometimes divide the watchmaking community. In the same spirit, the English bulldog is a dog of breed and character, but it doesn’t appeal to everyone.

The Latin root of the word animal, anima, designates the soul or spirit, the principle of life. It’s no wonder that MB&F creations inspired by the animal world – such as the Horological Machine N°3 “Frog” and the Horological Machine N°7 “Aquapod” – are among those that have provoked the strongest reactions. With its large eyes, expressive articulated mouth and highlighted heart, the HM10 Bulldog echoes their evocative style.

MORE ON THE HM10 ENGINE

The mechanics driving the Horological Machine N°10 “Bulldog” are completely new, yet very familiar. The HM10 motor, entirely designed and developed in-house, is a synthesis of various technical know-how perfected by MB&F over the years.

The fascinating suspended balance, which beats at the traditional frequency of 2.5Hz (18,000bph) under the central sapphire dome, first appeared in an in-house creation in 2011, with the launch of the Legacy Machine N°1. Since then, this difficult-to-make mechanism has become an MB&F emblem: it features in most Legacy Machines, in the Horological Machine N°9 and now in the HM10 Bulldog.

Powerful and surprising, the rotating domes that display the time on the HM10 Bulldog have their origins in the conical hour and minute modules of the first Horological Machine N°3, the creation that cemented MB&F’s reputation as a disruptive brand. The cones later adopted a domed shape in the HM3 Frog, when it was necessary to make the elements as light as possible, a pressing necessity in order to minimize stress on the rest of the engine. By modifying traditional milling processes, it was possible to produce ultra-thin, three-dimensional aluminum components to tolerances reduced to the thickness of a sheet of paper. Domes were later used again in the Horological Machine N°6, this time combined with a bevel gear to produce a high-precision display.

The 301-component HM10 motor is a single-barrel, hand-wound movement with a 45-hour power reserve, indicated by the opening and closing of the external articulated jaws. While traditional indicators use a simple hand to consume a minimum of energy, the HM10 Bulldog’s indicator has a personality that’s impossible to ignore. Two separate crowns, positioned towards the rear of the HM10 Bulldog’s body, ensure winding and time setting.