Legacy Machine Guide · Fine Watch Guide

The Legacy Machine is MB&F's more classical line, a round case with fine hand finishing and a movement that is anything but conventional. The LM1 of 2011 put a large balance wheel above the dial, with two independently set time displays. Later models expanded the idea with a second balance, a perpetual calendar and a flying tourbillon. Owners tend to care about finishing as much as mechanics, so the questions focus on how the movement is built and who can work on it safely.

The LM1 and the collection that followed

The original Legacy Machine No.1 was developed with Jean-François Mojon and Kari Voutilainen, and it arrived in 2011 as a tribute to 19th-century watchmaking. Its round case carries a large balance wheel that is suspended above the movement and the dials. It has two time displays, each with independently adjustable hours and minutes, and a vertical power reserve indicator.

The collection grew steadily. The LM2 of 2013 introduced two suspended balance wheels, with a planetary differential averaging their rates to drive a single time display. The Legacy Machine Perpetual of 2015 added a fully integrated perpetual calendar, and the Legacy Machine FlyingT of 2019 became MB&F's first Machine designed for women, with a flying tourbillon under a high-domed crystal.

Because the range has so many generations, check the name, the year and the caliber together. A Legacy Machine's service, parts and value depend on which model it is, and a listing that says only Legacy Machine doesn't tell you enough.

The LM1 movement and what it asks of a watchmaker

The original LM1 is a manually wound movement with a single mainspring barrel and a power reserve of 45 hours. It has 279 components and 23 jewels, and its balance is a bespoke 14 mm wheel that beats at 2.5 Hz. Because the balance is suspended over the dial, it sits in a place where a dropped screw or a careless tool can do real damage.

The finishing follows 19th-century practice: Geneva waves, polished gold chatons and hand-bevelled bridges with internal angles. Finishing this detailed shows every scratch, so ask that bridges and the balance be examined before and after any work, and that the watchmaker photograph them.

Ask the watchmaker how they plan to remove and refit the balance, what they'll test on the bench and how they'll confirm the two time displays still set independently. Those three answers tell you more about the job than a general description of the service.

Servicing a Legacy Machine

The official route for service is the same as for the Horological Machine: an authorized MB&F retailer, or direct to the headquarters and workshop in Carouge. Contact the company first, ask for intake instructions and insured shipping, and get a written estimate before any work begins.

An independent can be a useful second opinion on a Legacy Machine, particularly for a basic check of the power reserve and the rate. A full overhaul of a suspended balance, or any work on the differential in the LM2 or the calendar in the Perpetual, belongs with people who have handled that architecture before. Ask what they've opened on the model and what parts they can source.

MB&F doesn't publish a service price or completion time for a Legacy Machine. Ask what the estimate covers, whether the balance and its suspension are included, and whether the finishing will be touched. Those three points are where a quote can change most.

Buying a pre-owned Legacy Machine

Look for the original box, papers and warranty card, and check that the serial matches the documents. Confirm the model name, year and reference on the dial and the movement. The Legacy Machine range has many generations, so a mismatch between the papers and the watch is a serious question, not a small one.

Ask for a condition report that covers the case, the crystal and any movement parts that have been polished, adjusted or replaced. Look at the suspended balance and its surroundings under a loupe. A watch that has been knocked or serviced by someone unfamiliar with the design often shows it there first.

Ask for a movement inspection with a written report, including a power reserve test and a check that both time displays set independently. Ask when the watch was last serviced and where, and budget for a full service if the answer is unclear. A sale without a clear service history leaves you holding the risk.

Living with a suspended balance

A suspended balance is the most exposed part of a Legacy Machine, and it deserves care in every setting. Keep the watch in a padded box when it isn't on your wrist, and don't rest it on a surface where the balance could catch an edge. Avoid strong shocks, sudden temperature changes and magnetic fields, all of which can affect a watch this sensitive.

Wind the LM1 regularly. Its 45-hour reserve is short for a watch that sits in a drawer, so a daily routine suits it better than a weekly one. Check the power reserve indicator when you wind, and note if the indicator and the running time stop matching, since that's a clear reason to take the watch for a check.

The two time displays are a feature of the design, and they should stay independent. If you notice that setting one display changes the other, stop and take the watch to the company or an authorized retailer rather than trying to correct it. A small problem with a display can grow into a larger one if the mechanism is forced.

What to check on a Legacy Machine

Experience with suspended balances and Legacy Machine finishing
Confirmation of the model, year and caliber before any service or purchase
Photographs and written notes on the balance and bridges before and after work
A clear answer on which parts are included in an estimate

Common questions

When did the Legacy Machine collection start?

The collection began in 2011 with the LM1, a round-cased watch with a large suspended balance and two independently set time displays.

How much power reserve does the LM1 have?

The original LM1 is a manually wound movement with a 45-hour power reserve, so it needs winding regularly.

How is the Legacy Machine different from the Horological Machine?

The Legacy Machine uses a round case, classical finishing and a suspended balance or tourbillon, while the Horological Machine is a sculptural case with a separate architecture. Both are serviced through the same company route.

Can a local watchmaker service a Legacy Machine?

For a basic check, possibly. For work on the balance, the differential, the calendar or any warranty repair, the company or an authorized retailer is the safer route.