MB&F Horological Machine N°11 Art Deco – Watch architecture inspired by the 1930s
With the Horological Machine N°11 (HM11) launched in 2023, MB&F redefined the very concept of haute horlogerie. A true piece of wearable architecture, this creation by Maximilian Büsser and designer Eric Giroud draws inspiration from the organic neo-futuristic curves of the 1960s and 1970s.
In 2025, MB&F opened a new chapter with the HM11 Art Deco, a reinterpretation by Maximilian Maertens, drawing on the geometric and graphic aesthetics of the 1930s. This limited edition celebrates MB&F’s 20th anniversary and takes the HM11 into a new artistic dimension.
HM11 Architect: the watch designed as a miniature house
According to Le Corbusier, “A house is a machine for living in.” MB&F applies this philosophy to the letter with the HM11 Architect, where the case becomes a veritable micro-house.
Around a central atrium dominated by a flying tourbillon under a double-domed sapphire crystal, four symmetrical “rooms” each house a function:
- Time display
- Power reserve
- Mechanical thermometer
- Time setting
The rotating case transforms the way it is used: a 45° rotation recharges the watch for 72 minutes, and ten full rotations provide 96 hours of power reserve. A unique tactile gesture that connects the owner directly to the mechanism.
Made from grade 5 titanium (42 mm), the case features a complex architecture:
- curved walls
- superimposed sapphire domes
- large crown designed as a watertight airlock with multiple seals
The proprietary manual movement, equipped with a central flying tourbillon and laser-cut steel springs derived from aeronautics, provides a spectacular technical signature. The original HM11 already established a strong identity: halfway between a watch and a habitable structure.
HM11 Art Deco: the vertical momentum and geometry of the 1930s
The HM11 Art Deco retains the architecture of the HM11 Architect but adopts an entirely new visual language, inspired by the Art Deco style of New York skyscrapers and early 20th-century Parisian cinemas.
A profoundly revisited design
- The hour dial features sunburst-style radiating patterns, openworked to improve readability.
- The displays are enhanced with two-tone rings and Art Deco typography.
- The hands, coated with translucent red enamel, create a unique stained-glass effect.
- The bridges adopt vertical shapes reminiscent of the ornamental masonry of the architecture of the period.
- The grooved sapphire crystal roof evokes the stepped silhouettes of the Chrysler Building.
- The redesigned tourbillon bridge extends the plate to provide perfect continuity.
- The crown itself is inspired by the layered aesthetic of superimposed posters from the 1930s.
The whole offers a bold vertical thrust, like a miniature Art Deco skyline.
Architect vs. Art Deco: two visions, one philosophy
Placed side by side, the two versions of the HM11 express two different worlds:
- HM11 Architect: soft curves, organic inspirations, the sensoriality of the 1970s.
- HM11 Art Deco: clean lines, bold geometry, assertive architectural presence.
However, both share the same founding idea: a Horological Machine designed to be experienced, not just worn.
Limited editions – HM11 Art Deco (2025)
To celebrate 20 years of MB&F, the HM11 Art Deco is available in grade 5 titanium, in two limited series of 10 pieces each (20 pieces in total):
- Blue version
- Blue dial
- 3N yellow gold bridges
- White lizard strap
- Green version
- Green dial
- 5N rose gold bridges
- Beige lizard strap
