We had a good look at the new MB&F HM12 The Guardian recently when Max Büsser and his team visited and presented us with this novelty.
Here are our hands-on first impressions, with video and our photography.
New and reviewed: MB&F HM12 The Guardian
The MB&F HM12 The Guardian will retail at CHF 280,000 + VAT / SGD 489,000 inclusive of GST.
Video introductions
We begin with Charris Yadigarouglou, Head of Marketing Communication, as he presents to us, the HM12 The Guardian.
Having introduced the concept that the HM12 The Guardian is not only a watch, but what MB&F calls a horological concept. The wristwatch is only a part of the story, but here, Max goes back to his roots. To his childhood, and the first manifestation of this robot clock object in the Melchior, the first MB&F collaboration with L’Epée back in 2015. The concept is to place the watch as the head of a robot, which articulates. One arm carrying a loupe and the other a torchlight to illuminate.
The watch – the HM12
First the watch. Like many MB&F creations, the watch sports an unusual shape. Head on, directly, it looks like the face. And as it is intended to be the head of the robot, it is laid out to give the impression of a mechanical face. The time is shown on two rotating donut shaped discs, the left is the instantaneous jumping hours, and the right eye shows the trailing minutes. A fixed pointer marks the time. On the forehead is the flying tourbillon cage with three arms. And as its mouth, the signature MB&F battle axe rotor.
Extending as ears are two crowns. The right ear/crown is the conventional crown, with timesetting and hand-winding. And the left ear/crown activates a set of plates to shield the face. These plates are colour coded with the rest of the robot’s body, in either blue as shown, or in green or purple. Max tells us that this is a complication on its own right, comprising of 200 components working together at a level of complexity that exceeds complete mechanical watches. No doubt, the experience gathered with a similar structure found on the HM6’s spherical shield over its tourbillon has helped.
The sprout from the face’s cheeks. The upper lug at 12 o’clock are articulating and enables the rather large watch (49.3mm x 43.6mm) to wrap around even smaller wrists rather comfortably. And the lower one is fixed to ensure that it can clip home on the robot. The straps are fitted with a quick release system to enable lugs to lock on to the clipping points. The case is in Grade 5 titanium.
As seen below, the watch is rather large, and has quite the presence even on the palm of my hand, as it does on the wrist. Wrist shot is shown below.
The flying toubilllon has a cage with three arms, each cylindrical in shape, and finished in a high polish. The upper surface where the arms meet holds the gold chaton with the shock absorber for the tourbillon, is black polished.
The movement is the developed entirely in house, and has a power reserve of 84 hours. The component count is 646 (including the shield mechanism), most of which are hand finished, including the 86 jewels.
From the display case back, other than the unusual form shape, the movement is very classical. The bridges are finished in a grained surface, with chamfers which appear polished. Holding the tourbillon cage is the rear bridge, which is a polished cylindrical shape with aesthetically pointed ends. The bridge looks like a spear with two points. The canon pinion is held with a two arm bridge, whose arms are cylindrical and polished. The rotor is also of note as it features a guilloché on a curved dome surface executed by Kari Voutilainen.
The robot – The Guardian
Then the robot. Known as The Guardian, its role is to guard the watch when not worn. But is is more than just a stand. It is shaped like the robot’s body with two articulating arms. When the watch is clipped in, the robot looks complete, and ready for battle. Especially with the shield closed.
The chest of the robot holds a mechanical thermometer, and on its right arm it holds a shield which contains a loupe. And the left arm carries a torch with UV capability which can not only illuminate the robot for closer examination, but also activates the SuperLumiNova on both the watch and robot itself. Quite a spectacle.
The robot stands on a pedestal with a hidden drawer to store the straps which have been removed to attach the watch to the head.
Concluding thoughts
On the wrist, the HM12 is certainly an amazing piece to wear. It is light, thanks to the titanium case construction. But its size is somewhat imposing. Though comfort on my 180mm flat wrists is very good, as the upper lugs articulate to wrap around the wrist. For otherwise shaped or smaller wrists, your mileage may vary. The strap is a modern velcro number, and looks like it is finished in canvas.
This is a unique watch, with a very creative take that only MB&F has managed. The final product is beautiful. The story telling compelling. You may have noted that I have left out the Competitive Landscape section. This is intentional. There is simply no competition for a product like the HM12 The Guardian. Certainly, aspects of it is not new. From the Breguet Symphatique to the Louis Vuitton De Bethune, this concept of resting a watch in a built for purpose night stand is not new. But this is where any semblance of similarity ends. The Breguet and LV had a symbiotic relationship between watch and clock stand. The HM12 Guardian is not equipped with a movement of any kind, but with ann execution which is clear and fully in line with the MB&F story and vision of robots and toys and science fiction. And here is where MB&F is untouchable. The blending of traditional, classical watchmaking with the wild imagination of Max Büsser. Perfect for boys and their toys.
Further thoughts
This is truly a magnificent piece. The concept of the watch plus stand is taken to its extreme, with the imagination of Max Büsser, now ably assisted by new Creative Director Maximilian Maertens. Maertens haven collaborating with MB&F for several years, and until HM12, his work is mostly on the MB&F objects created with L’Epée and Reuge. Here the robot is no doubt the work of Maertens, but he is also the creative force behind the design of the watch. Here is Max to tell us what is in store from MB&F for their third decade.
In my discussion with Max Büsser, it appears that the next generation of MB&F, is already in place. The Creative Team, the Communications Team as well as the Sales & Marketing Teams all have succession plans firmly developed. The Maison now has in-house movement design and full manufacture capability while still leveraging on partners where it makes sense. It has a fully developed and active ecosystem. We wish MB&F all the very best on their third decade.
MB&F HM12 The Guardian Specifications
HM12 is crafted in three editions of 12 pieces each: Green, Blue and Purple
Movement In house automatic movement, double winding rotor * Flying tourbillon * Instantaneous jumping hours * Trailing minutes * Shield function * Power reserve: 84 hours * 646 components * 86 jewels
Case Grade 5 titanium * 84 components * Super-LumiNova highlights * Mobile lugs at 12 o’clock * Fixed lugs at 6 o’clock * Three sapphire crystals, top, bottom, and at 12 o’clock with view on the tourbillon * Dimensions: Length 49,3 mm, Width 43,6 mm, Height 13,8 mm
Strap Quick release system to detach the watch and mount it on the Guardian * 20 mm lug width * 20 mm buckle * Velcro fastening
Guardian robot * Development by L’Epée 1839 * Mechanical thermometer * 755 components * Integrated magnifying glass on right arm (shield) * Integrated UV torch on left arm * Strap stored in drawer within the robot base * Dimensions including base: diameter 22 cm x height 38,2 cm * Weight including base: approx. 15 kg
