Discover the new MB&F LM Split Escapement Eddy Jaquet, a 2024 series of 8 Unique Pieces combining horological and engraving mastery. Price CHF158,000
Keen to deepen their partnership, Jaquet and MB&F founder Maximilian Büsser discussed the possibility of creating a series of eight unique timepieces inspired by the novels and short stories of 19th-century French author Jules Verne. The Legacy Machine Split Escapement was chosen for the project due to its ample dial surface, ideal for showcasing intricate engravings that explore Verne’s literary universe.
The resulting eight LM Split Escapement ‘Eddy Jaquet’ pieces became an instant success, with the ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’ edition winning the GPHG Artistic Crafts Award in 2021.
The MB&F Legacy Machine SE Eddy Jaquet 'Around the World in Eighty Days', winner of the GPHG’s Artistic Crafts Award in 2021
Following this success, MB&F decided to continue drawing from literary inspiration for a second series of the LM Split Escapement ‘Eddy Jaquet’, presenting Jaquet with a list of 15 classic novels in the young fiction category. From this, he selected eight works:
- Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
- The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
- The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
- The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
- The Call of the Wild by Jack London
- Moby Dick by Herman Melville
- Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Robin Hood (anonymous)
As with the first Jules Verne series, none of the illustrations conceived by Jaquet are derived from existing artwork. Instead, they are entirely original creations, envisioned by the artist after immersing himself in the source books, along with other creative interpretations, such as films and comic books.
Each engraving is a carefully composed synthesis of scenes and key moments from the stories, designed to be integrated into the LM SE movement, bringing Jaquet’s imaginative interpretations to life.
Jaquet had to push his creativity and engraving skills to the limit while working within the constraints of the LM SE movement. The dial, which is actually the baseplate of the movement, appears flat on the surface but varies in thickness on the reverse to accommodate the components. He had to carefully account for these variations, ensuring that deep-relief engraving wouldn’t puncture the thinner areas.
From the production side, several changes were made to the original LM Split Escapement to maximise the engraving space and let Jaquet show off his skills.
New openworked date and power-reserve subdials were created, along with wider dial plates. The bezel was redesigned to be slimmer, and the case dimensions (44.5 mm x 18.2 mm) were adjusted to fit the wider dial plate. A new dial crystal, with a with a flatter dome and an increased diameter, had to be made because of these changes.
The timepieces in this second series come in stainless steel cases with black subdials on a white gold base plate, highlighting Jaquet’s detailed engravings and bringing these classic stories to life.
Each timepiece also includes an original drawing signed by Jaquet and a Loupe System X6 macro lens, giving each new owner a chance to explore their watch in a whole new way.
Just below the highest point of the domed dial crystal, the suspended balance wheel slowly beats at 2.5 Hz (18,000 vibrations per hour) but, unlike most of the other suspended balances in the Legacy Machine collection, it seems to oscillate on its own, without any visible intake of energy.
The essential remaining parts of the escapement, which provide the driving impulse – anchor and escape wheel – are concealed on the opposite side of the movement, almost 12 mm below; hence the name ‘Split Escapement’.
This solution requires an unusually long balance arbour, which runs through the centre of the movement. To increase stability, this arbour is fitted at both ends with anti-shock jewel bearings, and the bridge that holds the anchor and escape wheel is separately fixed for optimal fine adjustment.
Because a longer balance arbour has a higher mass, which potentially detracts from the amount of energy ultimately transmitted to the oscillator, the movement of the watch is driven by two barrels in parallel, which allows up to 72 hours of optimal timekeeping.
Under the balance and its arched bridge, the triple-dial design of the LM Split Escapement ‘Eddy Jaquet’ gives the time at 12 o’clock, the power reserve indication at 4 o’clock and the date at 8 o’clock. The date can be quickly and easily adjusted thanks to a push-button on the side of the case, next to the date dial.
Each of the eight MB&F LM Split Escapement ‘Eddy Jaquet’ Unique Pieces has a retail price of CHF 158,000 + VAT. mbandf.com
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