MB&F LM Perpetual EVO Silicon Valley

MB&F unveils the LM Perpetual EVO Silicon Valley edition, available at the MB&F Lab in Menlo Park with retail partner Stephen Silver. Price US$208,000

Introduced in 2015, the MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual, also known as LM Perpetual, gained widespread acclaim, winning Best Calendar Watch at the 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG). 

In 2020, MB&F launched the LM Perpetual EVO, featuring a streamlined case design, ergonomic pushers, an integrated rubber strap, and the innovative FlexRing shock absorber, making it the brand’s most robust timepiece to date.

The 44 mm x 17.5 mm case is equipped with a domed sapphire crystal fused directly to the case thanks to an advanced thermal bonding system. The no-bezel construction offers a unique view of the complex mechanisms.

Previously, the LM Perpetual cases had been crafted exclusively from high-performance materials like zirconium and titanium. With the new LM Perpetual EVO Silicon Valley edition, MB&F introduces an 18-carat rose gold EVO case, an elegant nod to California’s moniker, the Golden State.

The warm tones of the case are paired with the striking ocean blue of the dial plate and the rubber strap, secured to the wrist by a rose gold folding buckle.

The enlarged, double-sprung pushers improve tactile comfort and make adjustments effortless, while the screw-down crown ensures water resistance to 80 metres / 270 feet, an impressive feature for a perpetual calendar. 

The screw-down crown features a disengagement mechanism, or débrayage, which disconnects the winding stem when tightened, preventing the risk of over-winding the mainspring barrel.

Unlike conventional perpetual calendars built as modules atop existing movements, the LM Perpetual uses a fully integrated 581-component calibre with a suspended balance beating at 18,000 vibrations per hour and offering a 72-hour power reserve.

Traditional perpetual calendars operate with a default 31-day month, skipping redundant dates for shorter months. The LM Perpetual, developed by Stephen McDonnell, instead features a "mechanical processor" with superimposed disks that default to 28-day months, adding extra days as needed. This ensures precise month lengths without skipping dates.

A planetary cam allows quick year adjustments within the four-year leap year cycle. The mechanism also includes a safety feature that disables quick-set pushers during date changes, preventing damage.

Revealed through the transparent caseback, the Haute Horlogerie finishes of the movement include internal bevel angles, polished bevels, Geneva waves, and hand-made engravings.

The new MB&F LM Perpetual EVO Silicon Valley edition will be limited to only 18 pieces, available exclusively at the MB&F Lab opening soon in Menlo Park with retail partner Stephen Silver. The price is US$208,000. mbandf.com