MB&F x Emmanuel Tarpin - Legacy Machine FlyingT "Ice" and "Blizzard"

MB&F presented the Legacy Machine FlyingT Ice and Blizzard, developed in collaboration with French jewellery designer Emmanuel Tarpin. Price

MB&F presented the Legacy Machine FlyingT "Ice" and "Blizzard", two limited editions of 8 pieces each that are the result of a new collaboration with young French jewellery designer Emmanuel Tarpin, best known for his unique pieces that combine his love for nature, sculpture and gemstones.

This is the second collaboration within the Legacy Machine FlyingT (where T stands for Tourbillon) collection. The first was with renowned Italian luxury brand Bulgari and produced the Legacy Machine FlyingT Allegra.

The new interpretations of the eminently feminine Legacy Machine FlyingT are developed around a wintery theme and housed in 39 mm x 20 mm cases crafted from white gold.

The first model, called Ice, features asymmetrical diamond-set stalagmites that encroach on the sapphire crystal dome and the movement. Each icy stalagmite is different, replicating the randomness of nature. Tarpin took his inspiration from a trip to Lake Baïkal in Southern Siberia, where in winter the lake freezes from the edge inwards until it is totally frozen. The claws of the diamond stalagmites have not quite claimed the movement and the matt lapis lazuli dial, leaving the beauty of the mechanism and the time visible to the eye.

For the Blizzard model, Tarpin reproduced a blizzard of snow with brilliant-cut diamonds set under the sapphire crystal dome and closed-set diamonds set into the matt lapis lazuli dial, depicting snowflakes on the ground. The result is like a snow globe in motion.

The movement is vertically built along a central axis whose upper end carries the diamond-set 60-second flying tourbillon and the balance. As its name suggests, a flying tourbillon is anchored only at its base, with no stabilising bridge to restrict lateral motion at the top thus offering an unobstructed view of the fascinating mechanism.

At 7 o'clock, the hours and minutes subdial with serpentine hands is set at a 50-degree angle so that only its owner can read the time.

The case-back reveals the sun-shaped oscillating weight: its sandblasted and polished rays rotating on a ruthenium disc positioned above a platinum counterweight.

To respect the white and icy theme, on request of Tarpin, all yellow or red gold-coloured elements were changed, while the balance wheel was blued. Another request was to switch out the diamonds set into the centre of the tourbillon and two crowns for rare turquoise Paraiba stones, to further reinforce the glacial theme.

Between the regulating organ beating at a frequency of 2.5Hz (18,000 vibrations per hour) and the rotor, the barrel ensures a generous 100-hour power reserve made possible by the reduction in the number of gears. 

Matched to alligator leather straps with white gold paved pin buckles matching the case, the MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT "Ice" and "Blizzard" have a suggested retail price of CHF 160,000 / Euro 168,000 / US$ 170,000 plus local sales taxes. mbandf.com